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NDTV
3 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
1 Teacher, 8 Classes: Madhya Pradesh's 'Managed' Education Crisis
Agar Malwa: More than 12,000 government schools in Madhya Pradesh are being run by a single teacher. Amidst an acute and growing shortage of teaching staff, the state government has issued new instructions that deepen the crisis even further. Now, primary school teachers already burdened with multiple responsibilities are being instructed to also handle early childhood education for Anganwadi children, after undergoing minimal training. A letter issued by the State Education Centre, a copy of which is with NDTV, lays out detailed instructions for operating Balvatika (pre-primary) classes during the 2025-26 session. It mandates that trained teachers must conduct these classes, implement a structured timetable, manage play-based learning, track student progress, and create handmade learning materials all while ensuring regular monitoring, including uploading videos and reports to dedicated groups. Teachers must also prepare local newsletters and act as storytellers, caregivers, and evaluators. In districts like Agar Malwa, 200 kilometers from the state capital Bhopal, this so-called 'management' is unraveling at the seams. In one government primary school, just three teachers are responsible for handling eight classes from nursery to fifth all in overlapping shifts and cramped spaces. One of them is Rekha Bhatnagar, who often finds herself attending to toddlers while older children wrestle with math and grammar in the same room. These teachers aren't just educating they're feeding children, comforting crying ECCE students, managing mid-day meals, and still expected to implement the New Education Policy's vision of "play-based learning." The role demands more than teaching: it demands emotional labour, time management, and an ability to multitask like a full-time caregiver and administrator rolled into one. "We're managing," Rekha says, gently, as she soothes a four-year-old clinging to her saree. "They're too young, some cry for their mothers. We sing to them, feed them, give chocolates when they won't settle." Her words are calm, but they speak volumes this is not a classroom, it's a space of survival. The state dreams of joyful, creative classrooms. But what "play-based learning" often translates to is: the teacher must "play," manage the "base," and still make "learning" happen. ECCE implementation, primary instruction, mid-day meals, emotional regulation, and daily documentation all now expected from just three people. The government isn't asking them to teach anymore; it's asking them to perform magic, every single day, without backup. Principal Saroj Mangal defends the effort: the staff is doing its best, the ECCE kids are seated with Class 1 and 2 due to the lack of classrooms and teachers. The portal is being updated, he says. But the facts on the ground speak louder. According to a 2024 central government report presented in the assembly, there are still 12,210 one-teacher schools in Madhya Pradesh a slight improvement from the 21,077 flagged by UNESCO in 2021, but still a grave figure for a state with around 1 lakh schools. The same report paints a bleak picture: 9,500 government schools without electricity; 1,745 without toilets for girls; 775 without ramps for children with disabilities; and of the 4,815 "smart classes" approved, only 986 actually function. Worse, 5,600 schools are either in ruins or have no buildings at all. Enrolment has also nosedived from 78.96 lakh students in 2015-16 to 58.17 lakh in 2024-25 a decline of 21 lakh in just a decade. Students aren't simply dropping out they're being pushed out of a system that has stopped working for them. Congress MLA Jaivardhan Singh calls it outright neglect. "Vacant posts are not being filled. Guest teachers are underpaid and left in limbo. Permanent recruitment remains stuck in files," he says. "Teachers are our most valuable resource and we are burning them out." In contrast, the state's School Education Minister Rao Uday Pratap Singh dismisses these concerns entirely. "Your information is wrong," he says. But principals, teachers, district officials and the government's own data suggest otherwise. But when NDTV questioned the District Education Officer, his statement clearly contradicted that claim. MK Jatav, DEO Agar-Malwa, said, "Only those teachers who are already posted have been trained. They are generally trained to do prayers, figures from pictures, basic counting knowledge for small children, and small poems like Machhli Jal Ki Rani Hai. Anyway, the workload on teachers is already high, so this won't increase it much. We just follow the department's instructions." In Madhya Pradesh today, teaching is no longer a profession. It's a test of physical and emotional survival. Teachers are expected to be routers for a broken system everything flows through them, but nothing supports them. They cook, clean, record data, handle trauma, manage toddlers, and now, train as ECCE specialists too.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AU's Executive Council approves implementation of NEP from 2025-26 session
A meeting of the Executive Council of Allahabad University (AU), the apex decision making body of the Central University, was held on Monday under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Prof Sangita Srivastava. In the meeting the house unanimously approved the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) in the university which would be made effective from the 2025-26 academic session. (Sourced) Following this, undergraduate degrees at the university will become four-year programmes. Under this system, a certificate will be awarded in the first year, a diploma in the second year, a degree with double major subjects in the third year, and an Honors with Research degree in the fourth year. The new system also includes provisions for entry and exit at the end of each session. Additionally, students will need to pursue skill enhancement, ability enhancement, and value-added courses to boost their employability and meet industry demands. Earlier, the Academic Council had approved the implementation of the NEP in its meeting on July 20. Subsequently, this proposal was presented before the university's apex decision making body for approval on Monday. The house approved the promotion of Dr Shanti Suman, assistant professor in the Psychology Department, from assistant professor Stage III to associate professor under the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS). Further, the Executive Council also approved confirmation of 43 teachers from various departments, including the Centre of Environment Science, Department of Geography, Department of Law, Department of Defence and Strategic Studies, Department of Electronics and Communication, Department of Zoology, Department of Economics, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Mathematics, and Department of Physics. This includes one professor, five associate professors, and 37 assistant professors. The ongoing registration for admission counselling for the 2025-26 session at University of Allahabad signifies a new era for the university. Over the past three years, the university has seen a record increase in the number of students arriving for admissions. For admissions in the current 2025-26 academic session, 59,904 students got themselves registered while 52,732 candidates paid the admission counselling fees. Comparatively, last year in the 2024-25 session, 41,478 students had paid the registration fee, 49,519 students in the 2023-24 session and 45,650 in 2022-23 academic session respectively. The university has approximately 3,500 seats available for admission across various undergraduate courses.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
