HRD says no to move for limited 'for-profit' higher education institutions
The Times of India, July 3, 2011

NEW DELHI: The HRD ministry has rejected a Planning Commission proposal advocating "for-profit" higher education though limited to vocational and professional institutions. In its draft note for the 12th Plan approach paper, the Plan panel said, "For-profit higher education limited to vocational and professional institutions may be explored to boost this sector, while keeping concerns about quality and equity in mind."

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Kakodkar to review functioning of 30 NITs
The Times of India, June 29, 2011

NEW DELHI: Nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar will be asked to review the functioning of the 30 National Institutes of Technology. This was decided at a meeting of the NIT Council on Tuesday. The Council also been decided to promote the admission of foreign students through the All India Engineering Entrance Examination on-line test.

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UPA readies fresh push for vocational education
Mint, July 4, 2011

Later this month the government will unveil a new initiative to integrate vocational education with mainstream education. The move, if successful, will provide alternative avenues to reduce pressure on the universities that are unable to cope with the demand for undergraduate admissions and at the same time will also help create a pool of trained manpower for different industry verticals.

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Graduate to a global level
Hindustan Times, June 28, 2011

Education, in general, and school education in particular, is passing through an exciting, albeit, critical stage in India. The country is home to 16% of the world's total population and the impact of info-dynamics and globalisation has converted India into a vibrant emerging economy.

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Interview with V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor, Indira Gandhi National Open University
Frontline July 2-15, 2011

IN the past five years, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has seen significant structural reforms at all levels. Much of the credit for this goes to its Vice-Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, who has not only incorporated flexibility in its programmes but has also worked towards expanding their reach to remote zones of the country.

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Union Shifts Position on Teacher Evaluations
The New York Times, July 4, 2011

CHICAGO — Catching up to the reality already faced by many of its members, the nation’s largest teachers’ union on Monday affirmed for the first time that evidence of student learning must be considered in the evaluations of school teachers around the country.

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Schools try out 'vocational baccalaureate'
The Guardian, July 4, 2011

The International Baccalaureate has traditionally been seen as an elite qualification taken by brainy students at independent or selective sixth forms. But a new "vocational bacc" could be about to change that. The IB Career-Related Certificate (IBCC) currently being trialled in a number of UK schools combines the academic rigour of the IB with vocational study.

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Are profit-making academies the future for education?
The Guardian, July 4, 2011

The recent flurry of government announcements about academies and free schools was accompanied by the trumpeting of now familiar themes – autonomy, liberation, devolution of funds to the front line and the banishment of bureaucracy.

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Research: “The people want the fall of the regime”: Schooling, political protest, and the economy

Authors: Filipe R Campante and Davin Chor

Political drama continues to unfold in the Middle East. This column uncovers education’s role in the recent uprisings. It finds that one unforeseen effect of increased investment in education has been the creation of a generation of well-educated but frustrated political activists. It concludes that – in more ways than one – the Middle East autocrats have contributed to their own downfall.

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Student First - Dialogue Series on Quality Education for All

13 July 2011 | 7 - 8:30 PM
India Habitat Centre,
New Delhi, India

For more information,
click here.

RTE BLOG: The Indian "incomplete" education - (Part 2)

Read the second of this two-part series on the importance of early childhood care and education on our website. For more, click here

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.

Skill Vouchers - Global Experiences and Lessons for India

Leah Verghese and Parth J Shah

A study of the role that skill vouchers can play in catalysing demand for quality skill development services. This study examines global experiences with skill vouchers and draws lessons for India from these experiences.

For more click here

Reservation in Private Schools under the Right to Education Act: Model for Implementation

Shekhar Mittal and Parth J Shah

Through this document the Centre for Civil Society seeks to highlight the lacunae in the current framework for 25% reservation for weaker and disadvantaged groups in unaided private schools and seeks to provide inputs on effective implementation of the same.

For more click here

School Vouchers for Girls

400 girl children from poor families of North East Delhi receive school vouchers for a period of 4 years.
For details visit our website

For more details on how to support, log on to www.schoolchoice.in or email us at [email protected]

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