New Delhi: Youth must be inspired and provided with opportunities to become life-long learners, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said on Tuesday, asserting that education needs to be the priority for government as well as political leaders.
He was speaking at a conference — ‘Prayaas – Young Minds, New Possibilities’ — organised by Udhyam Learning Foundation with an aim to unlock the potential of India’s youth, a statement said.
“Indian youth holds the key to the nation’s advancement. Youth must be inspired and provided with opportunities to become life-long learners. Hear them and trust them as they will become the innovators who will change the world in the future.
“We as enablers, need to be more experimental in our approach and keep testing new models for educational transformation and bring them to scale for our country at large. Education needs to be a priority for policy, government and political leaders,” Sisodia, who is also the education minister, said.
Mekin Maheshwari, founder, ULF, said ‘Prayaas’ is an effort to unite like-minded people and organizations who care deeply about the lack of opportunities and pathways for India’s youth to realise their potential.
“The goal is to build a thriving and supportive ecosystem, where every individual feels empowered to define their own path,” Maheshwari said.
The statement said it said ‘Prayaas’ aimed to stimulate a “cohesive and collective” understanding of the current issues and instil a “sense of urgency” towards building new pathways for the youth of our country.
Change-makers, practitioners and leaders from over 120 of India’s top organisations including Delhi government school students, teachers and other independent people, took part in the event.
New Delhi: The enrolment in higher education institutions increased to 4.14 crore during 2020-21, crossing the 4 crore mark for first time, according to the government’s All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021.
It registered an increase of 7.5 per cent from 2019-20 and 21 per cent from 2014-15.
The female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20. There has been an increase of around 44 lakh (28 per cent) in their number since 2014-15, the survey report said.
The Ministry of Education has been conducting All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) since 2011, covering all higher educational institutions located in Indian Territory and imparting higher education in the country.
The survey collects detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teachers’ data, infrastructural information, financial information etc.
For the first time, in AISHE 2020-21, the higher education institutions, or HEIs, have filled the data online through the Web Data Capture Format (DCF) developed by the Department of Higher Education with the help of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
“The total enrolment in higher education has increased to nearly 4.14 crore in 2020-21 from 3.85 crore in 2019-20. Since 2014-15, there has been an increase of around 72 lakh in the enrolment (21 pc). The female enrolment has increased to 2.01 crore from 1.88 crore in 2019-20. There has been an increase of around 44 Lakh (28 pc) since 2014-15,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement.
“The percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased from 45 pc in 2014-15 to around 49 pc in 2020-21. As per 2011 population projections for 18-23 years age group, GER has increased to 27.3 from 25.6 in 2019-20,” it added.
According to the survey, there was a significant increase, 28 per cent, in enrolment of SC students, and 38 per cent in enrolment of female SC Students in 2020-21, as compared to 2014-15.
“Substantial increase of 47 pc in enrolment of ST students and 63.4 pc increase in the enrolment of Female ST Students in 2020-21, compared to 2014-15. The enrolment in Institute of National Importance (INIs) has increased by nearly 61 pc during the period 2014-15 to 2020-21.
“Enrolment has increased in 2020-21 compared to 2014-15 in the specialized universities relating to Defence, Sanskrit, Biotechnology, Forensics, Design, Sports etc. The total number of pass-outs has increased to 95.4 Lakh in 2020-21 as against 94 Lakh in 2019-20,” it said.
“As the saying goes, personnel is policy and at the end of the day if we have pink-haired communists teaching our kids we have a major problem,” Trump said. “We’re at the end of the list on education and yet we spend the most, but we’re going to be tops in education no matter where you go anywhere in the world.”
Though large swaths of education policy are dictated by state and local governments, Trump’s proposals still represent a radical departure from long-standing approaches. Taken in full, they represent an attempt by the former president to put his own imprint on debates around the nation’s school systems that have popped up across state capitals.
