‘Govt may launch 'virtual academy' for teachers’
The Hindu, 18 January 2009

“If the government has its way, teachers need not to enrol into a training institute to hone their teaching skills as the HRD Ministry is contemplating to set up 'virtual academy' to improve the quality of education in the country. Virtual academy (VA), as the name suggests, would be an online learning platform, facilitating teacher-professor interaction for dissemination of knowledge.” More [+]

Microsoft to invest in Gujarat's education sector
Hindustan Times, 20 January 2009

“Global software giant Microsoft will invest in training teachers in Gujarat and enhance the use of IT in the education sector. Microsoft India Pvt Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat government at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit this week.” More [+]

More Muslim children enrol in schools: Govt report
The Times of India, 19 January 2009

“The report on Elementary Education in India -- Progress Towards UEE, prepared by National University of Educational Planning and Administration, said the rate of enrolment of Muslim children increased to 10.49 in 2007-08 from 9.39 per cent in 2006-07. Similarly, their enrolment at upper primary level rose from 7.52 per cent to 8.54 per cent.”More [+]

Govt asks private schools not to hike fee unilaterally
The Times of India, 19 January 2009

“Delhi government on Monday cautioned the private schools against any unilateral fee hike, saying the Cabinet will take an "appropriate decision" on their demand. Education minister Arvinder Singh Lovely said the private schools should wait for government's decision on the fee hike as Cabinet will take up the issue soon.” More [+]

Govt issues ordinance on central varsities
The Times of India, 17 January 2009

“Despite National Knowledge Commission's protest that the Central Universities Bill, 2008, should be reconsidered and reformulated, the government promulgated it through an ordinance on Thursday night. Stung by the fact that none of its recommendations have found favour, NKC on Friday issued a statement pointing out that the "draft legislation, which vests overwhelming control with the government, repeats earlier mistakes, and compounds persistent problems of higher education in India, negates the letter and spirit of the essential recommendations of the NKC. It represents a danger to autonomy and excellence in higher education.” More [+]

SC/ST rights marooned at Mumbai varsity: teachers union
The Hindu, 19 January 2009

“A memorandum presented by the Bombay University and College Teachers Union to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes raises serious concerns over the University of Mumbai’s “appalling indifference” to the rights of the weaker sections. Be it providing accommodation, representation, filling vacant posts or making provisions for the SC/ST as per constitutional directives, its report card is abysmal, says the nine-point memorandum.” More [+]

Assault outside class not corporal punishment: SC
The Times of India, 20 January 2009

“A teacher slapping a student outside the class for something not connected with studies, even if the incident happens within the school premises, cannot be condoned as corporal punishment, the Supreme Court said on Monday while upholding a five-day jail term for a teacher.” More [+]

Determinants of Household Expenditure on Education in Rural India
Jandhyala B. G. Tilak, National Council of Applied Economic Research, Working Paper Series No. 88

“Using the NCAER survey data on Human Development in rural India (HDI) (1994), supplemented by other sources, the paper examines the extent of household expenditure on education by different groups of population, the elasticity of household expenditure on education to changes in household income on the one hand and government expenditure on education on the other and the determinants of family expenditures on education. It has been found that there is nothing like 'free' education in India.” More [+]

Does Performance Related Pay for Teachers Improve Student Performance? Some evidence from India
Geeta Kingdon and Francis Teal

“In this paper data from a school survey in India is used to ask if there is evidence for the payment of performance related pay and whether such pay structures do impact on student achievement. It is shown that - after controlling for student ability, parental background and the resources available - private schools get significantly better academic results by relating pay to achievement; government schools do not. We discuss possible interpretations of this result.” More [+]

Data of D.I.S.E. on Elementary Education for 2007-08 Released

"National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), has released Elementary Education in India: Progress towards Universal Elementary Education, DISE, Flash Statistics: 2007-08. More [+]

The Voucher Controversy
FRONTLINE has put together an informative website on the voucher idea, competition in the education sector, school choice and charter schools. The reader will be able to find out about voucher supporters’ and voucher opponents’ arguments and supporting data. The website provides articles, interviews, videos and links to other websites with further information on the issue. The reader is also able to share his thoughts."
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