Latest news with #DepartmentofPublicInstruction
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
DC urges to increase library membership in Mandya
Emphasising the need to encourage people to visit libraries and read books, Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, Kumar, directed the officials to identify people spending more time reading in libraries and honour them while focusing on increasing library membership to boost the number of readers in the district. Presiding over the Budget meeting of Mandya District Library Authority for the year 2025-26, Mr. Kumar sought to describe the people reading and utilising the books available in libraries as 'true achievers'. He said there were a total of 1.88 lakh books available across all libraries in Mandya district with 53,000 people possessing manual membership cards of different libraries. While suggesting that people who had spent the most time reading in libraries be identified and honoured to motivate other readers, Mr. Kumar suggested that the officials should launch a Monthly Best Reader Campaign under which achievers, who had learnt and succeeded through libraries, be invited and felicitated. He said the construction of a new library at Malavalli was under way and added that the tender process had begun for new libraries that had been approved for Srirangapatna and K.R. Pet. Deputy Director of Department of Public Instruction, Mandya, Chandrashekar, Deputy Director of Libraries, Mandya, Krishnamurthy and others were present on the occasion.
Axios
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump administration releases portion of frozen North Carolina education funding
The U.S. Department of Education has released a portion of North Carolina's $165 million in education funding frozen by the Trump administration, the state's education department announced Monday night. Why it matters: The nearly $36 million in funding released will allow North Carolina's after-school and summer programs to continue operating. The programs, which served more than 10,000 K-12 students last year, "provide critical academic support and safe environments for students, particularly those in high-poverty areas," North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction said in a statement. Catch up quick: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is one of a dozen attorneys general nationwide who are suing the U.S. Department of Education for withholding more than $6 billion in education funding nationwide. Those funds were expected to be accessible July 1. North Carolina's portion of that — more than $165 million — made up more than 10% of the state's federal education funding. The freeze comes amid what the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget called an "ongoing programmatic review" and pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda," Axios' Avery Lotz reported earlier this month. Driving the news: Nearly 30 statewide full-time jobs would have been in jeopardy had the federal government not released $36 million as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which supports academic enrichment during non-school hours, per data released by North Carolina's Department of Justice. Wake, Durham and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school districts had not been awarded any funding under that program, according to the data. State of play: Around $130 million in K-12 education funding remains frozen and under review, North Carolina's education department said. More than 900 jobs remain at risk. Those funds come from four programs, which support migrant children, help students learn English, ensure the "quality and effectiveness of educators," and improve school conditions and the use of technology to improve academic achievement, according to the Learning Policy Institute, which conducts research to improve education policies.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New and damning school voucher data confirm worst fears
Ever since North Carolina legislators established the so-called 'Opportunity Scholarships' school voucher program, sponsors and proponents have pitched it as a means of helping low-income students escape struggling public schools. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, a new report from the Department of Public Instruction shows that this was all baloney. The DPI researchers found that just sixty-seven hundred of the state's eighty-thousand-plus vouchers in the current school year went to students who had attended a North Carolina public school in the prior year. And while the data for kindergartners were not yet available, it's clear that as much as ninety percent or more of new vouchers in 24-25 were for students who have never attended a public school. In other words, the vast majority of voucher money is going to parents – most of them well-off – who never had any intention of sending their kids to public schools. The bottom line: School vouchers in our state have nothing to do with quote 'opportunity' and everything to do with undermining and privatizing public education. Other explanations are simply false. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
The Hindu
06-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
MLA urges NGO to extend support in upgrading govt. schools
Chamarajanagar MLA C. Puttarangashetty on Friday said that NGOs should extend cooperation and support in revival and upgradation of government schools. Speaking at the inauguration of a newly constructed school building of the upgraded Government Higher Primary School in PWD Colony, he said that government has taken the initiative to upgrade schools, and this should be supported by NGOs. The school has been adopted and supported by Basava Rajendra Medical Trust. Ramachandraraje Urs, Deputy Director of the Department of Public Instruction, said many initiatives such as Nanna Shaale, Nanna Koduge (My School, My Contribution), have been launched, and alumni continue to contribute to improve amenities at schools. The official said the enrollment in the school was 62 in 2021–22, which rose to 119 in 2022–23 and 210 in 2023–24. In the current academic year 2025–26, 320 children have been enrolled, he said. The school, which earlier had classes from 1 to 8, will now be extended from LKG to 9th standard. It will have class 10 in the next academic year, said Mr. Urs. The Basava Rajendra Medical Trust has provided eight classrooms, a school vehicle, a borewell, furniture, books, uniforms, and computers to the school. The school will be developed in to a model school, he said. M. Basavarajendra, managing director of the trust, said that donation alone will not suffice in upgradation of schools, and the need of the hour was its proper utilisation. He said it is important to learn English, along with Kannada. 'In today's world, learning other languages, along with the mother tongue, is necessary for professional life. Hence, facilities should be provided to teach English in government schools,' said Mr. Basavarajendra. Members of the School Development Management Committee were present.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Siddaramaiah directs CS to issue notices to DDPIs for poor show in SSLC results
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday ordered the issue of notices to the Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPIs) in districts where the pass percentage in the SSLC examination in 2025 was below 60. Mr. Siddaramaiah, who continued the review of progress of all department works for the second day on Saturday with all Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat chief executive officers (CEOs), asked Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to issue notices to the DDPIs. 'If their replies are not satisfactory, initiate further action against them,' the Chief Minister told Ms. Rajneesh. The DDPIs head the Education Department in districts and their supervisory role is vital in ensuring higher pass percentage of students. Kalyana Karnataka The pass percentage of students in government schools in the 2025 SSLC exam was below 60 in many districts. The seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka region recorded a dismal show in the examination, occupying the lowest ranks in the State. Of the bottom seven districts, six belong to the Kalyana Karnataka region, while the seventh, Vijayapura, from the Kittur Karnataka region, ranked 34th, just one place above the last. Kalaburagi district has slipped to the bottom — 35th rank — with a pass percentage of just 42.43, far below the State average of 66.14%. Kalaburagi's decline has been consistent over the past three years, dropping from 29th place in 2023 to 34th in 2024, and now 35th in 2025. The pass percentage in Vijayapura was 49.58, Yadgir 51.6, Raichur 52.05, Bidar 53.25, and Koppal 57.32. Notably, none of the 22 students in the State who achieved a perfect score of 625 out of 625 are from the Kalyana Karnataka region. Despite continued efforts by the Department of Public Instruction and the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB), the region continues to lag behind others in educational outcomes. Noting good results in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, in contrast, the Chief Minister asked officials not to give excuses like teacher shortage. Mr. Siddaramaiah asked officials in the backward Kalyana Karnataka region to provide extra attention to SSLC results. He said a sum of ₹906.64 crore was released to build new classrooms under the Viveka scheme. He questioned the Deputy Commissioners of districts where classrooms have not been completed despite fund release. 'Why are DCs not showing interest?' he asked. Visit schools 'The DDPIs should shoulder their responsibilities seriously. The DDPIs, along with secretaries in charge of districts, must visit schools and review the performance of teachers. 'If teachers and the DDPIs show interest, then good results can be achieved,' the Chief Minister said. Noting the falling admissions in government schools, he said, 'This is not a good development. The government is supplying eggs, milk, ragi malt, and soap, and providing hostel facility. Still, why are admissions falling?' he sought to know. Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was a need for teachers and officials to hold talks with parents and stop students from dropping out from schools.
