Latest news with #Gujarati-medium
Indian Express
20 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
Gujarati medium schooling to a seat at IIT Guwahati: Journey of a BTech student
I first heard about IIT when my cousin, who is four years older than I, secured a seat in the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi). At that time, I didn't really know much about IITs. When I asked my father, he told me that IITs are the best colleges in India, and only a very small number of students make it through, given the limited number of seats. Listening to him, I was in awe, and somewhere inside me, my ego pushed me to prepare for the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). That was when my journey began. I formally started preparing for JEE in Class 9. I enrolled in coaching classes and used to go to school on weekdays and attend JEE classes on weekends for 3-4 hours straight. Initially, it was hard to manage, but gradually, I adapted to the rhythm. I am 21 years old and I come from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Currently, I am in my fourth year in the Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) department at IIT Guwahati. JEE preparation and challenges Coming from a Gujarati-medium school, I was worried because JEE Advanced can only be attempted in English. But I soon realised I wasn't alone – many students were in the same situation. The toughest phase was during the COVID-19 pandemic, when all classes shifted online. Like many others, I found it difficult to focus, and the negativity around made it harder to concentrate. My family stood by me during that period, and I will always be grateful to them. Thankfully, the exams were postponed by two months, which gave me extra preparation time. I appeared for JEE Mains and Advanced in 2022 and secured an All India Rank of 1646. I was also a top scorer in my school. Choosing IIT Guwahati With my rank, I had some difficult choices. I could take Aerospace at IIT Bombay (a better college but not a preferred branch) or Computer Science at IIT Ropar (a better branch but a newer IIT). I also had options like Electronics and Electrical at IIT Roorkee and IIT Kharagpur, and Electronics and Communication at IIT Guwahati. After going through the course structures and consulting my seniors, I chose IIT Guwahati. My advice to newcomers is to always weigh both extremes – branch and college – before deciding. Also, never hesitate to fill in your dream options, even if they seem out of reach. First days in IIT I first came to IIT Guwahati in October 2022. The excitement of hostel life was mixed with fear and uncertainty. Adjusting meant making new friends, starting with my roommate, then hostel mates, and gradually forming a small group. Like most students, I missed home food, but I got used to the mess eventually. Clubs became an important part of my life. I joined Techniche, was part of Cepstrum (Electronics and Electrical Engineering student body), and worked with the electronics club, organising events. Balancing these activities with academics often meant sacrificing sleep, but the experiences were worth it. Life at IIT IIT has taught me a lot and given me confidence. Meeting new people exposed me to different perspectives, and joining clubs showed me the effort behind every event. I also realised that IIT provides opportunities to develop skills far beyond academics. In my first year, my routine was packed – labs in the morning, classes in the afternoon, and sports in the evening. By the second year, I was working actively in two to three clubs, spending my time between academics, club activities, and chilling with friends. I also enjoy reading books and writing stories. There are plenty of hangout spots on campus. I often go to the new Student Activity Centre (SAC) building, walk around the lake, or sit in the hostel common room. I also love cycling at night – during my first and second years, I cycled for 40-45 minutes almost every night. My professors here are of all types – some are strict with attendance and grading, while others are lenient. But one common thing is that every professor truly enjoys teaching and encourages students who seek guidance. Experiences and reflections At IIT, inter-hostel and inter-IIT competitions – be it in sports, cultural, or technical activities – make life exciting. Compared to my friends in other colleges, I feel lucky to have such a vibrant extracurricular environment. Of course, there are challenges too. Hostel infrastructure at IIT Guwahati lags behind newer IITs, and I wish there were more flexibility to pursue research from the undergraduate level. I've tried many hobbies – chess, tennis, table tennis, drawing, skating, swimming, and even hockey (which I joined in my first year). The only regret is not being consistent with them. Still, these experiences taught me a lot. Daily life and expenses Most of my expenses go into canteen food and outings. Like many students, I dislike mess food, so late-night canteen trips became frequent. We also often went to the city on scooters for movies or dinners. Despite the expenses, I cherish these moments, the late-night snacks, cycling, and long conversations with friends. Looking ahead One important lesson IIT has taught me is to never stop trying. Success may not always come, but regrets last longer than failures. Every decision has consequences, and owning them without giving up is the key. After my BTech, I plan to pursue a Master's degree in core engineering. I am currently preparing for the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations). I believe a Master's will help me strengthen my knowledge and open more opportunities in the future. IIT has been my guidebook for life so far, shaping me into a more confident, adaptable, and forward-looking person.