Conservatives, for example, have pushed for restrictions on transgender athletes, even though transgender women have been allowed to compete in women’s categories in the Olympics since 2003 and the NCAA since 2010.
Just days ago, meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) — a potential 2024 competitor — blocked high schools in his state from teaching an Advanced Placement African American studies curriculum over what he described as the inclusion of topics like “queer theory” and movements that called for “abolishing prisons.”
The White House and education groups, including the College Board, have pushed back aggressively on DeSantis, arguing that he has no basis or credibility to make such determinations. More broadly, school administrators and progressive activists have noted that most public school officials across the country do not teach critical race theory, even in districts where lawmakers are seeking to ban it.
But Trump’s policy proposal underscores how primed Republicans are for these types of fights. During his time in office, the main thrust of Trump’s education platform was not so much on cultural elements as on a desire to expand school choice, including a federal tax credit to help parents pay for private school tuition.
Now running for office again, Trump is calling for a certification program for teachers who “embrace patriotic values” and “funding preferences and favorable treatment” for states and school districts that follow his calls for abolishing teacher tenure. He also calls for cutting administrative roles, and adopting a “parental bill of rights.” Trump said he would also remove “the radical zealots and Marxists” he claims have “infiltrated” the Department of Education.
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( With inputs from : www.politico.com )
SRINAGAR: The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2022 has presented a grim picture of the education system in Jammu and Kashmir ranging from a dip in enrolment numbers to poor infrastructure and lack of proper sanitation facilities.
As per the ASER report, the enrolment numbers of children in the 6-14 age group has gone down from 58.3 per cent in 2018 to 55.5 per cent in 2022. This dip comes against the backdrop of the school education department claiming that they have been running campaigns across Jammu and Kashmir to increase enrolment. Also, at the national level, there has been an increase in the enlistment of students.
As per the report, 4.8 per cent of children in the 15-16 age group are not enrolled in schools in Jammu and Kashmir.
At the pre-primary level, the report states that in 2022, around 63.6 per cent of infants were registered at Anganwadi Centres. However, the enrolment improved from 31.8 per cent in 2018 to 39.4 per cent in 2022.
The report also highlighted the gender gap in grown-up children in terms of their enrolment in schools. As per the data, girls in the age group of 15-16 years usually drop out of school more than boys.
The report states that the percentage of students undertaking private tuition from up to middle school level has seen a rise from 8.8 per cent in 2018 to 13.8 per cent in 2022.
The ASER survey reveals a gap in learning outcomes among students of government and privately run schools.
“In UT, the private school children were making progress before 2022 and are still progressing. The Government school children were facing obstacles pre-pandemic but are on the move to progression,” the ASER reads.
The report states that the arithmetic level of students in government schools has seen progress over the years. Despite this, only one in four children of 8th standards in government schools can do division, compared to one in two in private schools.
The ASER report also points out that the unavailability of computers for children in schools has come down from 82.8 per cent in 2018 to 71.6 per cent in 2022.
The report revealed an increase in electricity connections in schools which rose from 31.2 per cent to 88.9 per cent in 2022.
The report underlined that the education department needs prompt help in achieving foundational skills in literacy and numeracy besides exerting pressure on grades.
“While many children have not been enrolled, the ones who have dropped, especially girls, need to be brought back,” ASER stated.
The report divulged that 30 per cent of schools in Jammu and Kashmir lack water facilities. In the matter of drinking water, the availability has increased by 15 per cent from 69.3 per cent in 2018.
Furthermore, the annual survey report revealed that around half of schools in Jammu and Kashmir have a paucity of girls’ toilets. It stated that 72.8 per cent of schools have toilets, which are being used by both girls and boys, which signifies that approximately 47 per cent of the girls have a shortage of toilets. However, it has also been seen that there is a 5 per cent increase in the facility since 2018.
The survey was conducted across 20 districts with around 10,924 households and 21,666 children in the age group of 4 to 16 years contacted. The ASER is an annual survey that delivers reliable estimation of children’s schooling status and household research all over India.