AU executive council approves NEP implementation, 4-yr UG curriculum
Prayagraj: The executive council of University of Allahabad (AU) on Monday approved the implementation of the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 enabling the introduction of a four-year undergraduate curriculum and other significant measures to transform the academic structure of the central university. The EC meeting, presided over by vice-chancellor Prof Sangita Srivastava, unanimously agreed that starting from the 2025-26 academic session, the university's undergraduate programmes will be extended from the traditional three-year format to a four-year curriculum. The new system offers a progressive degree pathway: students will earn a certificate after the first year, a diploma after the second year, a degree with a double major after the third year, and finally, an Honours with Research degree at the end of the fourth year. The NEP also introduces a flexible exit and entry system at the conclusion of each year, allowing students greater academic mobility. Further, to align with industry demands and improve employability, students will be required to undertake skill enhancement courses, ability enhancement programmes and value-added courses during their study period. This comprehensive restructuring followed the earlier approval of the NEP by the Academic Council on July 20 and was approved by the university's apex decision-making body, the EC. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cyprus investments might surprise you Cyprus Investments | Search Ads Get Info Undo In addition to this major academic reform, the EC approved several key administrative decisions. Among them was the promotion of Shanti Suman from assistant professor stage III to associate professor in the department of psychology under the career advancement scheme (CAS). The council also confirmed the appointments of 43 teaching staff members from various departments, including environment science, geography, law, defence and strategic studies, electronics and communication, zoology, economics, journalism and mass communication, mathematics, and physics. This group included one professor, five associate professors, and 37 assistant professors, signalling a boost to the university's academic strength. "With the full roll-out of the NEP, AU is committed to providing holistic education that balances academic rigour with skill development, making it an increasingly preferred destination for aspiring students across the country," read a press note shared by AU administration.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Country should retain Bharatiya identity, says RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
KOCHI: 'Viksit Bharat' should be economically strong and contribute to the development of the world, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said in Kochi on Sunday. Addressing the Gyan Sabha organised by the Siksha Sanskrithi Utthan Nyas at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, he said it will help earn respect. 'India should grow strong and economically powerful. Viksit Bharat will not attack any country. In fact, we never conquered any country in history,' he said. Talking about 'Bharatiyata in education', the theme of the Gyan Sabha, Bhagwat said the country should retain its identity. 'Bharat is a proper noun and shouldn't be translated. Will you translate the name Gopal to cow herder in English? The identity of Bharat is deeply rooted in its tradition and preserving the identity will help to earn respect. Bharat should be Bharat whether in writing or speech. A lion will get respect only in the wild and not in circus,' he said. Pointing out that the purpose of education is to help a person develop personality, Bhagwat said a person should be able to express his thoughts and feelings. 'Bharatiya education system and our tradition teaches to share and sacrifice for others. Our tradition is deeply rooted in culture and we should know the culture to impart it to our children,' he said. Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who presided over the function, said the New Education Policy (NEP) is the first attempt by India to decolonise our education system. 'We were under the influence of colonial thought, which changed our thought process. The NEP is different from what was being taught in the country. People say India is a golden bird. But we should be a roaring lion and the roar should be heard across the world,' Arlekar said. Siksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas national secretary Atul Kothari and Association of Indian Universities secretary general Pankaj Mittal were among those who spoke on the occasion.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bharat aims for the well-being of the world, says Mohan Bhagwat
A developed Bharat aims for the well-being of the whole world, according to RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat. Speaking at the education meet organised by Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, an RSS affiliate, here on Sunday (July 27), Mr. Bhagwat said that education was needed for the development of both the individual and society. Cultural values should be passed on to children by the family, and shall be strengthened through customs and practices, he said. He said the country shall continue to be known as Bharat. The name shall remain as Bharat itself in our conscience and thoughts. The name is also the identity of the country. Once you lose your identity, you will never be respected, he said. In his address, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar stated that colonial thoughts overburdened the country, and the New Education Policy was an attempt to decolonise the country's educational system. Colonialism influenced our approach to life and culture. Currently, the country is struggling to come out of the colonial influence in education, he said. Nyas leaders Athul Kothari, Pankaj Mithal and A. Vinod, Cochin Shipyard chairperson Madhu S. Nair and Amritha Viswa Vidyapeetham Vice-Chancellor Venkit Rangan attended. Around 200 Vice-Chancellors from various universities will attend the discussions to be held on Monday (July 28), according to the organisers.
