SHEMBLOG

The Union Cabinet has finally passed the Right to Education Bill. This controversial Bill had been deferred twice before. It had earlier faced opposition from the Law, Finance ministries where the major issue was the financial contribution of each state. The Right to Education Bill essentially means that every child in the age group of 6-to-14 has a right to elementary education that is provided free and compulsory and is of equitable quality and available in an accessible area.

This Bill is aimed at setting up certain minimum standards for public and private schools. This would eventually mean raising the worth of educational facilities across the nation. The government is very positive as it realises that the Bill would also help to restrict the problems of child labour and malnutrition. However, the Bill might still face hurdles as it has a clause that makes it compulsory for the private schools to reserve nearly 25% of the seats for the unprivileged and poor children.

Over the last few years some known education providers in India have diversified their operations and are now indulging in education related services. NIIT is a great example, which has come successfully to take on the education market as it evolves. For last five or six years, this insitute has been involved in different projects, apart from imparting the computer education.

The focus has shifted from conventional methods of teaching to developing new methods and tools of learning. With the help of technology and interactive systems, many education providers have developed their own models of teaching and pedagogies. Very soon students may find an altogether different learning experience as these new ystems would be made operational.

The exploration has bugled great news for many as jobs are being created in the newly found segments and niches. Like NIIT, there are many other small players that have taken up very specialised realm to chip in. Some are developing online support services, some are producing interactive media and yet others are looking out for more diverse avenues.  

The focus of foreign investors and venture capitalists has shifted from technology to service based industry, including education. One story appeared in Business Standard which revelaed the trend of VCs (Venture Capitalists) investing in education, media and entertainment and beverages.

The recent contribution was made by Matrix Partners India, which invested $7 millions in preschool segment, as reoprted by Business Standard. So far preschools has been the best choice as government control is minimum for preschools in India. However, investors and VCs are also considering the options to invest in primary and secondary schools. When will the big change come, nobody knows.

Education market in India is segmented and allows particpation at various levels. Secondary schools, high schools, colleges and universities are ideal places to start a new revolution in the education market. For such a thing to happen, the government may have to make laws pertaining to the ownership and control of the institutions very easy.

Examination phobia haunts many children and they struggle to grasp things as examination date comes near. Children who are weak in studies often find it very difficult to quickly revise the complete syllabus of all the subjects in short period of time. Is there any way to make things easier for them? Let us see how by implementing some very useful techniques, students can score better in their examinations.

Timetable

Make a daily routine of your activities and follow it strictly. Make sure you arrange 1 hour early in the morning for studies. Reserve noon time for playing and other leisure activities. Never make late night studying schedules.

Daily Revision

Whatever you have learned in the class today, make sure you revise it that same day in evening. Go through the chapters and read fast. Grab important points and make neat notes of them. If you follow this system, your half of the burden is already gone, and preparation in exam days will be very easy.

Use unconventional methods

Using internet for study material, visiting local public library, and having group discussion with neighborhood friends will help you learn things quickly.

Take mock tests

Prepare mock tests by yourself, which you can easily get from different sources (Sample papers, downloads from Internet). Giving mock tests builds confidence and strengthen problem solving skills.

Do not overdo

Sometimes students set unrealistic targets in enthusiasm. Every student knows his capacity and limitations and targets should be set accordingly. Set small goals and proceed to your final goal gradually.

Lower middle class of the Indian society often face the dilemma of choosing the right school for their child. They have to choose between municipal corporation schools and private schools run by various groups, parishes and similar institutions.

Although municipal schools provide free books, mid-day meals and uniforms, but parents still prefer private schools for their kids for only one reason – “Better Education Quality”. Parents are ready to spend more to get better education for their children. Their only complaint with municipal schools is that the teachers do not teach and have no motivation for teaching.

Parents have also alleged that teachers of municipal schools in Mumbai talk on mobile phones in their classes. At the end of every month municipal schools remains closed, as teachers have to draw their salaries. It has also been noticed that a lot of time of municipal teachers is wasted in distributing books, mid-meals under the “Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan”.

Despite a bit heavy on pocket, lower middle class and middle class prefers private schools for their children to build strong foundation of their kids, for better career opportunities in future.

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has many scholarship schemes for meritorious students and students belonging to weaker sections of society.

Following is the list of CBSE Merit Scholarship Schemes:

CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child for +2
CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Professional Studies – AIPMT
CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Professional Studies – AIEEE
CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Under Graduate Studies for Single Girl Child

For detailed information about every aspect related to these scholarship schemes, visit CBSE scholarship scheme information site.

Today India’s economy is booming and we are seen as a strong economic power in the coming years. Despite this fact, some social issues are still of concern and should be given enough importance if we have to sustain ourselves as a strong socio-economic super power. One such issue is ‘Gender Parity In Primary Education’, which needs immediate attention by state and central governments.

Let’s see some figures* related to gender distribution in primary and secondary education in India.

Primary Schools (Class I-V) -> Parity Index: 0.94 -> 94 girls for every 100 boys
Higher Secondary (Class IX-XII) -> Parity Index: 0.80 -> 80 girls for every 100 boys

*Source: HRD Ministry, Figures of 2005-2006

The above figures gives a clear picture of wide gap between school going girls and boys. The situation is even more worse in selective areas of the country, especially in west,north west and some parts of north India. The drop out rate of girls is most in primary education, as parents prefer to spend more on their son. Early marriage, security issues also play an important role in further aggravating the situation.

The noticeable difference in gender parity index in urban and rural areas clearly indicates that more attention is needed in rural areas, where drop out rate of girls is much higher than urban areas.