“We are trying to fill the learning gaps, and as of now, we are moving towards prosperity. With the adoption of the New Education Policy, this year has been regarded as a year of academic excellence and transformation,” Director School Education Kashmir Tassaduq Hussain said in response to the revelations made by ASER. “The National Achievement Survey has revealed that we have jumped from the 18th position to the 8th position, which is quite an accomplishment.”
He added: “This is a continuous process and we are trying and planning to improve the curriculum and infrastructural issues.”
Telangana Education minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy.
Hyderabad: Telangana’s education minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy is seeking relief from illegal mining charges brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
While contesting the orders of the Special CBI Court in Hyderabad, Sabitha filed a criminal revision petition in the Telangana High Court on Tuesday.
The CBI court had rejected discharge applications submitted by Sabitha, AP IAS officer Y Srilakshmi, and former AP Mines and Geology director VD Rajagopal in October 2022.
The defendants claimed that they were only doing their jobs and had not committed any crime.
The CBI charged them with assisting mining baron G Janardhan Reddy in illegally extracting iron ore on the AP-Karnataka border and exporting it.
Sabitha, in undivided AP, was the mining minister while Krupanandam and Srilakshmi were working as secretaries in the industries and mines department respectively when they were charged with conspiring with Janardhan Reddy and his OMC.
SRINAGAR: School Education Department Kashmir has terminated a teacher who had managed to get entry into the department 13 years ago by producing fake posting and appointment orders.
According to an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency KNO chief education officer Srinagar in a letter in November 2022 has reported that the service book of a ‘imposter’ working as teacher in government school reveal an entry to the effect that he has been appointed as teacher in 2009 under RBA category, after being selected by the JK Service Selection Board.”
“In order to ascertain the genuineness of his appointment order, the original order issued by DSEK on December-12-2009 appointment Service Selection Board were verified and it has been and found that his name does not figure anywhere in the original appointment order nor original select list of JKSSB,” the order reads.
It reads the delinquent ‘teacher’ was placed under suspension and attached to DSEK and he had failed to report to the directorate, in compliance with the ibid order.
It reads the matter got enquired by the Joint Director (Central) who has conducted an in-depth enquiry and reported that the appointment order showing to have been issued in favour of some other two teachers and is fake and forged and the fraudster he has managed his entry in the department by producing fake appointment order.
“He therefore has deceived the authorities, while drawing illegal wages from the government exchequer.”
“The ‘delinquent teacher’ has responded to the show cause notice and submitted the reply January-10-2023 through speed post, which was thoroughly examined and found devoid of merit for reconsideration,” it reads.
It reads the appointment order purportedly issued in favour of the ‘fraudster’ being not issued by DSEK is treated to be null and void and non-est in the eyes of law.”
“Consequently, any benefit derived out of the said fake Order shall be immediately recovered and criminal proceedings shall be initiated against the said person,” it reads.
Srinagar, Jan 24: School Education Department Kashmir has terminated a teacher who had managed to get entry into the department 13 years ago by producing fake posting and appointment orders.
According to an order, a copy of which lies with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) chief education officer Srinagar in a letter in November 2022 has reported that the service book of a ‘imposter’ working as teacher in government school reveal an entry to the effect that he has been appointed as teacher in 2009 under RBA category, after being selected by the JK Service Selection Board.”
“In order to ascertain the genuineness of his appointment order, the original order issued by DSEK on December-12-2009 appointment Service Selection Board were verified and it has been and found that his name does not figure anywhere in the original appointment order nor original select list of JKSSB,” the order reads.
It reads the delinquent ‘teacher’ was placed under suspension and attached to DSEK and he had failed to report to the directorate, in compliance with the ibid order.
It reads the matter got enquired by the Joint Director (Central) who has conducted an in-depth enquiry and reported that the appointment order showing to have been issued in favour of some other two teachers and is fake and forged and the fraudster he has managed his entry in the department by producing fake appointment order.
“He therefore has deceived the authorities, while drawing illegal wages from the government exchequer.”
