Latest news with #AmeetaMullaWattal
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Business Standard
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Education ministry forms panel to cut coaching centre dependance
The Union Ministry of Education has set up an eleven-member panel to deliberate on concerns regarding the coaching centre ecosystem and suggest measures to reduce students' dependency on these centres for their transition to higher education. To be chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, the panel also includes the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman, joint secretaries from the departments of school and higher education, and representatives from three IITs — Madras, Trichy and Kanpur — as well as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). According to the order accessed by Business Standard, the panel will examine the reasons behind the emergence of dummy schools and their role in encouraging full-time coaching at the cost of formal schooling, and will suggest ways to mitigate the issue. This comes after the CBSE, in March 2025, barred students enrolled in dummy schools from appearing for the Class 12 examinations. Dummy schools are institutions where students are officially enrolled but are not required to attend regular classes. These schools are often associated with students preparing for competitive entrance exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering courses and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses. Calling the initiative a much-needed step towards reimagining schooling in the country, Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, chairperson and executive director, Education, Innovations and Training at DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship Programmes, said the move helps reclaim school systems that have been rendered irrelevant — particularly at the senior level — due to the rise of dummy schools. The committee will also examine gaps in the current schooling system, particularly the limited focus on critical thinking and logical reasoning, and the prevalence of rote learning. Dr Wattal added that there needs to be discussion on the misalignment between school and coaching curricula, noting that an exam-centric system of rote learning may not help students develop academic depth in their subjects. It has also been tasked with evaluating awareness levels among students and parents regarding multiple career pathways and career counselling. The panel will additionally review advertising practices, including the use of misleading claims and promotion of selective success stories, and suggest measures to address the issue. This comes after the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued guidelines last year for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, in response to growing concerns about exaggerated success rates, misleading claims and unfair contracts often imposed by coaching institutes.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Why Delhi principals are not on board with draft Bill to regulate fees in private schools
The draft Bill to regulate fee hikes in all 1,677 aided and unaided private schools, which the Delhi BJP government has described as a 'historic and bold' move, has elicited sharp responses from schools. While parents hail it as a long-overdue intervention against unregulated fee surges, experts warn that it may strangle institutions already grappling with rising costs and evolving educational demands. The Delhi government has an existing framework related to the regulation of school fees; under Section 17 (3) of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, every school is required to submit a statement of proposed fee hikes to the Directorate of Education by March 31 each year. They must also file their audited balance sheets by July 31. The Act also touches extensively upon recognition, constitution of management committees, and grant-in-aid aids, among others. According to school bodies and stakeholders that The Indian Express spoke to, apprehensions remain on how the new Bill will change things. Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Chairperson of DLF Foundation Schools, described the issue as 'complex and long-standing,' emphasising that many schools in Delhi are decades old and face increasing pressure to upgrade. 'The NEP (National Education Policy) also requires extra teachers, vocational education… The CBSE puts a lot of emphasis on quality infrastructure like playgrounds, labs, and new subjects. There has to be a fee hike, which is not elaborate,' she said. 