ABVP demands more NEET exam centres

MUMBAI: A student organisation has demanded more examination centres for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in the state.

In a letter to state medical education minister Girish Mahajan, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has asked for examination centres in each district of Maharashtra, to make it more convenient for students from small towns and villages to take the test.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which conducts the entrance test across the country, has announced that all the examination centres in the state will be located in six major cities, namely Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune and Thane. The number of exam centres has not been released so far. “The students will have to bear economic and mental pain to appear for NEET. They will also lose more time. This will be detrimental to their progress,” read the ABVP letter.

The demand assumes significance as the number of students taking NEET is expected to rise manifold this year, after the state government's decision to conduct admissions to all the health science courses through the national-level test. “We don’t have the right to determine the centres. Nevertheless, we will write a letter to the Centre requesting more centres,” said Mahajan. Last year, the criterion for admission to these courses, with an exception of MBBS and BDS in private colleges, was the state-conducted common entrance test (CET).

Around 97,000 aspirants had taken the CET for health science courses last year, with some students appearing exclusively for NEET. The state's directorate of medical education and research (DMER) estimates around 1.5 lakh students to take NEET this year. Pravin Shingare, director, DMER, said the concentration of the examination centres in select cities makes it easier to monitor the test.
“NEET is a national-level test and there’s a risk of paper leak and other malpractices if it's held at multiple places,” he said.

Shingare pointed out that the number of examination centres for the test has in fact increased over the years. In 2015, The state had only two cities as the examination centres for AIPMT, which preceded NEET.

By : 28 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Musab Qazi  | musab.qazi@hindustantimes.com

Source:  http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

London  AGENCIES  

 

 

 
Source: Feb 27 2017 | The Times of India | Navi Mumbai

Link: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Genes-may-be-behind-your-math-anxiety-27022017013016#

CBSE exams 2017: Tips to score maximum marks in Business Studies paper

 

Theory-based subjects are as vital as any other subject and not giving B St as much attention can pull down your overall marks.

 

Students must understand the most important concepts and answer the questions clearly. The CBSE class 12 board examinations are round the corner and students of the commerce stream have had their noses burried in books and rigorous practice. With the need to equate balance sheets and a race to figure out macro-economic charts, students tend to take a breather when it comes to the more theory-based subjects like Business Studies (B St).

Theory-based subjects are as vital as any other subject and not giving B St as much attention can pull down your overall marks. Students must understand the most important concepts and answer the questions clearly. Most importantly, students must know how to present their answers during the paper.

Here are some tips to help you answer the questions in the best way possible:

1) Questions- Read the questions carefully before attempting the answer. Highlight the main points within each question so that you won’t have to go through the questions again while answering the paper. You will have 15-minutes before the paper begins to go through all the questions.

2) Rough sheet- The rough sheet is a saviour for many students as it provides the space to jot down some points that you may forget later. Whenever you remember something (while going through the questions or while answering a different question), quickly note it down in the rough sheet so that when you actually get to writing down your answer, you will have those points in front of you instead of needing to spend time thinking about them.

3) Write what you know first- You must always write those points first which they are sure about. For instance, if you believe you know six points to a three mark question, write the three points you are certain about first and then note down all other points. This must also be the case while picking the questions to answer first— always go for the answers you know before attempting those that you are not so sure about.

4) Write in points- Writing in heavy paragraphs with a repetition of statements may fill out the space and increase your word count, but it will not bring out the main points in your answer. In order to do that, put your answers down in points instead of thick paragraphs. This will show that you know what you are talking about.

5) Illustrations- Improve the presentation of your answers by using illustrations like charts, graphs and cartoons. This does not mean you need to waste time trying to create a graph or a chart with every answer. Rather, try to quickly illustrate what you mean to say in some of the larger questions that have sub points. This will help in creating an impression. 

6) Differentiation- In questions which ask you to differentiate between two concepts, use tables. You can put your points forward clearly when you use a table and the differences will be clearly highlighted in the points within the table. Remember to always explain the basis of the differences that you have highlighted. This will give more weightage to your answer.

