Education Briefs

The Kolkata-based — JIL Information Technology Ltd, an affiliate of the Jaypee Group made a presentation of Bhartiyavidya — described as India’s first digital classroom teaching aid — on August 24 at the city’s Hotel Hindustan International. Directors, principals and teachers of several schools including Loreto House, St. James, Julien Day, Pailan World School, DPS Mega City, DPS Ruby Park, Pratt Memorial, Garden High, St. Lawrence, Adamas International, South Point and D. Chakraborty principal secretary school education, West Bengal were among the 120 invitees.

"Bhartiyavidya is a comprehensive software solution, comprising a set of multimedia capsules prepared topic-wise, using a variety of globally researched resource material. The content of each capsule is created to boost understanding, retention and recall of a variety of subjects with ease," Alok Gaur director of JIL Information Technology informed the distinguished assembly. "However Bhartiyavidya is designed on the assumption that technology cannot and should not replace teachers and should only supplement the teacher and conventional teaching tools," he added.

According to Gaur, over 6,000 teachers and 100,000 students in 300 schools spread across 60 cities in 18 states and Union territories in India and six other countries, benefit from JIL’s Bhartiyavidya multi-media teaching capsules.

The Delhi-based Child Relief and You (CRY) has scheduled a FACT (Free a Child Today) corporate quiz in seven cities. Anchored by well known quizmaster Derek O’ Brien, the regional rounds of FACT will begin on September 27 in Kolkata, in Delhi on September 30, Chennai on October 1, Bangalore on October 2, Hyderabad on October 3, Mumbai on October 14 and culminate in Delhi on October 28.

Participation confirmations have been received from SIFY, Infosys, HP, Siemens, Wipro, TCS, ING Vysya, McAfee, IBM, Daksh, Adobe and Moser Baer among other first-rank corporates.

"CRY believes that every child is entitled to the basic rights of survival, protection, development and participation; in a word — to childhood. Over the past 27 years we have learned that ensuring this in a sustainable manner is only possible when grassroots action is combined with community empowerment, active citizenship and advocacy," says CRY spokesperson Lily Ahluwalia.

Promoted in 1979 and now in its 25th year, CRY partners close to 200 child development projects across India.

The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) a comprehensive secondary school syllabus developed by the Cambridge (UK)- based Cambridge International Examinations, celebrated its 20th birthday on September 21.

"Cambridge IGCSE has been developing successful students worldwide for 20 years," says Tom Eason CIE’s director of international education. "This was an opportunity to celebrate the difference Cambridge IGCSE has made in the lives of thousands of students over the past two decades."

According to Eason, the Cambridge IGCSE is an assessment system suitable for schools and colleges around the world. "It develops successful students by giving them an excellent foundation for further study, such as A Levels, and develops a variety of skills," he adds.

Worldwide an estimated 100,000 students from 2,000 schools wrote the Cambridge IGCSE school leaving examination in 2004-05.

The British Chevening India scholarships programme for 2006 is open to Indian nationals with a valid Indian passport. According to S. Kumaran, scholarship executive at the British Council, Chennai, the scholarships are available to pursue further studies/ professional development under the one year Master’s programme in any UK university in the fields of sustainable development, economic governance, finance, public administration and science.

"In addition, short-study programmes of upto three months duration are available to young, high-flying and dynamic working men and women from among corporate managers and executives, print and broadcast journalists, environmental managers, in higher education institutions with attachments to top industry houses in the UK," says Kumaran.

The age criterion is 25-35 years relaxable in exceptional cases to 40. Details of all courses, eligibility criteria, selection process and application forms can be downloaded from the website www.britishcouncil.org.in/scholarships. They can also be obtained from the British Libraries in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram and from the British Council office in Chennai. The closing date for receipt of applications is November 30.

The Bangalore-based Manipal Foundation awarded its Kadambi Scholarships to Ankita Phougat of Kasturba Medical College (Manipal) and Arijit Ganguly of the Manipal Institute of Technology for excellence in sport.

The Kadambi family has instituted an endowment fund from which scholarships of Rs.30,000 each are awarded to students demonstrating excellence in sports (other than cricket) at the state or national level. The Manipal Foundation manages the scholarships on behalf of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) — a deemed university. Dr. H.S. Ballal, vice chancellor of MAHE presented the scholarships to the students on September 18.

At a function held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Teachers Day (September 5) President A.P.J. Adbul Kalam awarded Mehjabeen Rizvi, principal of the Rose Bud School, Patna, the National Award for Teachers 2004. The citation lauded her meritorious work in education, enrichment of human lives and outstanding contribution in the fields of environment and social services.

Rizvi was the sole recipient of the National Teachers Award from eastern India. The award package included a silver medal, certificate and a cash prize of Rs.25,000.