'Construction costs have tripled. Many schools are borrowing from alumni due to fund crunches. Schools should be self-sustaining entities.' While acknowledging that the Bill can protect parents and curb arbitrary hikes, Wattal cautioned against bureaucratic overreach: 'There is no need to reinvent the wheel and create committee after committee… this only leads to red tapeism. CBSE already conducts thorough inspections of school infrastructure and staff requirements…' The Private Schools and Children Welfare Association, which represents thousands of budget private schools across India, also expressed deep reservations. Its national president, Syed Shamael Ahmad, said a 'one-size-fits-all mechanism' would disproportionately harm medium and low-budget schools. 'Ninety per cent of schools are medium-budget schools. Only a few are elite. The same regulatory mechanism cannot apply to both,' Ahmad said. 'The decisions to impose hefty fines and set up multiple committees seem like exploitative tools. Such a policy will force budget schools to shut down.' Dr Kavitha A Sharma, noted academician and Vice-Chairperson of the Managing Board in Springdales School, Pusa Road, warned that a blanket fee regulation will be hard to implement across Delhi's wide spectrum of schools — 'from elite to schools that serve first-generation learners'. 'There is a shortage of quality teachers in private schools. Incentives like good pay are needed to encourage more teachers. Government school teachers match the quality, but their potential is wasted; they are constantly on Census or election duty, frequently transferred, and women teachers suffer the most. Meanwhile, many low-fee private schools underpay teachers. That's where government oversight is urgently needed…,' she added. Mahesh Mishra, a parent of a student at Delhi Public School, Dwarka, called for an 'urgent revision' of the draft Bill. '…the execution and approach of this draft legislation are deeply flawed and require urgent revision.' '… most schools in Delhi do not have democratically elected parent-teacher associations (PTAs). Without PTAs, the first-level committee proposed in the Bill — tasked with reviewing fee structures — will be biased in favor of school management,' Mishra added. Bharat Arora, president of the Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools, said, 'The proposed Bill is a welcome step towards transparency. However, it is equally vital to safeguard the autonomy of private unaided schools that have long supported the city's educational framework.'
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NPSC's 52nd Annual Conference sheds light on conflict management & peace education in schools, check details
The National Progressive Schools Conference, NPSC, conducted the 52nd annual conference on April 25 and 26, 2025, that brought together as many as 250 CBSE-affiliated Senior Secondary Schools to address critical themes of conflict resolution and peacebuilding in education. The two-day event commenced with a school choir performance by Summer Fields School, Gurugram, followed by a welcome address by Asha Prabhakar, Chairperson, NPSC & Principal, Bal Bharati Public School, Noida. In her address, she emphasised the urgency of fostering peace-centric education. Also read: Age no bar: At 84, scientist earns MBA degree from IIM; next step PhD Chief Guest Padma Shri Shobhana Bhartia, Chairperson and Editorial Director of HT Media, underscored the media's role in shaping equitable educational narratives. The inaugural address was delivered by Prof. Edward Vickers, UNESCO Chair for Education for Peace, Kyushu University, who highlighted the global frameworks for integrating social justice into curricula. Keynote speaker Ambassador Shashi Uban Tripathi (IFS Retd.), in his address, linked diplomatic conflict-resolution strategies to school ecosystems. Also read: NEET-UG on May 4: How MoE is trying to ensure there are no lapses during exams, check details The Annual Report was presented by Mallika Preman, Secretary, NPSC & Principal, Tagore International School, Delhi, outlining the major achievements of NPSC, a press statement informed. The event also featured the release of the NPSC publication, a significant step toward advancing educational discourse and collaborative learning. During the event, the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Chairperson & Executive Director, Education, Innovations and Training, DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship Programmes. Also read: CBSE crackdown on institutions allowing dummy candidates a wake up call for Bihar students, parents Notably, the conference consisted of several intriguing sessions on both days. For instance on Day 1, the first session revolved around 'Conflict Resolution in Focus' wherein insights where shared on understanding conflicts in schools - causes, culture and leadership roles. The panel included Dr Payal Kumar, Principal Academic Advisor, ISH, XLRI, Global L& D Advisor & Award winning Author, Dr Kavita Sharma, Ex- Principal, Hindu College, Delhi University, Dr Amit Sen, Child Psychiatrist and Prof. Edward Vickers, UNESCO Chair for Education for Peace, Kyushu University, Moderator Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Chairperson & Executive Director, education, Innovations