Telangana strike: Private education institutes firm on reopening
Deccan Chronicle, 10 October 2011

The managements of educational institutions have decided to reopen the institutions from Monday — after 22 days on account of the on-going Sakala Janula Samme — stating that they are under immense pressure from parents. However, government schools and colleges will remain closed since teachers and lecturers are continuing the strike. On Sunday, parents in Kukatpally held a massive rally asking the managements to re-open the schools from Monday. They raised slogans against political parties and leaders saying that they were playing with the lives of students who had no role to play in the formation of a T-state.

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Privatise medical education to ensure health to all: Delhi High Court
DNA, 5 October 2011

The Delhi High Court has given thumbs-up to privatisation of medical education to bridge the gap between the number of doctors available and the India’s teeming millions. In a judgment delivered last week, Justice Kailash Gambhir pulled up the Medical Council of India’s (MCI) red tape that has been hampering the growth of medical education in the country. The court was hearing a case filed by several private medical colleges, such as Teerthankar Mahaveer Institute of Management, Rama Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Kanpur, and School of Medical Sciences and Research, Sharda University, against an MCI decision that barred them from increasing their student intake from 100 seats to 150.

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Education Department to Launch Community Mobil
IBNLive, 10 October 2011

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A new leaf would be turned in the implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) in the state on November 11, being observed throughout the country as National Education Day. The Education Department is all set to kick off a community mobilisation campaign, which aims to take the essence of RTE to the various stakeholders, including parents and elected representatives.

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Bombay HC bench issues notice to Maha Education Minister
Indian Express, 5 October 2011

The Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court has issued a show cause notice to Maharashtra Education Minister Rajendra Darda asking him to file a reply within two weeks over a petition challenging a government order over scrutinising attendance of students in private schools. A division bench of Justices Sharad Bobde and M N Gilani was recently hearing the petition filed by the Maharashtra Khajgi Shikshan Sanstha Sanchalak Mandal (State Private Education Institutes Forum) which has challenged a government resolution (GR) of September 19 authorising the district collectors to conduct a special drive in all schools to scrutinise attendance of students.

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About an education
Hindustan Times, 8 October 2011

Last week, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) has been in the news for two reasons. First, Infosys co-founder, NR Narayana Murthy commented on the falling standards of its students. And second, Aakash — the tablet priced at R2,250 — was developed, among others, by students of IIT. While doubts about the quality of education at IITs have been raised before (prior to this by minister Jairam Ramesh) research from these institutes has invariably helped the country make a mark. But the perception of deterioration in the IITs has been gaining momentum. And not without reason.

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Canadian education awaits a hard lesson, watchdog warns
The Globe and Mail, 11 October 2011

As it prepares to close this spring, the Canadian Council on Learning, a non-profit that aimed to be Canada’s federal education watchdog, leaves a dark prognosis for Canadian students. Emerging economies are surging ahead, and Canada’s ministries of education are ignoring valuable lessons from other countries, the organization concludes in a final report that will be released Tuesday. Paul Cappon, the council’s outspoken president, says Canada’s disadvantage against education powerhouses such as China and South Korea boils down to a lack of federal oversight.

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Chile students plan new education protests
BBC, 9 October 2011

Chilean students protesting for educational reform have called a new general strike, following the breakdown of talks with the government. They will be joined by trade unions in a two-day stoppage on 18-19 October. School and university students, as well as teachers, have been boycotting classes and holding demonstrations for five months to demand free education. The government says the movement has been taken over by extremists, but it hopes that dialogue can resume.

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Left Behind: The Impact OF Zimbabwe’s Mass Forced Evictions on the Right to Education
Research Paper
Authors: Amnesty International

Abstract:Forced evictions are a human rights violation. They leave people more vulnerable to other human rights violations and, frequently, drive poor and other disadvantaged people deeper into poverty. This report looks at the impact of the government of Zimbabwe’s 2005 programme of mass forced evictions, known as Operation Murambatsvina, on the right to education. For most affected households Operation Murambatsvina resulted in violations of a wide range of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to education.

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Equity in an educational boom: Lessons from the expansion and marketization of tertiary schooling in Poland
Research: Working Paper
Authors: Herbst, Mikolaj and Rok, Jakub

Abstract: The transformation of Polish economy toward a free market system and related changes on the Polish labour market released the demand for higher education, held for decades at an artificially low level. The impressive increase in enrolment was possible because the Polish government allowed the private sector to establish higher education institutions. This paper demonstrates how the probability of enrolment in tertiary schools evolves for different social groups in Poland over the period of educational boom.

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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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