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Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
10k+ CG schools rationalised; Will protest: Teachers' body
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh govt completed the rationalisation of 10,463 govt schools across the state with the objective of reducing school dropouts and ensuring quality education. Amidst the proposed Mantralaya gherao by the Shaley Shikshak Sangh Chhattisgarh and its affiliated organisations in protest against certain aspects of the rationalisation process on Wednesday, education department secretary Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi told reporters that rationalisation is a continuous process and should be carried out at regular intervals, as mandated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. The Shikshak Sangh has said that the school education department should listen to the suggestions of teachers as well and should involve them more in the process which has great impact on their lives. This would in turn also help in improving the quality of education in the state as the solutions can then be implemented on ground more effectively, they maintained. Chhattisgarh Shaley Shikshak Sangh spokesperson Dharmesh Sharma told TOI that they will go ahead with their planned Mantralaya gherao on Wednesday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The education department maintained that rationalisation is overdue and would be beneficial for the state. "Chhattisgarh last undertook a rationalisation exercise about ten years ago, which is a considerable gap, while most states in India have been doing this regularly," the education department secretary said, asserting that the policy focuses solely on improving the quality of education, ensuring equitable distribution of teachers, and reducing dropout rates. He also stated that there is some misinformation among certain groups regarding the policy. "We completed the first phase of rationalisation, covering 10,463 schools, including 10,297 located on the same campuses — accounting for 98% of the total. Swami Atmanand Schools have not been included in this phase, and no decision has yet been taken regarding PMSHRI schools," Pardeshi said. Of the rationalised schools, 5,849 are from the E-cadre and 4,614 from the T-cadre. Key statistics from the rationalisation reveal that it includes 212 primary schools without any teachers, 6,872 primary schools with only one teacher, 48 upper primary schools without teachers, 255 upper primary schools with only one teacher each, and 211 schools without students. Conversely, eight primary schools with 15 or more teachers have been rationalised. Across the state, 17,000 middle schools have a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) below 20:1. In urban areas, 527 schools have a PTR below 10:1, 1,106 have a PTR between 11–20, and 837 fall between 21–30. The PTR in Chhattisgarh is better than the national average but it is uneven across the state. Pardeshi added, "133 rural schools within a one-kilometre radius and 33 urban schools within a 500-metre radius have also been rationalised." He explained that the initiative will help redeploy surplus teachers to schools with none or only one teacher, thereby improving education quality. It will also help balance staffing needs across schools and reduce administrative costs, allowing for more investment in infrastructure. He further said that consolidating schools within the same premises will reduce dropout rates and improve student retention. This initiative supports the 'cluster school' model outlined in the NEP, which envisions integrated campuses providing education from primary to higher secondary levels. Pardeshi clarified that the exercise involved only administrative coordination — no posts were abolished. CM Vishnu Deo Sai lauded the rationalisation initiative, stating that it marks a significant step forward for the state's education system. He noted that it will facilitate better use of teaching resources and provide students with consistent access to quality education. He added that integrating various school levels within the same campus would be administratively efficient, enhance continuity in education, and address dropout concerns.
