Budget 2013: Chidambaram allocates Rs.65,869 crore for education
LiveMint, Feb 28, 2013

With a focus on capacity building and job-led education, finance minister P. Chidambaram Thursday proposed an allocation of Rs.65,869 crore for the sector in the Union budget for 2013-14, an increase of a little over 7% from that for the current fiscal year.

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Survey takes note of rot in education
Deccan Herald, March 06, 2013

The Economic Survey has taken note of the decline in educational achievements, underlining that quality education is must for India to reap the benefits of its demographic dividend to the full. The Survey, conducted for 2012-13, suggested that decline in educational achievements of the country was not just because of lower levels of learning, but also due of the schools reaching out to enrol students with lower preparation than they did earlier.

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Enrolment of girls at primary level goes up: NCERT
Governance Now, January 23, 2013

A survey conducted by the NCERT shows an impressive growth in the enrolment of girl students in schools. The eighth all India education survey (AIES) by NCERT for 2002-09 shows the enrolment at primary stage stood at 48.13 percent but came down to 42.56 percent at higher secondary stage. Similar trend is observed in percentage of girls enrolled in schools in rural areas.

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Need to address ‘major concerns’ in education: PM
News Track India, Feb 6, 2013

There were “major concerns” relating to equity in education that need to be addressed even as access to primary education becomes “almost universal” with the Right to Education (RTE) Act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Wednesday.

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RTE’s no-detention clause under review
The New Indian Express, Feb 8, 2013

Following discussions with education ministers from all states, a committee has been formed by the HRD ministry to take a re-look into certain aspects of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, including the “no-detention” clause that many educationists felt was pulling down quality. Speaking at the ‘ThinkEdu’ conclave, Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Human Resource Development, said the Centre was aware of suggestions that have poured in on improving the law. “A committee has been formed, which is going deep into issues such as the continuous assessment of children and the no-detention clause. It will soon submit its findings,” he said.

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Panchayat control of primary education has teachers up in arms
The Pioneer, Feb 18, 2013

The Government’s efforts to provide powers to rural elected bodies and give control of primary education to panchayati raj institutions may face a serious hurdle. Teachers have expressed their unhappiness with the decision and decided to lodge a protest.

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Varsities should adopt schools, give primary education a boost
The Indian Express, Feb 10, 2013

It is high time universities took interest in primary education, said Dr Ved Prakash, Chairman, University Grants Commission. Prakash addressing the 106th convocation of the University of Pune.

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Education outlay receives mixed reactions
The New Indian Express, March 01, 2013

The allocation for education in the Union Budget received bouquets and brickbats as experts got candid about the announcements made.While the outlay for the Right to Education Act (RTE) and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan stands at Rs 27,258 crore, the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) has seen an increase of roughly 27 per cent at Rs 3,983 crore. The allocation for the Midday Meal Scheme is Rs 13,215 crore for 2013-14.

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News Corp education arm in tablet launch
Financial Times, March 6, 2013

News Corp is raising the competition with rivals as its Amplify digital education group unveils a $299 tablet designed for the classroom, featuring personalised learning technologies for students and new instructional tools for teachers. School systems across the US are strapped for cash, but Amplify is betting that government and school authorities will continue to spend on technological upgrades.

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What is the true cost of public education?

According to a new study by the Cato Institute, some of the nation's largest public school districts are underreporting the true cost of government-run education programs. It is likely that Indian public schools are similar.

Mr FM, do justice to the children of India!
Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Centre for Civil Society writes in Mint:
“Finance minister P. Chidambaram has used sleight of hand to mask the stagnation of the education budget. He used the revised estimate of fiscal year 2012-13 instead of the budget estimate to show the Rs.65,877 crore allocated to education has grown 17% from that base. Chidambaram must realize our nation is at risk. While he says he is focused on growth, he fails to realize we are headed straight into a middle-income trap of unsustainable growth. He claims the overarching priority of the budget is to provide education and create jobs for the youth, and yet, the education allocation (excluding technical education) is only 4% of the overall expenditure of Rs.16.6 trillion. Is this the appropriate reaction for a country that recently came second last in the world on the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) test. Come on, Mr. Minister, you can do better than that.”

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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)
A comprehensive analysis on reservation in private schools under the Right to Education Act, providing a seven-step model for 25% implementation.

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

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