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Business Standard
11-06-2025
- Business Standard
NEET-UG 2025: Students raise alarm over faulty papers, urge NTA action
Students and parents flag errors in NEET-UG 2025, urging the NTA to ensure fair evaluation amid rising concerns over faulty papers and content Nandini Singh New Delhi The NEET-UG 2025 examination, conducted on May 4 amid heightened security by the Ministry of Education in coordination with state authorities, is now facing backlash following reports of misprinted question papers and delays in grievance redressal. According to a report by The Times of India, students and parents have raised serious concerns over the layout of question papers in certain centres, urging the National Testing Agency (NTA) to respond swiftly and ensure fairness in the evaluation process. The results, expected to be released by June 14, hold high stakes for over two million aspirants vying for undergraduate seats in medicine, dentistry, and allied courses. Booklet errors lead to confusion In multiple examination centres, particularly in Sikar (Rajasthan) and Jamnagar (Gujarat), candidates reported receiving faulty booklets with misaligned page numbers and questions out of sequence. Students assigned Paper Code 47 in Sikar found that question 7 was immediately followed by question 15, creating confusion during the test. A similar issue affected candidates using Gujarati-medium Paper Code 48 in Gujarat. 'I lost precious time trying to match the questions on the answer sheet,' said one student. Some reported marking the wrong answers entirely due to the disordered layout. ALSO READ: Students asked to attempt faulty papers Despite attempts to alert invigilators during the examination, candidates claimed they were told to proceed with the faulty papers. Guardians later filed formal complaints with both the Gujarat government and the NTA, providing scanned copies of the defective booklets. 'Students even raised the issue during the test but were told to solve the faulty paper,' a parent noted in a written complaint, as reported by the news outlet. While the NTA declined to comment on the Sikar case, citing the matter as sub judice, the broader issue of paper quality remains unaddressed. Syllabus concerns compound student anxiety Alongside printing errors, candidates and coaching experts flagged questions they allege fall outside the prescribed NEET syllabus. One such instance is question 38 from Code 47, which reportedly required the use of calculus-based derivatives—a topic more commonly found in engineering entrance exams like JEE (Main). 'All questions were from the prescribed syllabus. The answer keys have been published and objections invited from candidates. These will be reviewed by a committee of subject experts,' an NTA official said. ALSO READ:
Indian Express
07-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
2,231 children get seats in Gujarat schools in third round of RTE admissions
As many as 2,231 more children were offered seats in unaided private primary schools across Gujarat in the third round of the RTE admission process, held on Friday. The Right to Education Act 2009 reserves 25 per cent seats in private schools for students from weaker groups. Students clearing this round for admissions in Class 1 will have to appear in person at their respective schools by June 13 and submit necessary documents to get their admissions confirmed. After the third round of allotment, 6,946 of the total seats available under the RTE admission process are vacant that include 624 in Gujarati-medium schools, 4,238 in English, 1,919 in Hindi and 165 in others. A total of 94,798 seats were available under the RTE process in different mediums in a total of 9,814 unaided primary schools in the state for the academic year 2025-26. Of these, a total of 93,270 students had been allotted seats in the first and second rounds, with 85,744 of them taking admission in the respective schools. For the 9,157 vacant seats after the completion of the second round, 82,448 applicants were denied admission. They, however, were allowed to re-select schools from June 2 to 4. During this period, while 31,391 applicants re-selected schools, 51,057 went for the previously selected schools, according to details from the office of the Director of Primary Education, Gandhinagar.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Evaluation process at GU colleges raises concerns
Ahmedabad: The evaluation process at Gujarat University's (GU's) affiliated colleges has come under scrutiny. The assessment of examination papers at arts, commerce, and science colleges revealed significant irregularities, sources said. It was alleged that teachers were not following the university's prescribed evaluation standards, which could adversely impact students' academic performance. The university administration has specific protocols regarding the appointment of evaluators, considering their subject specialisation and teaching experience. Sources claimed that Gujarati-medium papers are being assessed by English-medium teachers who lack proficiency in the Gujarati language. Similarly, teachers with limited English language skills are checking answer sheets for English-medium students. The improper evaluation process reportedly resulted in an unusually high failure rate. Some evaluators were awarding extremely low marks, ranging from 2 to 4, without thorough assessment, sources alleged. Representatives from NSUI and Youth Congress have scheduled a meeting with the GU vice chancellor. They intend to advocate for the strict implementation of evaluation guidelines.