Time of India
an hour ago
- General
- Time of India
PU reschedules exams after syllabus discrepancy
Chandigarh: Panjab University has rescheduled the BA/BSc second semester (non-NEP) exams for English, Hindi, and Punjabi elective subjects, originally set for May 26. The revised date is May 31, and the exams will be held from 2pm to 5pm at the same venues. The change follows student objections in several colleges on Monday after they received question papers reportedly containing content beyond the prescribed syllabus. The issue first surfaced during the Punjabi elective exam and was later raised for Hindi and English as well. These exams are meant for private, CDOE, re-appear, deficient, performance improvement, and additional category students who had enrolled under the old curriculum, before the introduction of the National Education Policy (NEP). Controller of examinations Prof Jagat Bhushan explained that the confusion arose because the question papers were prepared under the NEP guidelines, which came into effect in colleges only last year. However, the students appearing for these exams belong to earlier batches for whom NEP was not applicable. Taking note of the concerns, the university decided to reschedule the exams to ensure fairness.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
‘Why don't we talk about it?': Period taboos continue to impact young girls
Patna: The lack of awareness and deep-rooted taboos surrounding menstruation continue to impact countless girls and women, leaving them struggling to manage their menstrual health with dignity. On World Menstrual Hygiene Day, as the city grapples with this pervasive issue, young women have opened up about how periods remain a topic clouded in silence and stigma. "Awareness is our biggest barrier. It is incredibly hard to change long-held practices. People do not even know about affordable sanitary pads or existing govt support because we don't talk openly about menstruation. Our National Education Policy (NEP) mentions menstrual health, yet schools rarely teach it. Why should NGOs or activists even need to explain something so natural in the first place?" said Ranu Singh, a menstrual educator who has been conducting workshops for the past five years. "In my workshops, I see strong resistance to change. As a male educator, I often find girls uncomfortable due to the ingrained secrecy around menstruation. Men need to be educated too; they need to step forward. Many schools still refuse to discuss it, often deferring to female teachers or outright denying access. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo I have even been turned away because I am a man discussing a girl's topic," he added. "Bringing in schemes is not enough. The govt needs consistent monitoring and evaluation and teachers must be trained to teach on such topics. Regular workshops are crucial. Most women use sanitary pads, but there is a huge gap in knowledge about sustainable options like menstrual cups and tampons, which are often unavailable here in shops and not advertised. I use comics, animated videos and posters to educate in my workshops," he said. Priyanka Kumari, a resident of Krishna Nagar, said "When I was 12-13 years old, I got my first periods. At that time, I was completely unaware of what was happening and thought it might be some kind of disease. Due to lack of knowledge, I used cloth during those initial days. It was not until I discussed it with my mother that I gained a proper understanding of menstruation and how to manage it." Kanak Lata, a 19-year-old from Kankarbagh, said, "I got my periods when I was 14-15 years old, and now, at 19, I can reflect on how little I knew back then. Initially, I was clueless about what menstruation was or how to handle it. It was only after experiencing it firsthand that I began to learn more. My understanding improved significantly when I studied about menstruation in school and gained additional insights through social media. " "However, despite awareness, certain myths still persist. For instance, my mother advises me against using tampons or menstrual cups, suggesting that these products are only suitable for use after marriage. Unfortunately, such misconceptions about tampons and menstrual cups are quite common, even though they can be more comfortable and healthier options for managing menstruation," she added. Priyam Sharma, another local, shared how she, like many others, hesitates to talk about menstruation with male family members. "When I need sanitary pads, I tell my mother to buy it for me or I buy it myself," she said.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh rationalises 10,463 schools, outperforms national average in PTR across all school levels
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government has completed the rationalisation of 10,463 government schools across the state with the objective of reducing school dropouts and ensuring quality education. Amidst the proposed Mantralaya gherao by the Shaley Shikshak Sangh Chhattisgarh and its affiliated organisations in protest against certain aspects of the school rationalisation process on Wednesday, Education Department Secretary Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi told reporters that rationalisation is a continuous process and should be carried out at regular intervals, as mandated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. 