“The ‘delinquent teacher’ has responded to the show cause notice and submitted the reply January-10-2023 through speed post, which was thoroughly examined and found devoid of merit for reconsideration,” it reads.
It reads the appointment order purportedly issued in favour of the ‘fraudster’ being not issued by DSEK is treated to be null and void and non-est in the eyes of law.”
“Consequently, any benefit derived out of the said fake Order shall be immediately recovered and criminal proceedings shall be initiated against the said person,” it reads—(KNO)
Despite contributing to the making of generations of professionals in the last more than seven decades, the state-run Degree College at Sopore is yet to reach a level where it can have NAC top grade, reports Daanish Bin Nabi
The team of teachers who have contributed immensely to the making of Sopore college an important centre of higher education.
Precisely, the credit must go to politician Malik Abdul Gani and businessman Sukhdev Ganjoo who were instrumental in setting up the intermediate college at Sopore in 1949. They later literally chased the then Prime Minister, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah to upgrade it into a college. On September 27, 1951, Sheikh laid the foundation stone of Degree College Sopore, with 50 students on its rolls. After 71 years, the college has 6000 boys and girls on its rolls. What distinguishes the college is that after the inaugural ceremony, no head of the Jammu and Kashmir ever visited the college.
Till the 1980s, students from north Kashmir would join the college after matriculation and study for four years and leave as graduates. Initially affiliated with erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir University it is one of the oldest affiliate colleges of the University of Kashmir.
“This college has been the highest seat of learning for over 60 years for the entire north Kashmir,” Prof Abdul Rashid, who has served the college for 11 years, said. “We cannot negate the role of this institution in spreading education to the far-flung border areas.”
Till the 1970s, it is interesting to mention, the college was housing SKUAST’s Agriculture College, till it managed its own premises at Wagoora.
The Bakhshi Era
In Ghulam Muhammad Bakhshi’s rule, when Jashn-e-Kashmir dominated the scene. Degree College Sopore was the epicentre of activities in north Kashmir. Teachers who served the institution then, remember that a large stage used to be installed and artists from all over Kashmir like the famous Qawal Zakhmir and Gani Trali (a famed Bach Kot from Tral) would perform.
Interestingly, however, during Bakhshi era, the college had fewer enrolments of girl students. There were only three girl students in college in the 1950s. Their number only increased from three to ten in the 1960s. It was only at the dawn of the 1970s that girls started to enrol in impressive numbers.
A Golden Era
The 1960s is being seen as the college’s golden age and the credit goes to its Principal Abdul Salaam Dhar, a resident of Srinagar. A tough disciplinarian and the main architect of the college, Sopore remembers Dhar by the nickname Hachkal (Woodhead).
“It was our luck that we had him as our head,” Prof Muhammad Abdullah Charoo, who served as Principal for 8 years till July 1998, said. “He was upright, disciplined and honest and would listen to no excuses whatsoever.”
Foundation stone of Sopore college. KL Image Daanish bin Nabi
Dhar introduced a uniform – a grey blazer and grey trousers and a white shirt, the first in any Kashmir college. On the pattern of erstwhile Biscoe-style, he constituted small volunteer groups who would help people during natural disasters.
“No influential person would get admission during his time. All the tenders during his time were full proof. There was no compromise with anything,” remembers Prof Sheikh Sanaullah, who served the college for 33 years. “The cheating during the examination was rampant in the college and he curbed it.”
An Interesting Event
People talk about an interesting event. Veteran Congressman and lawmaker, Ghulam Rasool Kar of Sopore lived in the same vicinity, facing the college. In the early 1960s, he came from Srinagar in a bus that dropped him college gate. Then, the college had no fence. Kar tried to cross the college ground to reach home. Dhar interrupted him and asked him not to trespass on the college property. To Kar’s credit, being a sitting MLA, he patiently listened to the college principal and obeyed his orders.