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
GSHSEB: Surat leads with highest number of students who appeared, cleared Class 12 board examinations
Surat city, which had the maximum number of students appearing in the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) Class 12 examinations this year, also topped with the highest number of students clearing the exams in both General and Science streams. Also, the highest number of students who secured A1 and A2 grades are from Surat city. Besides, Surat's Suman schools have seen a 2% rise in the pass percentage for General stream increased, when compared with last year. Of the 1,469 students of such schools, who appeared in the board exams this years, 1,449 passed. Kidecha Anjali, daughter of diamond polisher Hareshbhai Kidecha, a student of SMC Suman school at Varachha secured in A1 Grade in General stream with 91.43 percentage and 99.15 percentile. She scored 640 out of 700. Talking to The Indian Express, Anjali said, 'My father works at a diamond factory. He was suffering due to the ongoing recession in the industry. We have been facing financial problems since two months. I worked hard and am satisfied with the results. My mother does 'tikki work' on sarees at home and I help her with that too. The credit of my achievement goes to my teachers and my parents.' Another student of Suman High School at Bhestan, Khan Mohammed Kaif, scored 91 percent (98.97 percentile) and secured A1 grade in General stream. He scored 637 marks. Kaif stays in one of the EWS houses built by the Surat Municipal Corporation, at Bhestan. Kaif said, 'My father does petty labour work at different places. I have two more brothers who also work as labourers and help my father run the family. I help my mother in household chores. The credit of by success goes to my teachers and my hard work. I want to sit for competitive exams and become a government officer, and take care of my family.' In March 2025, a total of 41,884 students from Surat — highest in the state — appeared in the Class 12 board exams for General stream. The overall pass percentage in Surat stood at 93.97. As many as 1,667 (27.54 per cent) students bagged A1 grade, while 6,669 got A2 grade (16.54 per cent). Similarly for Science stream, 14,137 students from Surat — also the highest in the state —appeared in the Class 12 board exams. The overall pass percentage for the stream in Surat stood at 86.50. A total of 247 (29.72 percent) students secured A1 grade and 1,622 (20.07 per cent) achieved A2 grade. Additonally, in nine Suman schools, run by the Surat Municipal Corporation, a total of 1,469 students from General stream appeared in the Class 12 board exams in March 2025, out of which 1,449 passed and the rest failed. In March 2024, 1,355 students had taken the exams, and 1,313 had passed. Surat city's overall pass percentage this year for the stream stood at 98.60, which is 1.70 per cent higher than last year. Dharmesh Patel, an administrator at a Suman school, said: 'We run the 12th grade General stream in Gujarati, Marathi and Hindu mediums. While 607 Gujarati-medium students passed (629 appeared), 552 passed (556 appeared) from Marathi medium and 154 passed (170 appeared) from Hindi mediums. Of those who secured A1 grade, 22 are from Gujarati medium, 29 from Hindi and six from Marathi medium.' He added, 'Minimum fees are collected from the students in Suman schools. We are waiting for the Class 10 board results. We will organise an event where students who have secured A1 grade will be felicitated by the SMC leaders and the commissioner.' Surat DEO Bhagirathsinh Parmar said, 'We are thankful to the students that this year again we topped in the state in terms of the number of students to have successfully cleared the Class 12 board exams in both General and Science streams, and also in terms of number of students who secured A1 and A2 grades. Those who failed can reappear in June again. They should not be heartbroken.'