7) Word limits- Never exceed the word limit for any any question by trying to fill in too many words. What is important in any answer is to put forward the main points and explaining the basis behind them.

8) Underline- Sometimes, thick paragraphs are inevitable when you are trying to put forward your concepts. This, however, will not be an issue if you find a different way to bring attention to the main points in the paragraphs. Underlining the key points is one of the most useful devises to bring those points into focus.

9) Revise- If you have managed to finish the paper early— which happens with many students— do not leave the exam room or waste the time by idle procrastination. Use the time to go through your answers and recheck the questions.

10) Attempt everything- Do not leave any question! If you don’t remember the exact answer, try to recall what you know and answer the question based on that. You may or may not gain marks for what you’ve written, but leaving a question will not even give you that small chance.

 

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | February 27, 2017

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-nic-in-cbse-exams-2017-tips-tricks-preparation-boards-to-score-maximum-marks-in-business-studies-paper

Students don’t need to write in cursive during SSC, HSC exams, says state board

MUMBAI: Students will not be required to use cursive handwriting in the Maharashtra state board exams, which begin with the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) on Tuesday and schools must not force students into it, states the board in a recent letter to schools. The Mumbai (Brihanmumbai) Association of Heads of Secondary (Higher Secondary) Schools had written to the board last month complaining against English medium schools insisting on cursive writing.

Students need not write exams in cursive script: State board

The board said that schools should not pressure students to master this style of writing

Students will not be required to use cursive handwriting in the Maharashtra state board exams (SSC and HSC) and schools must not force students into it, stated the board in a recent letter to schools. The Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams begin on Tuesday.

The Mumbai (Brihanmumbai) Association of Heads of Secondary (Higher Secondary) Schools had written to the board last month complaining about English medium schools’ insistence on cursive writing. It wants the state’s education department and the board to come up with rules on whether cursive writing should be taught in schools.

According to principals, in the group, students find it tough to use cursive handwriting. They said that this style of writing is now redundant across the world, including countries like the United States and United Kingdom, but schools pressure students to learn it from nursery to class 3.

Educators said that stressing on cursive handwriting may create a fear of writing in the child’s mind from a young age. “Many schools put pressure on students to master this style of writing,” said Prashant Redij, secretary of the association and headmaster, Hilda Castelino English High School, Kandivli. “Students are given tonnes of practice sheets, and often schools even deduct marks if students don’t write in this style.”
Adding that most Marathi medium students, too, find it difficult to gain proficiency over the style, Redij said, “This also develops an inferiority complex among Marathi-medium students.”

There are no additional benefits to learning cursive writing, others said.
“A child’s handwriting can be good in other styles too. In fact, it’s good if children develop their own unique writing style instead of copying another,” said Shahabuddin Waghwan, head of the association.
Waghwan added that rumours were circulating on social media that students must answer their HSC and SSC board exams in cursive writing.

“This is adding to students anxieties,” said Waghwan.
Responding to the concerns, Krishnakumar Patil, secretary of the board, issued a circular recently, stating that the board doesn’t insist on cursive writing.

“There are no rules in Maharashtra for secondary or higher secondary students to use cursive writing,” said Patil. “Schools must therefore not force students to learn it,” he added.

 Hindustan Times | 25 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Puja Pednekar puja.pednekar@hindustantimes.com

Source: http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

CBSE makes speed governors, GPS must for school buses

Manash Gohain | New Delhi





The Central Board of Secondary Education has issued comprehensive guidelines to ensure safety of children in school buses on Thursday . Stating that the guidelines “should be scrupulously followed and complied with by all affiliated schools,“ the Board said the management and the head of the school will be held responsible for any lapse which could lead to disaffiliation. The Board has made speed governors, GPS and CCTV mandatory .

 

The Board divided the guidelines into seven broad categories which include exterior and interior of bus, facilities, permits and advisory to parents. The CBSE, in its circular, stated that “the recent unfortunate instances reported in the media about callous approach by certain schools with respect to safety of schoolchildren during transit to and from the school have again stirred deep concern regarding the safety of school children. The time has come to make schools sensitive to this serious issue and take proactive remedial measures to ensure safety.“

The Board said buses should be painted yellow with the name of the school written prominently on both sides.`School bus' should be written prominently on the back and front of the vehicle and if it is a hired bus, “On school duty“ should be clearly written.

