EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

Secondary Education, the Union Public Service Commission and the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) on a petition seeking a thorough probe into the recent leakage of question
papers in various parts of the country. The notice was issued by a Bench, consisting of Justice
S.N. Variava and Justice H.K. Sema, on a public interest litigation petition filed by advocate R.K.
Gupta. He contended that at least 13 papers had been leaked in the last 12 months. This had
shaken the confidence of the youth in the examination system, besides demoralising them. The
petitioner said such incidents pointed to the alarming situation in the field of education and
caused frustration among the deserving candidates. The leak of question papers of the premedical
examination April 11 showed that the authorities had not learnt any lesson from the
incident the previous year and taken any remedial measure. (The Hindu 7.5.04)
8 th May
Interview issue: Govt told to inform schools (11)
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the directorate of education to issue a
public notice in national newspapers, informing private schools about a petition against the
current practice of forcing children and their parents to face interview for admission in nursery,
lower KG and upper KG. Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice R C Jain said the notice should be
issued with an intention of apprising schools about the case. This, the Bench said, will enable the
schools to approach the court and forward their arguments. Although the petition has been filed
against one school, Montfort, the court was of the view that since the final order would affect
several schools across the city, the latter should be given an opportunity to be heard.
The court has already issued notices to Montfort School, its principal and the directorate of
education. It will now hear the case on May 21. Some parents filed a petition before the Bench of
two judges, after a single Bench this year, rejected their plea to ban interview of kids and their
parents. (Times of India 8.5.04)
13 th May
Public schools directed to admit poor students (11)
NEW DELHI, MAY 12. Making its intentions clear that there would be no climb down on the 20
per cent quota for poor students in public and unaided schools, the Delhi Government has
warned that any violation of this provision would lead to withdrawal of recognition or stoppage of
aid to the erring schools. It has also warned against arbitrary fee increase on the plea of grant of
free education to students belonging to weaker sections of society. The new system comes into
force from May 1. In a circular issued to all the public schools across the Capital, the Directorate
of Education has made it clear that no school would refuse the application for admission from any
student belonging to the weaker sections of society. At the same time, it has been made clear
that there should be no increase in the fees, funds and charges for other students on the plea of
granting free education to poor students. All public schools have been directed to submit the
enrolment of students as on April 30 and the fee structure schedule. "I will be visiting some of the
public schools for inspection in the coming days. I will also hold a meeting with federation of these
schools to ensure smooth compliance of these orders. However, any school not adhering to these
provisions would face punitive action including de-recognition," warned the Delhi Education
Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely. (Hindu 13.5.04)
15 th May
Papa cooks in SCERT gender-bender (11)
New Delhi, May 14: The issue of "gender sensitisation" is now set to get its due place in the
young minds studying in government-run, government-aided and municipal schools in the capital.
The 50 textbooks for school students up to Class 8, launched by the State Council of Educational
Research and Training in the new academic session, have been written keeping in mind the issue
of "gender sensitisation." Particularly, 'the books for Class 6 to Class 8 . gender perspective,
making it the first of its kind effort in the country at the primary and middle-school level. SCERT
director Janaki Rajan said the textbooks sought to make education more gender-friendly. She
said gender disparity is a mindset that can be changed only through quality education that
naturally propagates equality without repeatedly raising a hue and cry about the rights of the girl
child. While gender sensitivity is subtly apparent in subjects like mathematics and science books,