HRD tinkers with RTE again
Akshaya Mukul, The Times of India, 24 April 2010

The government tomtommed the crucial role of School Management Committees in the implementation of the Right to Education Act. But not even a month since the Act became operative, the HRD ministry is all set to amend the law to give SMCs an advisory role in all aided schools. Giving SMCs only an advisory role in minority and aided schools will definitely take away teeth from the historic law since this body is supposed to be the eyes and ears in implementing the RTE Act.

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Still learning
Parth J Shah, The Financial Express, 20 April 2010

We need to broaden our vision to create an ecosystem conducive to spontaneous private involvement, without restrictive licensing and excessive regulation. Let the government and the private sector come together to assure the right to education of choice to all the children. More [+]

Why quantity is important in education
Manish Sabharwal, The Financial Express, 23 April 2010

A few recent moves in education public policy, though driven by honourable intentions, don’t recognise how quantity leads to quality. Putting ‘deemed universities’ on notice has not only created a long-drawn court battle but has also created a sharp arrow in the quiver of many state education ministers to demand ransom from all institutions. More [+]

Insurance bait for teachers- Housing scheme incentive to fill vacancies
Charu Sudan Kasturi, The Telegraph, 24 April 2010

The Centre is planning ambitious housing and insurance schemes for schoolteachers to make the profession attractive and fill the massive vacancies threatening to derail the right-to-education initiative. The schemes, proposed by human resource development minister Kapil Sibal, will cover teachers across rural and urban India More [+]

Azim Premji varsity will start by 2012
Praveena Sharma , DNA, 24 April 2010

Karnataka will have its first private university in two years. The Azim Premji University, which recently got clearance from the state government, will be operational in two years.The University will focus on training teachers, government functionaries and officers, who will go back to rural areas to teach children in rural and semi-rural areas. More [+]

Money from education cess to be finally spent on schemes
Business Standard, 26 April 2010

Government has collected Rs 8,334 crore so far as secondary and higher education cess from April 1, 2007.After lying unspent for three years, the money collected from the proceeds of higher education cess would now be utilised for several schemes, including setting up of a finance corporation and for strengthening IITs and IIMs. More [+]

Education sector should be given priority lending rates: Sibal
Gulveen Aulakh,The Economic Times, 25 April 2010

The education sector should be given priority lending rates so that finance can be availed of easily to create infrastructure. On one hand, other sectors are getting priority lending rates while for the education sector the regular commercial rates are applied, how we can expect more infrastructure to come up,” said Mr Sibal while talking about the government’s plan to create the Education Finance Corporation. More [+]

Transforming Britain's schools-A classroom revolution
The Economist, 22 April 2010

In 2007 Mr Cameron appointed Michael Gove, a close ally, to the schools brief. Soon after, the pair began expounding plans to import market reforms from, of all places, Sweden. This is not the only country where government-funded schools may be privately run: non-profit groups have been running state-funded schools in the Netherlands for the past nine decades, and more recently many American states have passed “charter” laws funding limited numbers of new independent schools More [+]

Private education provision and public finance: the Netherlands
Harry Anthony Patrinos, The World Bankt

ABSTRACT: One of the key features of the Dutch education system is freedom of education -- freedom to establish schools and organize teaching. Almost 70 percent of schools in the Netherlands are administered by private school boards, and all schools are government funded equally. This allows school choice. Using an instrument to identify school choice, it is shown that the Dutch system promotes academic performance. More [+]

To initiate and continue the discussion amongst concerned groups and individuals on the issue of right of education and monitor the implementation of the RTE Act, an RTE Coalition has been formed. Join the coalition to make universal elementary education a reality in India. Log on to www.righttoeducation.in for more information.

Date:5 May 2010(6pm onwards)
Venue:Casuarina Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

For details visit website

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