The Board also said details such as driver's name, address, licence number, badge number and telephone number of the school or the bus owner and transport department's helpline numbers should be displayed at prominent places inside and outside the bus in contrast colour. It is also mandatory for windows to be fitted with horizontal grills and mesh wire. There should be speed governors with maximum limit of 40 km per hour. GPS and CCTV arrangements should be made compulsorily in each school bus and will have to be installed by the owner of the bus.

Norms also require school authorities to provide one mobile phone in each school bus.



Source: Feb 24 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

6 tips to write the perfect answer in CBSE Board exams

With this approach of writing smart answers, you will be just a step away from scoring your dream marks in the exams! 

Aysha Anam

New Delhi, February 22, 2017 | UPDATED 18:03 IST

 

The CBSE board examinations are currently shaking up every nook and corner of the country. Every influential personality, from a political figure to an entertainment personality, is giving their advice to students appearing for the boards exams. Barring the heap of tips and tricks over their shoulders, students can add another feather in their hat of ideas to make a mark for themselves in the boards.

How do students learn?

Some students read the whole text first and then write the answers. Mugging up answers is a cake walk for a huge number of learners, while reading a chapter alone would be suffice for many other aspirants. Often, students turn hysterical and collect a huge chuck of information on every particular topic in their syllabus. Reading and learning is a simple way of completing the syllabus in time.
Everybody has their own style of learning, but none of the above is sufficient to score well. If a student is not able to perform well in the exam hall, all the effort towards preparation will go in vain. Every student wants to clear the exam with flying colours and make their family proud about the same.

Here are 6 tips that will show you clearly how to write CBSE answers to get the best marks:

1.

Students generally get panic and try to pour out whatever they know to make the answer look lengthy. This indeed puts an average impression on the examiner; therefore, it is advisable to keep the gate-keeping theory in mind. In short, you need to write the answer strategically-- frame long and short sentences with the required information, meticulously choose the right words, and structure your answer in a compact and concise manner.
Students should completely turn a deaf ear to those who advise them to write all that they know about a topic in an answer. Your answer should be concise and to-the-point as per the question asked, when it comes to CBSE papers.
If you aim for the moon, you have to run a mile extra.

For writing an innovative and smart answer, show your skills perfectly by knowing the tips and tricks, here:

• Start you answer with a generic line about the subject

• Add some meat to your answer with figures, examples, theories and quotes

• Keep the flow of the information coherent

• Make sure the concluding line clearly shows that you have answered what the question exactly asked for

2.

Nowadays, the medium of instruction in most of the CBSE schools is English, and so, students must know how to write in a simple and clear language. It is indeed the root cause why a number of students flunk in complicated subjects carrying advanced vocabulary such as history, science, geography.
Before reading the article further, ask yourself this simple question:
Q. Why is retaining an entertainment news article way easier than learning a history topic?
The answer lies mostly in the writing style used in textbooks. Most use a very academic style of writing with little colour in the language to draw in students and grab their interest. On the other hand, novels or magazine or certain newspapers and most websites use the easiest, least complicated language possible in order to connect with their audience and make sure that they can retain in their memory whatever they read.
Accordingly, whatever you write in your answer sheet should be simple and easy to follow. It shouldn't consist of paragraphs that you mugged up from your NCERT text, but rather, you should try to explain the concepts in your own words.

What is academic English?

According to bbc.com, "Academic English still needs to be clear and easy to follow but it does tend to use more complicated vocabulary and less personal grammar forms."

A quick comparison between academic and general English

Example:
Academic English: The scientific consensus holds that humankind bears a significant responsibility for the extent of climate change.
General English: Most scientists say that a lot of climate change is mostly our fault.
Although the concept of Academic English is quite colossal, here is a quick-fix for the students.

3.

  Do not use contractions such as wouldn't, couldn't, should've in your answer sheets. Use the full forms like would not, could not or should have.
Incorrect: The results won't be released until they've been verified.
Correct: The results will not be released until they have been verified.