and Training, DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship programmes who analysed cultural, leadership and psychosocial drivers of disputes and underscored the need for collaborative strategies to prioritise student well-being and leverage policy frameworks for sustainable educational growth. Also read: JEE Advanced 2025: IIT Kanpur launches portal to submit registration-related issues, direct link here Session 2 focused on 'Peaceful Schools for National Prosperity' - the panel included Padma Shri Geetha Chandran (Bharatanatyam icon), Sohail Hashmi, Historian, Social activist, Film- Maker & Heritage Conservationist, Padma Shri Prathibha Prahlad, Educator, Choreographer & Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Prerna Bhambri, Indian Former Tennis Player, Moderator Latika Gupta, CIE, Delhi. The experts advocated aligning co-curricular activities with peace education. Likewise, the theme of Session 3 was 'Masterclass on Effective Communication for Conflict Resolution: Mastering 'Active Listening' to 'Deep Listening''. During this session, Sudarshan Rodrigues (RTL Works) in conversation with Dr Annie Koshi, Principal, St Mary's School trained attendees in 'deep listening' techniques, the press release added. On the second day, the audience was enthralled by an interactive performance by ventriloquist Santhosh, a TEDx Speaker and Voice Coach, whose engaging act seamlessly combined storytelling, humour and valuable insights into effective communication- an essential tool for conflict resolution. The Induction of New Members and Felicitation of State and National Awardees, where distinguished educators were recognised for their dedication to fostering innovative educational practices, was also conducted on the second day. Additionally, the remaining sessions were conducted on Day 2. On Session 4, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Member, Rajya Sabha & BJP National Spokesperson, delivered a compelling address on policy framework for technology integration in education. He focused digital infrastructure and skilling initiatives, emphasising the need for future-ready academic environments that integrate digital literacy and technological advancement into conflict resolution strategies. Similarly, Session 5 was themed 'Expert Dialogue: Conflict in the Cybersphere: Exploring the inter section of technology and Peacebuilding'. Cyber law specialist Pawan Duggal, Bhaskar Basu, Director at Microsoft, and Hemant Tiwari IPS- DCP- IFSO/Cyber Crime, in dialogue with Ashok Pandey, Innovator, Classroom Practitioner and an influential education Leader discussed cyber conflicts. The session examined the regulatory challenges, ethical AI practices and the role of technological policies in safeguarding digital spaces within educational institutions. In Session 6, the theme was "Voices from the Bard: Memory, Meaning and Metaphor." Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Chairperson & Executive Director, Education, Innovations and Training, DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship programmes led an interactive role-playing exercise on Shakespearean themes, fostering critical thinking and empathy in conflict resolution. Session 7 was 'Student-Teacher Collaboration & Policy Insights', wherein, Principal of Hyderabad Public School, Skand Bali, Dr Ruchi Seth, Principal, Lotus Valley International School, Noida, Parveen Quaiser, Principal, Sunbeam Lahartara, Varanasi and Ajay Singh, Principal, The Scindia School engaged in a discussion with student ambassadors from Modern Barakhamba, Lotus Valley International School and Sunbeam Lahartara, Varanasi on classroom conflict resolution strategies, emphasising collaborative learning and empathetic leadership. The panel was moderated by Dr Anuradha Joshi, Principal, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya. Chief Guest Rahul Singh, chairman of CBSE, highlighted the curriculum reforms for digital citizenship, ensuring that schools remain at the forefront of ethical tech practices and student-centered education. M J Akbar, Indian Author, Journalist and former Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha spoke on the role of literature and history in fostering empathy and critical thinking. His reflections underscored the need for integrating literature into conflict resolution methodologies, ensuring that students cultivate both emotional intelligence and analytical depth. Session 8 on 'Ekam Sat', commenced with a conversation between Malini Narayanan, Ex Principal, Army Public School Shankar Vihar and Prathibha Prahlad. The power of cultural expression took center stage with a stirring presentation of 'Ekam Sat', performed by Padma Shri Prathibha Prahlad's group. Through dance, music, and dramatic storytelling, the performance beautifully emphasised unity in diversity, reinforcing the significance of cultural heritage in fostering peace and understanding within school communities.
