DU classes to go on-line
The Times of India 14 June 2009

The Delhi University is now working on a project to provide video-graphed lectures of teachers from several colleges on-line.For the purpose, the DU is setting up a modern studio at its Institute of Life Long Learning (ILL), where lectures of popular teachers and experts of various disciplines will be recorded and put on its portal. More [+]

New norms for teacher education mooted
The Times of India, 15 June 2009

Teacher education in India is all set for a revival. The National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) will be coming out with a new curriculum for teacher-training courses. Also, the council will be laying down strict regulatory norms to check the quality of teacher education institutes and to curb the mushrooming of sub-standard private institutes. In fact, it has decided to put a curb on the number of teacher-training institutes a state can have. More [+]

Taking education to remote corners
The Times of India, 14 June 2009

They sure have the capability and willingness to devote time for something constructive. Yet, the ultimate impetus that drives them is the belief that education alone can elevate the downtrodden in this country. India Sudar Educational and Charitable Trust, run by a group of like-minded IT professionals, was founded in Chennai in 2004. Today, the trust has its wings spread across the four states of South India and is looking at penetrating the North. More [+]

Mayoral control would do nothing to boost schools
www.tennessean.com, June 15 2009

Should Nashville schools be run by an elected school board or the mayor? A better question is "should the government be running the schools at all?" Research on school choice suggests that the answer is "no."On June 7, The Tennessean reported that Nashville schools might come under mayoral control. The mayor might be able to save on costs along some margins, but there is no reason to expect that this will lead to an appreciable increase in the quality of Nashville schools. Mayoral control doesn't solve the fundamental problem, which is that government-run schools are insulated from competitive pressure. More [+]

The University Of Competition
www.outlookindia.com, 22 June 2009

Two years ago, when Mayur Patil joined the Masters of Engineering Management programme at Duke University, he had visualised leveraging his US education into a permanent position in North America. He already had two years' work experience as an ERP consultant. Arming himself with a graduate degree from a top American school, Patil believed, would push him up the employment ladder to a good position in New York, San Francisco or some other economic hotspot. But today, he has a different plan. The economic malaise in the US has considerably reduced job prospects for Indian students. More [+]

'We Must Strengthen Our University System, Allow Foreign Institutions In'
www.outlookindia.com, 22 June 2009

In his first interview since taking charge of the human resources ministry, Kapil Sibal admits he’s “feeling the weight”. Lola Nayar asks an unusually taciturn Sibal about the proposed ’super regulator’ for universities and his plans to open the doors to foreign universities. More [+]

Govt to rope in National Open School for quality education at children’s homes
The Indian Express, 14 June 2009

After years of being negligently shoved into government-run institutions and getting little or no education, homeless children finally have the hope of getting access to systematic education in the city. The Delhi government is planning to tie up with the National Open School to have exams at three levels in their institutions. More [+]

Back to school: An open letter to Kapil Sibal
The Times of India , 14 June 2009

Dear Kapil Sibal, You have aroused great expectations as human resource and development minister. We are heartened by your commitment to educational reforms to improve higher education, including easier entry for foreign universities. Yet, for truly inclusive growth we must focus on improving basic education for the poor and historically disadvantaged classes. Poor people send their kids to government schools, but hardly any teaching takes place there, and the teachers are protected from disciplinary action by powerful trade unions---- School vouchers can be one way forward. More [+]

Free vs fee: Why govt schools deliver results
The Times of India, 14 June 2009

Two, very different, typically Indian scenarios. The first is a government-aided school aka free, run by an NGO for those on the margins of society. The second is a private school, used by 27% of India to educate its children for a substantial fee. But their results are surprising. The Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas - autonomous, aided schools, administered by the Human Resource Development ministry - outshine every other Indian school. Their pass percentage in this year's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X exams was 97.8. Kendriya Vidyalayas followed with a pass percentage of 96.3%. Even Bangalore's Shanti Bhavan, a tuition-free residential school catering to Dalits under the Indian School Certificate Examinations board, made headlines when all its Class X students got a first division for the second year running. But what of public schools? They lagged behind with 92%. More [+]

Book of the Month - The Beautiful Tree – By James Tooley

Private education might be considered a privilege for the wealthy, but in India it is often considered necessary in the face of an inconsistent public education system. In the first of a series of excerpts from James Tooley's ‘The Beautiful Tree’, the author explores education as a means of economic development on the eve of India's national elections.

Read all the three parts

Snapshot of the situation of private schools in India

Hyderabad, India Government – 320 Private Aided – 49

Private unaided, - 335 Unrecognized or Unregistered Private, Unaided – 214 Recognized or Registered Total – 918

Source - Survey of schools (2004-5) in Tooley and Dixon 2006b

Read the article here

Action for School Admission Reforms (ASAR) More[+]

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