4.

  When writing long answers in the form of experiments or the step-by-step procedures in your science practicals, always avoid using the active voice.Use the passive voice as it sounds more academic and it removes you as a student out of the context of your answer which is based on facts.
Incorrect: I completed the experiment as I was told to.
Correct: The experiment was completed as instructed.
Incorrect: As you can see, the experiment was successful.
Correct: As can be seen, the experiment was successful.

5.

  Given that the answer should be framed concisely, avoid using a barrage of words just to stretch the answer. Many multi-word verbs have a single word alternative. In academic contexts it is generally advised to use the more formal single word instead of the multi-word verb.
Incorrect:It was difficult to get hold of the raw material.
Correct:It was difficult to obtain the raw material.

6.

  Students must understand the difference between spoken and written English, as they tend to write what they use in their day-to-day life in the examination. For instance, a number of students make glaring spelling errors in small words like, 'shud' instead of should, or use the word 'like' excessively in wrong contexts.
Incorrect: There was like loads of awesome stuff made before the factory closed.
Correct:  Before its closure the factory manufactured a large variety of popular goods.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/cbse-board-exams-tips/1/888678.html

CBSE Board Exams 2017: Important points to remember

The students who are appearing for the exam must remember the important points below:

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts Class 10 and Class 12 board exams every year in the month of March and April. This year, the Class 10 and Class 12 exams will begin on March 9.

The students who are appearing for the exam must remember the important points below:

• Make a chapter review card (Use an index card: include special vocabulary, main ideas, examples, key events and people, causes, result and so on)

• Make and use a set of flashcards (vocabulary and definition, math problems and solutions, questions and answers and so on)

• Make list of related information by categories (causes results, important event or concepts, main ideas examples, key people and so on and recite them

• Draw a diagram, map a sketch, or a chart; do this from memory and check your notes or books for accuracy

• Write questions you think will be asked in the test and recite the answers. Create a mnemonic to remember, information (such as please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally, used for order of operations in solving an equation - Parenthesis - Exponent - Multiply - Divide - Add - Subtract)

• Graphic Organisers: Graphic organisers and semantic maps (word maps) which offer a visual representation of ideas. When students organise and design these maps, they apply important analytical skills as they think about how ideas are interrelated. Abstract information is put into concrete and visual form which can be pictured in one's mind and more readily retrieved later.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/cbse-board-exams-2017/1/882597.html

SHOCKING LESSONS IN INDIAN TEXTBOOKS

Purvaja Sawant





Sexist remarks, `killer' science experiments, incorrect historical accounts and more -these embarrassing mistakes in school textbooks will make you roll your eyes! 

 

Recently, social media broke into an outrage after it came to light that Maharashtra Board's Class XII sociology textbook lists `ugliness and handicap' among the main reasons why Indian parents have to shell out a higher dowry to get their daughters married. What offended people was the sitive manner in which the topic has been discussed. The controversial paragraph in Chapter 3 of the book reads, “If a girl is ugly and handicapped, it becomes very difficult for her to get married.To marry her, the girl's bridegroom and his family demand more dowry . The helpless parents of such girls are then forced to pay up.“

 

The text also drew criticism from professors, who believe that such topics need to be handled with sensitivity as youngsters are impressionable.Education Minister Vinod Tawde told TOI, “The content in the syllabus is old; the textbook has been around for three years. I think the academic board has tried to reflect the social reality in this chapter. However, we will review it and send suggestions to the Board.“

Meanwhile, an MLA from Rajasthan has now proposed to amend the historical `Battle of Haldighati' in university textbooks by declaring that the 1576 war was won by Maharana Pratap and not Akbar. Historians, however, maintain that the latter did win the war! These aren't just stray cases of textbooks misinterpreting history or promoting patriarchy . In the past too, there have been instances when school curriculum across states came under the scanner for their bizarre content...