Programmes like Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) launched by government in 2004, does help the cause to some extent, but more action is needed to tackle this situation. Some state governements are also offering free bicycles to girls to travel to school, resulting in decreased drop out rate of girls in these areas.

Unless, the whole outlook of society will not change on this issue, it would be very difficult to close the gap of gender parity index.

Mathematics Professor, Annaswamy Ranganath Rao is 100 years old and is one of the pioneers in popularizing the concept of Math labs in schools. Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), recognized his method of teaching mathematics and made it mandatory to have math labs in CBSE schools. Since 2006, this concept has been introduced with 80 marks from theory paper and 20 marks from math lab.

Professor Rao introduced math labs way back in 1974, making it easy for students to understand various math theorems. He design new model, gadgets to explain these concepts to students, making these concepts more understandable and at the same time a playful experience too.

Department of science and technology, which has decided to nominate him for UNESCO’s prestigious Kalinga Prize for popularizing science.

About 40 British students aged between 18 and 19 years will visit India under UK Prime Minister’s Global Fellowship Program. The aim of the project is to give British students exposure to multi-cultural environment and developments happening in developing countries in 21st century.

The program is made up of three parts:

Cultural and linguistic immersion
Working on a research project in collaboration with their peers in a local school
Time as a guest of a global company, investigating how international business and its      social responsibilities impact on local communities

During their visit, the students will also get taste of local Indian food as they will be staying with a local family for a week. Apart from exchanging cultural information with the local students, they will also get exposure of popular Indian firms like HSBC, TCS and will understand their business working environment.

The students will also be invited to 10, Downing Street after their return, to share their experiences with the Prime Minister and people associated with the program.

For more information about this program visit http://www.global-fellowship.org/

There are some common traits in every good school. We, as parents strive hard to give the best to our children, and admission in right school is one of the important decisions that we have to make for bright future of our kids.

Following are some areas that must be well researched to identify a good school for your kid:

Teacher/Student Ratio
Qualification And Experience Of Teachers
Curriculum Structure And Revision Policy
Available Academic Streams
Admission Procedure And Policies
Students From Different Ethnic Backgrounds
Examination Structure And Student Assessment Policies
Consistent Past Record
Affiliations And Memberships
Awards Received By The School
Infrastructure And Facilities
Location And Accessibility
Philosophy And Mission Of The School
Eco-Friendly Premises With Green Landscape
Feedback From Alumni
Parent-Teacher Association Functioning
Goodwill And Public Image Among Local Community
Transportation Facilities

Once you have probed the following areas, rest assured your child will get the best in education.

Student exchange programmes are gaining immense popularity. In India, a large number of schools and institutions are involved in student exchange programmes. In one such exchange programme, nine students from the neighbouring country Pakistan, reached Mumbai recently. These students were as much excited as their hosts.

The nine students came all the way from Karachi to visit a municipal school in Khar, as part of an exchange programme ‘Khoj’ between India and Pakistan.

The Pakistani students were quoted as having said that Indian students are more ambitious and committed to the education. The students who reached here also said about the similarities between the education systems in the two countries. The students were keen to know about the personal lives, life style and other cultural aspects.

Even cricket was discussed and the fan clubs and sport stars, reported one website.

This student exchange is part of a programme ‘Khoj’, an initiative to spread ’secular education among school children’. Teesta Setalvad director of Khoj says in a report published by expressindia.com: “We had started a pen pals programme between India and Pakistan in 1999. The aim is to encourage exchanges between children of two countries. We were one of the first to start such a project, which included writing letters. This visit is a step further in the project. This is their first visit and it will work best if they are able to keep in touch with each other in future.”

Students also exchanged mail addresses and promised to remain in touch with each other. Students exchange programmes have served amply in cultural diffusion and providing a broader outlook for the students.

Municipal Corporation Of Delhi (MCD) has announced plans to start the upgradation process of all MCD schools. A grant of Rs. 300 crores is sanctioned for the same, which will be spent on the upgradation process. Currently, a large number of MCD schools are in pathetic condition running in tents, sheds and semi-pucca buildings.

MCD is also planning to deploy security guards in all the schools running by them to improve the security of students.

The second list of Higher Secondary Centralized Allotment Process – 2008 (HSCAP), Kerala has been declared.

ALLOTMENT (SINGLE WINDOW) RESULTS-2008 (SECOND ALLOTMENT) – Link 1
ALLOTMENT (SINGLE WINDOW) RESULTS-2008 (SECOND ALLOTMENT) – Link 2

Those students whose name is in the list, must join the allotted schools before 5 PM on 21st July 2008.

A new scheme to promote girl education of weaker section of society has been launched by the Central Government. The scheme named ‘Incentives To Girls For Secondary Education’ has been introduced for girls belonging to the Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes.

Under this scheme a sum of Rs. 3000 will be deposited in the name of every SC/ST girl taking admission in class IX. The girl will be able to withdraw the same amount, provided she has attained 18 years of age and passed 10th grade as regular student. The main objective of this scheme is to reduce the drop out rate of girls belonging to SC/ST category. To avail the benefit of this scheme, the maximum age while enrolling in class IX should be 16 years on 31st March of the admission year.

Government of India is planning to pass two new ordinances to accelerate the establishment of proposed 8 new Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT’s) and 16 new Central Universities, four of which will undergo major upgradation of infrastructure and rest will be built from scratch.

Central universities that will undergo major upgradation are:

Gour University, Sagar (Madhya Pradesh)
Garhwal University (Uttarakhand)
Bilaspur University (Chhattisgarh)
Goa University (Goa)

Central Government has already sanctioned about Rs.2,275 crores in the 11th plan, out of which allocation of about Rs 50 crores has already been done in 2008 Budget.