STUDENT FIRST! News  
 

 

Weekly Update on Education (Issue No 173)

31 January 2012

Multiple ways of learning
The Times of India, 30 January 2012

Howard Gardner, founder of the theory of 'multiple intelligences' is in India. A professor of cognitive psychology at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, 30 years ago, Gardner brought about a radical change in the way the world looked at classroom learning. It redefined intelligence in a way that was not only revolutionary, but also an eye-opener.

More [+]

TellyQuiz Expands Global Outreach With Interactive Learning Fun
The Wall Street Journal, 29 January 2012

PRINCETON, N.J., Jan 29, 2012 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) -- An enthusiastic reception from students of all ages, parents and educators across the globe has propelled the online educational portal, TellyQuiz.com a product of VIHO LLC (New Jersey, USA based Software Development Company), into the forefront of web-based academia. Designed to supplement student learning and foster scholastic success, TellyQuiz.com has enjoyed rapid expansion in global outreach since its 2011 debut.

More [+]

India: Mid-Day Meal Scheme Lacks Enthusiasm In Toto – Analysis
Eurasia Review, 28 January 2012

The mid-day meal scheme in rural areas of Punjab has failed to achieve the goal of Universalization of Elementary Education as prescribed by the UN Millennium Development Goals (2000) and followed by Government of India. Total Enrollment of selected schools belonging to three districts, namely, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur Districts of Rural Punjab was 33085 during the base year (average of 2007 to 2009). This enrollment declined to 31667 during the current year (average of 2010-12). Almost similar decline with varying degree was noticed in all the three selected districts. However the decline in enrollment of girls’ students was slightly more than their boys’ counterpart.

More [+]

Quality Education in India- A Challenge
The Fortnight, 26 January 2012

As a nation whose growth is talk of the town, quality education in India remains still a distant dream. A lot has been written about the system of education in this country. A lot of questions have been raised against it- are we doing the right things for progress, is our research output anywhere near other nations of our league and inspite of having bright minds and enough numbers on our side we have failed to produce proportionate number of Nobel laureates.

More [+]

AIMPLB set to corner Congress in UP polls
Daily News and Analysis, 29 January 2012

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) is all set to corner the Congress party with its demands relating to four pieces of legislation which influence their welfare and development. The AIMPLB has for long been demanding that the madarsas be kept out of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. They have also been demanding amendments to the Waqf Act, Direct Taxes Code Bill, and the Zamindari Abolition Act, the last to ensure equal status for women in distribution of property.

More [+]

Increased Private - Public Partnerships needed in Zimbabwean Education
Actionaid, 26 January 2012

Even though education plays a critical role in any nation’s economic, political, socio-cultural and technological development as it helps people to participate fully in society and governance, the Zimbabwean academic year has commenced with clouds of uncertainty hanging nationwide. It is the onus of every government to avail and fund education but this responsibility is outsized and complex for the government of Zimbabwe to meet sufficiently.

More [+]

Students lose out on second set of uniforms
The Hindu, 29 January 2012

The Karnataka Government's delay in notifying the State rules for the Right to Education Act has resulted in 44.17 lakh students from classes 1 to 8 being denied a second set of school uniforms, and the lapse of a Central grant of Rs.88 crore for the purpose. The Centre had approved a grant of Rs. 88.34 crore to provide a set of school uniforms to all girl students (25.16 lakh) and boys belonging to the Scheduled Castes (6 lakh), the Scheduled Tribes (2.56 lakh) and below the poverty line families (10.44 lakh).

More [+]

'Government neglecting pre-primary education'
The Times of India, 30 January 2012

NAGPUR: The country's largest primary teachers union feels the government is not doing enough for early childhood education. Rampal Singh, president of All India Primary Teachers Federation (AIPTF), said, "The Right To Education Act will be focusing on children between the ages of 6-14. But there is no major plan to deal with the children in pre-primary sections. That is the age when the foundation for future educational road map is laid."

More [+]

Corruption in the Public Schools The Market Is the Answer
Cato Institute Policy Analysis, 20 April 2005
Author: McClusky, N

One of the most frequently voiced objections to school choice is that the free market lacks the “accountability” that governs public education. Public schools are constantly monitored by district administrators, state officials, federal officials, school board members, and throngs of other people tasked with making sure that the schools follow all the rules and regulations governing them. In contrast to our moribund public system, school choice isn’t encumbered by compliance driven rules and regulations, which allows institutions to tailor their products to the needs of the children they teach and lets parents select the schools best suited to their child’s needs.

More [+]

Freedom Caravan

Freedom Caravan: The Morality of Capitalism
An internationally recognised education fest in various campuses in Delhi and Pune
SIGN UP NOW!
Visit www.ccs.in/fc2012
 

Education in India at the crossroads
The debate: Roughly one decade ago, there was a strong debate in India about how we should tackle the problem of education. There were two views. Click here to read more

 

New TED Book asks: can changing how we teach make our kids smarter, more creative?
Ten years ago, educator Sugata Mitra and his colleagues cracked open a hole in a wall bordering an urban slum in New Delhi, installed a networked PC, and left it there for the local children to freely explore. Click here to read more.

 

Poll

Do poor parents consciously choose budget private schools over free government schools?

To vote click here

 

RTE Coalition

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

 

Support Children's Right to Education of Choice!
DONATE


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

 

Please write in with your feedback at [email protected]

Disclaimer: Copyright of the contents of this newsletter remains with the original author/publisher.