`SUFFOCATE YOUR KITTEN' EXPERIMENT
Just last week, a Class IV environmental textbook followed by many Delhi schools caused a furore because it instructed students to kill a kitten as part of an experiment! In one of the chapters in the book Our Green World; Environment Studies, students are asked to place a kitten in an unventilated box and wait for it to die -to demonstrate that living beings cannot live without air. “No living thing can live without air for more than a few minutes.You can do an experiment.Take two wooden boxes. Make holes on the lid of one box. Put a small kitten in each box.Close the boxes. After some time, open the boxes. What do you see? The kitten inside the box without holes has died,“ reads the text. After enraged parents brought this to the notice of school authorities, teachers have now started to omit the chapter in class. In fact, Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) is also protesting against the publishers of the book.

WHEN ARUNACHAL PRADESH BECAME A PART OF CHINA
The Maharashtra State Board courted controversy in 2013 when a geography textbook for Class X students didn't show Arunachal Pradesh as a part o India in its map. The erro appeared in the chapter, India And Its Neighbouring Countries. This implied tha the state was a part of China and given the history between the two countries this was a big blunder. The Board apologised for the mistake and took action against those who were responsible for printing it.

REIMAGINING HISTORY!
In 2014, parents and children in Gujarat raised objections after they noticed a series of mistakes published in a Class VII social science textbook commissioned by the government for state-run schools.According to the book, Japan dropped a nuclear bomb on the US during World War II! The same textbook also got Mahatma Gandhi's assassination date incorrect.

DONKEYS ARE BETTER THAN HOUSEWIVES
Rajasthan Education Board was criticised after a Class IX Hindi textbook compared a housewife to a donkey . The chapter contained the following objectionable content -“A donkey is like a housewife. It has to toil all day and, like her, may even have to give up food and water. In fact, the donkey is a shade better, for while the housewife may sometimes complain and walk off to her parents' home, you'll never catch the donkey being disloyal to his master.“ State education board director of publications and academics AR Khan said the comparison was made in good humour. The chapter was eventually removed.

WORKING INDIAN WOMEN ARE THE REASON FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
At least that's what a Class X social science textbook, published by Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education, suggested in 2015! In one of its chapters, it explains that percentage of unemployment after Independence has increased as more women have started working. “Before Independence, few women were employed. But today , women are employed in all sectors that has increased the proportion of unemployment among men,“ it read.The controversial chapter, which was there since 2008, was removed from the books in 2016, as it reflected sexist views.

MEAT-EATERS COMMIT SEX CRIMES
Four years ago, a study book on hygiene and sex education for pre-teens made the following observation about nonvegetarians in one of its chapters -“They (meateaters) easily cheat, tell lies, forget promises, they are dishonest and tell bad words, steal, fight and turn to violence and commit sex crimes.“ The chapter also refers to Eskimos (Inuit) as `lazy, sluggish and short-lived' because they live on `a diet largely of meat'. It further stated, “The Arabs who helped in constructing the Suez Canal lived on wheat and dates and were superior to the beef-fed Englishmen engaged in the same work.“ Because of the heated debate surrounding the patronising chapter, the publishers released a statement condemning the material, noting that `the matter is regrettable and the book has since been withdrawn.'

 

 

 

  Source:Feb 15 2017 : The Times of India (Navi Mumbai)

CBSE schools across country can now use only NCERT textbooks

Manash Gohain|New Delhi:





A review meeting chaired by Prakash Javadekar, Union minister for human resource development, decided to make National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) study materials mandatory for all Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) schools across the country .

 

This is expected to standardise the curriculum across CBSE schools in the country . It is also a welcome relief for millions of parents forced by schools to purchase text books from private publishers, often at prices ranging between 300% and 600% higher than the NCERT books.

A senior HRD officials said NCERT has been directed to make all the textbooks available, in adequate numbers, through its 680 empanelled distribution vendors across the country by the last week of March, so that the April deadline for the 2017-18 academic session can be met. All the CBSE schools will have to raise their demand online on CBSE's website by February 22, 2017.

The MHRD decision comes after complaints by schools and parents about non-availability of NCERT books on schedule, and also by parents about schools selling expensive books by private publishers.