“I was a student of the college in the 1960s. I vividly remember, Principal Dhar had installed simple boards all across the ground which read ‘trespassers will be prosecuted’. No one dared to cross the college property,” Charoo said. “Those were the days when the institution head would assert the authority and the society would take it very seriously.”
It was in Dhar’s era when the College launched Wullar magazine and every professor had to contribute to it.
Sheikh Sanaullah said that years before militancy broke out, one day students resorted to a protest demonstration in the town. In reaction, on the following day, paramilitary forces barged into the college and clashed with the students. “A professor provoked the students. After the issues were settled, Prof Dhar made an example of the professor. He was quickly shifted out of the college,” Sanaullah remembers.
Institutional Rivalry
Initially, the college opened for students in the eleventh class, then called PUC (pre-university class). Later, the Higher Secondary School was separated. Despite being separate entities, the two had a single umbilical cord – they share a common ground. On paper, the ground belonged to the Higher Secondary School.
In the 1960s, the Higher Secondary School was led by another visionary Principal, Abdul Gaffar Shah, a Geography lecturer. Like Dhar, Shah too was a man of principles, honest and upright.
Then, there was no demarcation of land between the two institutions and both would lay claim to the ground. Both the men stuck to their guns about the claims to the land and the stand-off between the two continued for many weeks. It happened in anticipation of a sports event.
The situation got out of control on the day of the event. The students from both institutions came to loggerheads with each other. Sensing the mess, they were landing their institutions in, and the two men sat down and sorted it out. “Had it not been Dhar and Shah, many would have died that day,” Sopore historian, Rasheed Parveen said. “There was rage on both sides. Students were young and immature.”
Up In Flames
However, the college did not remain unharmed for long. On the fateful night of October 7, 1990, at around 10 pm, a sudden blaze engulfed the entire college and burned it to cinders. The biggest loss was the destruction of a rich library housing 60,000 books. Some of the manuscripts that the Fourth Buddhist Council held at Harwan in Srinagar were also housed in the library along with other rare manuscripts. Nothing could be saved.
Sopore college went up in flames and was reconstructed but it lost hundreds of rare manuscripts. KL Image Daanish bin Nabi
“We have lost a treasure. We could rebuild the college but we never get back that library. We lost our Baghdad that day,” Parveen regretted.
It was Muhammad Abdullah Charoo who headed the college. “Militancy was at its peak,” Charoo remembers. “That evening, I heard loud shouting. As I got out of my house, I saw huge flames from a distance and someone said the college has been burnt. Helpless, I could do nothing. Neither police nor the Fire and Emergency Services reached the spot. It was only around Fajar time that I reached the premises. It was devastating to see the ruins.”
For Charoo, it was a new challenge – running a college that had no edifice. His first drive was to Raj Bhawan. He remembers Governor Girish Chandra Saxena telling him: “We can do nothing. unko bolo jinhoney jalaya.”
Charoo got 20 tents from the Department of Education and started routine classwork within ten days. However, there was no library, laboratory or sports facility for the students. For months, Charoo would go from one government office to another for seeking some support in rebuilding the edifice. Finally, it was Vijay Bakaya, who came up with an idea.
“Bakaya Sahab told me if I can somehow show that Sopore falls in border areas then there is a scheme with the Government of India known as Border Area Development Program (BADP) from where I can get funds for the college,” Charoo remembers the top officer’s help. “I went to Delhi to the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and told them that Sopore College caters to students from Bandipora, Kupwara which extends to Teetwal and Gurez area.
The NCC cadets at the Sopore College in a session in 2017. KL Image Masood Hussain
This is how I managed to put Sopore in border areas and got funds for college rebuilding. After it was approved, I remember Education Commissioner, Sushma Chowdhary telling me ‘Mubarak ho Paison ki Barish hai…lelo…’. The college got Rs 75 lakh as the first instalment.
Charoo said he hired a Srinagar Engineer for the re-building of the college. The new building was made fireproof and the old design was retained. Around 25000 books were purchased but rare manuscripts were lost forever.
