Latest news with #NewEducationPolicy2020
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
BU launches study on Ganjam's Kewda crop
Berhampur: In Ganjam district, the aromatic kewda flower—long valued for its sweet fragrance and economic importance—is now the focus of a new study on climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods being conducted by Berhampur University. Berhampur University has launched a two-year research project titled "Climate Resilient Cultivation and Sustainable Livelihood: A Study of Kewda Cultivation in the Ganjam District of Odisha" under the Mukhyamantri Research Innovation Programme (MRIP-2024). The state govt has sanctioned ₹5.5 lakh for the initiative. "The project aims to explore the potential for expanding cultivation, assess the feasibility of small-scale industries using kewda as raw material, identify challenges faced by farmers, and offer policy suggestions for long-term sustainability," said Chandrika Prasad Das, assistant professor of commerce at Berhampur University and lead researcher of the project. She added, "The kewda plant stands out for its inclusivity, allowing small and marginal farmers to grow it on unused land boundaries, linking sustainability with economic empowerment. " The flower also plays a vital role in the perfume industry, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where several bhatis (processing units) have been set up by entrepreneurs to extract kewda oil and water. "Ganjam district alone produces an estimated 800 litres of kewda oil, 20,000 litres of attar, and 50,000 litres of kewda water annually, with the industry generating a turnover of around ₹120 crore," said Das. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Geetanjali Dash, Vice Chancellor of Berhampur University, said the research would open doors to greater market integration and entrepreneurship among rural youth, strengthening the connection between agriculture and industry. "This project demonstrates how traditional knowledge and modern innovation can work hand in hand toward a more sustainable future—an objective that aligns closely with the New Education Policy 2020," added Dash.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Reimagining higher education: Ecosystem approach can revive enrollment in basic sciences
With an enrollment of more than 41 million students, India has been recognized as the world's second largest post-secondary education system (after China). In the New Education Policy 2020 (NEP), the Government of India projects to increase the enrollment rate to 50%, from its current 27.3%, by 2035. To achieve this goal, India will have to add around 34 million students to the system. South India has been facing a decline in enrollment in Mathematics and Basic Sciences progressively. This can be perceived as due to emerging trends that view the tertiary education space from a utilitarian perspective. If such a notion persists, though, there would be closure of such programmes at many institutions. However, admissions to Engineering programmes (having allied Mathematics as an integral part) in ranked institutions is still progressing well. This indicates that learning Mathematics in isolation as a major subject has been declining owing to the lack of an associated professional training component. Starved of tuition revenue, universities and colleges are considering closing down departments. But, is there an alternative framework to reimagine the tertiary education space? Do colleges need to appropriate the perception of millennials concerning curriculum and pedagogical design, which would facilitate their enrollment? Expectations of millennials Doug Shapiro, the Executive director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center that curates data from the majority of the institutions in the U.S.A. stated in an interview that 'the longer this continues, the more it starts to build its own momentum as a cultural shift and not just a short-term effect of the pandemic disruptions. 'Students are questioning the value of college. They may be looking at friends who graduated last year or the year before who didn't go, and they seem to be doing fine. They're working; their wages are up.' Millennials in general are inclined to pursue entrepreneurship rather than work for someone else. Secondly, value for money through return of investment is another key perception they have. As per a study cited in a March 2024 article by Inside Higher Ed, it is observed that confidence in colleges is falling, and the perceived value of on-the-job training and shorter-term licensure or certificate programs is on the rise. Further, a survey conducted by the marketing research firm Edge Research and HCM Strategists, a public policy and advocacy consulting firm funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, noted that although 58% of high schoolers and 51% of non-enrolled adults in 2023 believed 'you must have a college degree to earn a 'good job,'' 69% and 65%, respectively, believed certification is enough. To address this complex issue further, we require a whole-of-tertiary education vision and strategy through a systems-thinking approach rather than cherry-picking populist initiatives. We need to envisage new types of institutions with different missions, programmes and modes of study to meet the demands and needs of this diverse cohort of learners and of society. Consequently, to evolve an institutional model from the perspective of reimagining the arts and Science colleges, we can draw insights from Neil J. Smelser's proposition (UC Berkeley) which describes the modern research university as a 'multi-campus network' of inter-related parts and relationships. It can be interpreted that the entire post-secondary landscape could be envisaged as an 'ecosystem' which offers various types of education including skill development leading to professional certification concerning upskilling and reskilling, adult education, continuing education or even lifelong learning, community engagement, and so on. If the tertiary education space is rendered dynamic in design through an ecosystem model by connecting it with the world of work through an interface in the academic institution, it would perpetuate itself by adapting to the changing context. The ecosystem, as a dynamic space, could be envisaged as a system where the number, type, role and responsibilities of providers, individually and collectively, evolve and modify over time in response to the changing environment. Though the ecosystem providers are diversified, flexible and responsive with distinct missions towards societal and economic changes, there would not be an imbedded hierarchy. An ecosystem approach of tertiary education space will keep co-creating the curriculum and pedagogy as it will be constantly communicating and receiving feedback through community and industry engagement. A real-world application The Madras Christian College has embarked on validating this model through the MCC-MRF Innovation Park, where apart from incubating entrepreneurs as its core vision, the innovation park would also focus on creating centers of excellence in domains mapped with programmes offered on the campus. The proposed Centers of Excellence will keep updating themselves with changes happening in the world of work and creating skilled work forces through upskilling and reskilling. In addition to this, hackathons will be conducted periodically curating pain points from industries and involving interns from the campus. The departments within the college, through their association with the centers of excellence, would in turn be sensitized continuously, leading to a dynamic equilibrium between the world of work and the world of education through the interface known as the Innovation Park. If established industries have reservations in setting up their centers at higher education institutions, then budding start-ups would emerge as an alternative option for industry engagement and transform the tertiary education landscape. (Dr. Paul Wilson is currently serving as the Principal and Secretary of Madras Christian College, Chennai, India)
