Uttarakhand
IIT-Roorkee expulsions shock
Seventy-three first year B.Tech students of IIT-Roorkee scoring a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of less than five in the second semester, were served expulsion notices on July 10. The rule mandating expulsion of students with below-five CGPA scores in two consecutive semesters was framed last year by the IIT-Roorkee Senate (which comprises over 100 faculty).
Reacting to the expulsion notices, the students petitioned the faculty and management to reconsider their decision. However, after a marathon discussion of the issue, the Senate stuck by its expulsion decision, maintaining that prior to joining IIT-Roorkee, they had agreed that poor test performance could lead to their expulsion.
In New Delhi, officials of the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry declined to intervene. “IITs are autonomous bodies governed by their own rules. Such expulsions — though large in this particular case — are not an aberration as they had happened earlier in IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Kanpur,” a ministry official said.
Kerala
First Kaushal Kendra inaugurated
Chief minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated India’s first community skill park (‘Kaushal Kendra’) at Chavara, Kollam district. The skill park will develop skills and improve the employability of youth in the state, a government official informed media in Kollam on July 11.
Speaking on the occasion, Chandy opined that although Kerala students excel in academics, they need “finishing touches” to improve their employability. “Our Kaushal Kendra will give them this required push,” he said.
According to Chandy, the kendra will provide career guidance, aptitudes testing and academic progression advice to students. A high-end digital library, connected with the World e-Library programme will ensure access to digitised, authenticated content from around the world.
Moreover, in association with the English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, the kendra’s language lab will help youth acquire proficiency in English and other foreign languages.
Punjab
Teacher training initiative
Chief minister Parkash Singh Badal directed the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) and State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) to jointly initiate an annual in-service orientation programme for government school teachers.
The decision was taken following the chief minister’s meeting with Adarsh (model) School principals in Chandigarh on July 7.
“Under the programme, teachers will be trained to improve their classroom management skills to enable them to discharge their duties with utmost dedication, sincerity and professional commitment,” said Badal. “Refresher courses/training modules must be made mandatory for all teachers who should attend at least one session per year for up-skilling their teaching capabilities and capacities,” he added.
The minister sanctioned Rs.1 crore for the training programme.
Assam
Support for Central services aspirants
Felicitating 15 youth from the state who successfully cleared the UPSC examinations which qualify them to serve in the Central government’s IAS, IFS, IPS and allied services, chief minister Tarun Gogoi assured the students community that the state government will introduce a scheme to assist candidates writing the UPSC preliminary examinations, and for those aspiring to enroll in coaching centres for IIT, IIIT entrance and other competitive exams.
“The success of the UPSC candidates from Assam indicates that our youth can compete nationally given support. Our government’s focus on IT education and improving learning outcomes in K-12 education has made our youth more confident and successful,” said Gogoi, who added that coaching centre promoters are welcome to establish branches in the state.
Meghalaya
New technologies promotion
Chief minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated north-east India’s first fully-wired ‘smart classroom’ at Shillong’s vintage, top-ranked Pine Mount School to mark the countrywide Digital India Week (July 2-7). The project was enabled by the state government in partnership with Microsoft India to demonstrate new technologies in education.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the initiative is certain to inspire students to take to new digital technologies. “Students comprise the most important section of society and we need to ensure they are able to realise their potential by taking advantage of technology. Through this initiative, we want to tell the world that Meghalaya is not a follower, but a leader state,” he said.
Bihar
Fake teachers weeding drive
Over 1,400 government primary school teachers in Bihar have resigned fearing government prosecution for obtaining their jobs by presenting forged education qualifications. More teachers are expected to put in their papers after a Patna high court order urged teachers with fake educational certification to quit their jobs voluntarily before July 8, to avoid punitive legal action.
According to a public interest litigation writ filed by social activist Ranjit Pandit, a “substantial proportion” of the 350,00 teachers in government primaries have landed their jobs by submitting fake education qualifications. Following the high court order, the state government has deputed eight district superintendents of police and 38 inspectors to review the degree certificates of teachers in government schools.