The Wall of Fame
The College has produced a generation of leaders in diverse fields. Some have brought accolades internationally too. These included doctors, Muhammad Yousuf Kanjwal, M Sultan Khuroo, Khurshid Ahmad Salman, Abdul Rahman Rather, Manzoor Halwai, and Muhammad Shafi Tara; politicians Abdul Ahad Vakil, Hakeem Habibullah, Abdul Gani Bhat, Saifuddin Soz and teachers like Haji Ghulam Hassan Bacha, M A Charoo, Jeelani Kamran and scribes like Shujaat Bukhari.
It has also produced some wonderful debaters like Ghulam Qadir Wani. The colleges bought accolades in 1967-68 when five students qualified for medical courses from the college.
“Prof Maqbool Bhat was my relative and used to teach us Botany. Even as my relative he was strict with me and he made sure that there is no discrimination against other students, former CMO, Khurshid Salman said. “Many of our science subjects were also taught by Pandit teachers.”
Sporting Venue
The Subhan Stadium, locally known as the college ground in Sopore, was named after Sopore’s “legendary” footballer, Subhan Janwari. His legend is interesting: “He was the first Sopore footballer who played football wearing a shoe. Having a shoe in those days was a luxury.”
Subhan Janwari belonged to Mumkak Mohalla of Sopore and played for the Mohammadan Sporting team in 1960.
“Almost all the players who have played at national or international level have had their basic training at the Sopore College Ground,” veteran cricketer, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, said. “However, we lack the basic facilities now. Sopore College has no contribution towards the sports facilities in the town. They even turned their own ground into a concrete jungle.”
During the 1960s and the 1970s, teams from Srinagar like the Transport Department Team; Food Department Team, KMD Team and the Police Team used to play at the Sopore College ground.
In the 1980s, Srinagar Transport Team led by Majeed Kakroo, the ace footballer who led the Indian team to Bangladesh, visited Sopore for a match with the host team. It triggered a crisis and led to Kakroo’s marshalling. The match was never played.
Presently, only two cricket tournaments and three football tournaments are being played between June and October at Sopore College ground. It has lost the sole venue of knowledge and sports.
Space Constraints
Though the college has 105 kanals of land in the heart of the town, the haphazard expansion of new buildings has shrunken the space. There are around three to four classes daily for every subject in 36 departments. The teaching staff caters to nearly 100 classes on daily basis.
College managers said more departments are coming up and there is a dire need for a satellite campus for the college. The departments of Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and BBA and a large Botanical Garden have come up inside the college and the college is craving more space.
In 2013, the college administration required the district administration to provide them with land for the construction of a satellite campus in Tuilbal area. Interestingly, the land identified for the college was eventually given for the construction of police.
“We requested the administration to provide us the land of Sopore’s District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), after the premises was shifted to Watlab but that too was not considered,” Prof Abdul Rashid said. The erstwhile DIET is adjacent to the College and is ideal for its use.
Upgradation
Within the premises, however, there are improvements. The college now uses a smart classroom, comprising a smart board with an internet broadband connection.
If a student misses the lecture he can join the classroom over her/his cell phone through an app. Students alleged that many of these smart classes are rarely used.
The fully automated library has 39850 books for 36 subjects. Students can access the material of other national and international universities too. A special detector Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) has also been installed to stop the theft of books from the library. “If a student attempts to steal a book, she/he can be detected and stopped,” Chief Librarian Dr Ansar Hussain said.
A new indoor stadium is also come up. Measuring 110 x 49 ft, it will soon be dedicated to students.
The College also runs two hostels one each for boys and girls. Unlike the boys’ hostel, the girls’ hostel is in shambles due to the management feud with the contractor.
Both its websites were down when accessed in October 2022, at the time of filing this report.
Despite all this, the college failed to impress the National Advisory Council (NAC) in 2015. The College falls in Grade B unlike its junior cousin in Baramulla which falls in Grade A, making it financially independent.