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Bihar Governor inaugurates training programme for nursery teachers of private schools of India
Based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Private Schools and Children Welfare Association (PSCWA) Bihar, a national training programme was started in Patna for nursery teachers of private schools of India. The programme has been formally launched to train nursery teachers working in private schools across the country. Bihar governor Arif Mohammad Khan inaugurated the programme in the premises of PSCWA on Sunday. Mr. Khan in his speech not only praised MoU but also congratulated Bihar on becoming the first State in skill development training. Teachers from every corner of Bihar were also honoured with kits, teachers also presented a detailed reflection on India's education system, cultural heritage and the role of private schools. 'Education is not limited to books only. Education is the power that connects a person with self-realization, moral strength and social responsibility,' Mr. Khan said. He also asserted that the real backbone of every society is only two classes — teachers and doctors. Mr. Khan added when we talk about the backbone of society, only two professions are considered the most sacred — teacher and doctor as one saves the body and the other saves the soul and these two pillars make any civilization great. The Governor pointed out that the role of private schools in India has become even more important in today's times. 'Private schools not only impart education, but they shape the lives of crores of students and teachers. This MoU ensures that elementary education — which is the foundation of any student's personality — is ensured to have quality, training and a value-based approach,' Mr. Khan said. He further said, 'This campaign should not be limited to training alone but should be taken forward as a 'National Teachers' Samman Abhiyan'. Education will be empowered only when the teacher is respected.' Mr. Khan described the effort of PSCWA and the Government of India as a strong initiative towards the basic objective of the New Education Policy 2020 — inclusive, value-based and skill-enabled education. PSCWA National President Syed Shamael Ahmad said, 'This MOU is not an ordinary agreement, but a proof of our commitment towards making the private school system self-reliant and empowering the teacher. We will provide such training to nursery teachers working in private schools across the country, so that they not only become better teachers, but also become guides to society.' He also informed that training camps will be organized in a phased manner in all the states and districts of the country in the next 6 months. District presidents have already been directed to send a maximum of five eligible representatives from each district to this national training campaign. At the end of the programme, Mr. Ahmad expressed his gratitude to all the guests and pledged to make this scheme in Bihar the most successful state
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Students can choose mode of education in govt schools
1 2 3 4 Jaipur: All students in Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools across Rajasthan will have the option to choose their medium of instruction from the 2025–26 session, the state education department announced after three cabinet sub-committee review meetings. The move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. "In the present context, for the purpose of implementing New Education Policy 2020, it would be appropriate to give all the students the opportunity to choose the medium of study. Therefore, for the session 2025-26, the operation of all MGEM Govt Schools operating in the state should be kept as it is," said education secretary Krishna Kunal in a statement. The department also acknowledged that enrolments in govt English medium schools are lower due to lesser number of seats in primary classes. "The committee was informed that due to more seats in higher classes and fewer seats in feeder classes until the session 2023-24, enrolment in MGGS schools also decreased," said the statement. In the meetings, it was also decided that students, especially girls, should be given the choice of continuing in Hindi medium schools at the gram panchayat level. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo For gram panchayats where there was no option left for Hindi medium education after schools were converted to English medium, schools will operate in two shifts for both languages. To address the shortage of teachers in the English medium schools, it was decided that if there is no teacher for any subject in the school, "then a teacher at another nearby school can be given the responsibility for teaching that subject." For this, an option of an additional honorarium will also be considered by the department. In the meetings of the cabinet sub-committee held between Jan and May, it was also decided that in view of the shortage of science faculties in the state, priority should be given to starting science faculties in schools after assessing the situation at the school level.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court tags PIL for reviewing 5-year law courses with pending plea
The Supreme Court of India on Friday (May 9, 2025) ordered clubbing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking formation of a legal education commission or an expert committee to review five-year law courses in the country with a pending case. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which refused to issue notice in the matter, agreed to hear the plea along with the other similar petition. "You want us to direct the government to frame a policy. We will tag this. Not issue notice," the Bench told senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the petitioner. The plea filed by Mr. Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said the New Education Policy 2020 promotes four years of graduation courses in all professional and academic courses but there were no steps undertaken by the Bar Council of India (BCI) to review the existing syllabus, curriculum and the duration of the Bachelor of Law (LLB) and Mater of Laws (LLM) courses. The PIL said the five-year duration of the BA-LLB and BBA-LLB courses was "disproportionate to the course material" and the long duration put an excessive financial burden on students.