'Chhattisgarh last undertook a rationalisation exercise about ten years ago, which is a considerable gap, while most states in India have been doing this regularly,' he said, asserting that the policy focuses solely on improving the quality of education, ensuring equitable distribution of teachers, and reducing dropout rates. He also stated that there is some misinformation among certain groups regarding the policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDs กับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้ | เรียนรู้เพิ่มเติม IC Markets สมัคร Undo 'We have completed the first phase of rationalisation, covering 10,463 schools, including 10,297 located on the same campuses — accounting for 98% of the total. Swami Atmanand Schools have not been included in this phase, and no decision has yet been taken regarding PMSHRI schools,' Pardeshi said. Of the rationalised schools, 5,849 are from the E-cadre and 4,614 from the T-cadre. The move aligns with the objectives of NEP 2020 and the RTE Act 2009 and is aimed at ensuring optimal utilisation of academic resources. Key statistics from the rationalisation reveal that it includes 212 primary schools without any teachers, 6,872 primary schools with only one teacher, 48 upper primary schools without teachers, 255 upper primary schools with only one teacher each, and 211 schools without students. Conversely, eight primary schools with 15 or more teachers have been rationalised. There are 61 primary schools with 10–15 teachers each, 749 with 6–9 teachers each, nine upper primary schools with 15 or more teachers, 90 with 10–14 teachers, and 1,641 with 6–9 teachers. Across the state, 17,000 middle schools have a pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) below 1:20. In urban areas, 527 schools have a PTR below 1:10, 1,106 have a PTR between 11–20, and 837 fall between 21–30. Pardeshi added, 'Of the rationalised schools, 10,297 operate on the same premises. Additionally, 133 rural schools within a one-kilometre radius and 33 urban schools within a 500-metre radius have also been rationalised.' He explained that the initiative will help redeploy surplus teachers to schools with none or only one teacher, thereby improving education quality. It will also help balance staffing needs across schools and reduce administrative costs, allowing for more investment in infrastructure. He further stated that consolidating schools within the same premises will reduce dropout rates and improve student retention. Rationalisation will eliminate the need for repeated admissions, making the educational journey smoother. It will also enable the development and sharing of improved infrastructure, including libraries, computer labs, science labs, and sports facilities. This initiative supports the "cluster school" model outlined in the NEP, which envisions integrated campuses providing education from primary to higher secondary levels. Pardeshi clarified that the exercise involved only administrative coordination — no posts have been abolished. The initiative ensures fair distribution of teachers and improved access to quality education while adhering to the student-teacher ratio norms prescribed under the RTE Act. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has lauded the rationalisation initiative, stating that it marks a significant step forward for the state's education system. He noted that it will facilitate better use of teaching resources and provide students with consistent access to quality education. He further said that integrating various school levels within the same campus would be administratively efficient, enhance continuity in education, and address dropout concerns. This would contribute to a more effective learning environment and boost student confidence. The Chief Minister added that this step, in line with the NEP 2020, will be a milestone in Chhattisgarh's journey towards becoming a leading state in education. Chhattisgarh Shaley Shikshak Sangh spokesperson Dharmesh Sharma told TOI that they will go ahead with their planned Mantralaya gherao on Wednesday. \PTR in Chhattisgarh Schools School levelChhattisgarh 2023-24National 2023-24 (Approx) Primary schools2029 Upper primary schools 1838 High schools1638 Higher secondary schools2442
India Today
10 hours ago
- Business
- India Today
15 foreign universities to set up campuses in India this academic year
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday announced that as many as 15 international universities are gearing up to set up campuses in India in the current academic year, with a special focus on STEM disciplines—Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Biomedical Sciences (STEMB).Among them, the University of Liverpool has officially been granted permission by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to open its campus in Bengaluru. The formal Letter of Intent (LoI) was handed over to university officials at a ceremony in New Delhi, presided over by Minister makes the University of Liverpool the second international institution to receive LoI status under the UGC's 2023 guidelines for the establishment and operation of foreign higher educational institution campuses in India. The first LoI was issued to the University of Southampton last year, which is also expected to launch its India campus soon. Founded in 1881 and a member of the prestigious Russell Group, the University of Liverpool is the fourth foreign institution to publicly declare its intention to operate in to Minister Pradhan, this movement aligns with the vision of transforming India into a "Viksit Bharat" (developed India) by 2047. He reiterated that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides the framework for this transformation, emphasising a globally oriented and future-ready education system aimed at developing global PARTNERSHIPSadvertisementDuring the LoI event, three key Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with notable organisations such as AstraZeneca Pharma India Limited, YouWeCan, Dream11, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). These collaborations aim to drive innovation and create mutually beneficial academic and industry on the occasion, Vineet Joshi, Interim Chairperson of UGC and Secretary of Higher Education, said the LoI represents more than just a procedural milestone. 'It signals a broader transformation in India's higher education sector—anchored in strategic reforms, international collaboration, and a robust policy framework,' he global institutions recognising the potential of India's academic ecosystem, the country's ambition of becoming a global hub for education seems increasingly within Watch
