EDUCATION - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

other Central government institutes to base their admissions through the All-India Engineering
Entrance Examination conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education. In keeping with
the UPA government's policy of respecting the autonomy of educational institutions, the policy
has been made optional for all other educational institutions like Central and deemed universities.
(Asian Age 25.11.04)
266 th Novc.
KG admissions are a nightmare for city children (11)
Mumbai, Nov. 25: Even a job interview may not be as tough as the first interview of the child
seeking admission to kindergarten. It has become more of a trauma for the parents than the
children who have to undergo the test. Some of the schools have separate tests for boys and girls
showing their sexist bias. "The boys, who are considered stronger compared to the fairer sex
were asked to prove their strength by kicking the punching bags. The girls were given a simpler
task of dancing to the tune of songs played from a music system," the parents of a three-and-ahalf-year
old girl said. The parents were in for further shock when their daughter was asked to
walk on an iron plank laid out in a zig zag manner. The child refused to walk alone and didn't
shake a leg though she enjoyed the music. The principal of Holy Family School at Bandra, Dr
Francis Swamy said that there is nothing wrong in it and most of the schools follow this practice.
"This is done basically to judge whether the children are handicapped," he said. Mr Swamy said
that some of the schools instruct the children to lift a pen from the table. (Asian Age 26.11.04)
27 th Nov.
Chairperson appointed for minority education panel (11)
NEW DELHI, NOV. 26. A fortnight after it promulgated an ordinance to set up the National
Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, the Government today appointed retired judge
M.S.A. Siddiqui as its chairperson with the former Union Minister, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia,
and academic Valson Thampu as members. The three members will hold charge for five years
from the day they take office. The Commission — billed as an appellate authority to leal with all
ticklish issues pertaining to minority education — has been set up in keeping with a commitment
made by the United Progressive Alliance in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).
Though in the NCMP the Government committed itself to amending "the Constitution to establish
a Commission for Minority Educational Institutions that will provide direct affiliation to minority
professional institutions to Central Universities," the Human Resource Development Ministry after
examining all aspects came to the conclusion that legislation would suffice. (The Hindu 27.11.04)
28 th Nov.
Stir to mark Education Rights Day (11)
NEW DELHI, NOV. 27. To raise a voice for every child in the country who fails to make it to
school, the National Alliance for Right to Education and Equity (NAFRE) will launch a nationwide
campaign starting with Education Rights Day this coming Monday. Beginning with a dharna to be
staged at Jantar Mantar on Monday, the campaign will culminate with a human chain and a
candlelight rally later in the day. While calling for an end to disparity in the education system,
NAFRE has demanded that the Kothari Commission's recommendations for a common school
system be implemented at the earliest. Some of the other issues being raised by the organisation
include six per cent allocation from the GDP, withdrawal of anti-people and free and compulsory
education bill, and drafting of a new pro-people bill, withdrawal of price hike and Constitutional
right to work. "We feel, since the advent of globalization in our economic policies, the issue of
employment has become vital for the people of our country in the rural and urban areas. So, we
strongly feel that to address this vital issue with all force, we need to unite and stand by our
convictions. We need, Constitutional Right for all unemployed persons aged 18 years and
above," said the organisation in a statement issued today. (The Hindu 28.11.04)
30 th Nov.
Dharna in support of common school system (11)
NEW DELHI, NOV. 29. In Support of their demand for withdrawal of the Free and Compulsory
Education Bill and introduction of the common school system across the country, the National