EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

Anger against profound illiteracy (11)
Ahmedabad, Feb. 17: The shocking revelations of a state government survey that most students
of class IV, V and VI in AMC schools do not know to read or write has angered top municipal
officials. It is learnt that municipal commissioner R K Tripathi recently lambasted the administrator
of AMC school board N. N. Kureshi for low standards. Sources in the AMC said that though the
corporation spends crore of rupees, the municipal school board is not able to show results with
education standards being abysmally low. The school board officials said they do not know the
exact number of students who are no! able to read or write at this stage. However, they said such
.students are in large number in each and every class of four to sixth. Vice-president of the school
board Jagdish Bhavsar said we are aware of the problem of municipal schools. However, this is a
slate-wide problem and it also persists in private schools, he added. The state government has
launched vagle abhiyan two weeks ago to identify these students all over the state. The AMC
schools have also been included in it, informed Mr Bhavsar. (Asian Age 18.2.04)
JNU students protest cultural policing (11)
NEW DELHI, FEB. 19. Protesting against the "authoritarian attitude" of Jawaharlal Nehru
University administration regarding the celebration of hostel nights, the Jawaharlal Nehru
University Students' Union held a demonstration on the campus here today. While the final
decision on the issue is yet to be taken, Sabarmati Hostel's cultural night celebration planned for
Thursday evening has been given the green signal. "This is like cultural policing. How can they
tell us that we can't celebrate in a particular manner? Students in this campus will decide on their
own form of celebrations and cultural expressions and no attempts to interfere in this right will be
tolerated. This is a very authoritarian attitude," said president, JNUSU, Rohit, amid strong
sloganeering. Earlier, JNU administration had declared its unwillingness to spend University
funds for hostel nights, regarded by students as a part of JNU's tradition. While most of the funds
come through selling coupons, a certain sum is also sanctioned from the Vice-Chancellor's office
for the celebrations. According to sources, the Vice-Chancellor, G.K. Chadha, had refused to
release these funds for the hostel nights on the grounds that they would rather spend the money
on welfare activities. (The Hindu 20.2.04)
Schools may agree on 10% quota (11)
New Delhi: The Delhi government is likely to settle on 10 per cent reservation of seats in public
schools for underprivileged students. The government is also considering funding the books and
uniforms for students admitted under the free seat category. According to Delhi education
minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, the government is scrutinising land lease documents provided by
the schools. Meetings are also on with public schools and a final decision is likely to be announced
next week. "Discussions are on with schools and the percentage of seats to be reserved
will be finalised very soon. Also, whatever figure is agreed upon, will of course have to be
approved by the court," said Lovely Public schools have asked the government to reserve
between 5 to 10 per cent seats. Though officials are tightlipped over the matter, sources indicate
that a figure of 10 per cent is likely to . be agreed upon. "The figure is not 15 per cent as stated by
some media reports," said Lovely Another concern being raised by schools is the funding of
books and uniforms for students admitted under the free seat category Sources say that this worry
for schools is also likely to be taken care of by the government. (Times of India 20.2.04)
Schools’ meet stresses on educating mases (11)
New Delhi: School education in the city is abuzz with activity The stir over integration of
underprivileged students in the mainstream was reflected at the annual meeting of Delhi's largest
body of public schools, National Progressive Schools' Conference (NPSC). The 31st annual
conference, which was inaugurated on Friday, is based on "shifting paradigms of education” The
CBSE chairman, Ashok Ganguly, was felicitated at the meeting. The concept of equity in
education was raised by prominent scientist professor M G K Menon in his keynote address.
'Achieving 100 percent literacy is vital for the country to become developed. We need to take
education to the masses," said Menon. (Times of India 21.2.04)
SC order on IIMs makes Dr Joshi feel great (11)