“Many schools have book kiosks on their premises.As well as selling exorbitantly priced textbooks from private publishers, these shops sell `bundle packs' that include pencils, erasers, and other stationery, which would cost a lot less for parents in the open market. We have also noticed that private publishers are sponsoring several school heads on junkets to countries like Switzerland,“ a senior HRD official said.

A CBSE official said that based on the mandatory disclosure of its schools, the board has an accurate estimate of the quantum of NCERT textbooks necessary for Classes I-XII for any academic session. “We now know the num ber of students a school has class-wise, rather than section-wise. As schools raise their demand online, we will know whether they are requisitioning for adequate number of books. The numbers may vary, as March is also a month of admissions. But the schools are expected to factor this in their purchases. CBSE will also monitor the annual subscription by schools,“ the official said.

 

 

Source: Feb 16 2017 : The Times of India (Navi Mumbai)

‘National anthem must be made compulsory in schools’

NEWDELHI: The Modi government wants singing of the national anthem made compulsory in all schools, its top law officer told the Supreme Court, which on Tuesday clarified that movie-goers needn’t stand when the song played as part of a film or documentary. The court was hearing a petition by a film society, which challenged its November 30 order asking and the audience to stand up to show respect to the 52-second anthem. People, the court clarified Tuesday, did not have to sing along.

Nationalism had to be instilled and it should start from childhood, said attorney general Mukul Rohtagi, opposing the recall plea.

“Compulsion to stand and sing (national anthem) as a part of school curriculum is required to be debated,” he said.

“The court has instilled pride, patriotism and nationalism through its national anthem order.”

Singing anthem is not compulsory but most schools play it during morning assembly.
The court had in August 1986 exempted three children, who belonged to the Jehovah’s Witness sect, from singing the anthem at their school. Forcing the children to sing the anthem violated their fundamental right to religion, the court had said.

Rohtagi also called for a relook at a law that makes insulting national anthem and emblems an offence but is silent if one needs to stand up when the song plays.

Appearing for the film society, senior advocate CU Singh said the order had lead to vigilante groups anointing themselves the guardians of morality.

Source: 15 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Bhadra Sinha letters@hindustantimes.com
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Skill­based courses may not find many takers, warn city schools

EXPERTS SAY No recognition from state board makes it unlikely for students to opt for such courses

MUMBAI: An evolving job market that stresses on innovation and digital aptitude has spurred school education boards to add new subjects, to give their students an edge over others. From global perspectives to digital media, these subjects will impart 21st-century skills, but schools are divided on whether they will find many takers.

One of the fastest growing boards in India, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) has introduced two new subjects: global perspectives and digital media and design. Learners from five to 14 years can opt for global perspectives from 2018-19, while their counterparts in class 10 to 12 are already studying it. Digital media might be offered by 2019.

The Maharashtra state education board, too, has launched an array of vocational subjects from media to travel and tourism under the National Skills Qualification Framework.
Cambridge said that there is a huge demand for skill-oriented subjects even though India is STEM (Science, technology, engineering, maths)-oriented. “The flexibility of subjects that the curriculum offers is refreshing,” said Ruchira Ghosh, regional director, Asia-Pacific, CIE.

The was a 30% increase in the number of entries for March exams that were started couple of years ago so that Indian students can get their results in time for local and national colleges.

“We participated in the pilot for global perspectives and found that it equips students for discussions on current topics and critical thinking,” said Kavita Aggarwal, chief academic advisor, JBCN International schools.

However, schools said subjects like global perspectives do not have recognition from the state, making it tough for students to opt for them. “It is easy for conventional subjects to get equivalence as the state board offers them too,” said Aggarwal, who heads MISA (Members of International Schools Association).
In a vicious circle, some state board schools say that they cannot offer these subjects since there are not enough takers, but students interested in them are unable to find schools who do.

“We are not seeing any demand for the new subjects because parents do not want to think out-of-the-box,” said Father Francis Swamy, joint-secretary of Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE), which runs 150-odd schools in Mumbai.

Source: Hindustan Times |  15 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | 
Puja Pednekar puja.pednekar@hindustantimes.com

THE REFORMS THAT WERE SCRAPPED

OTBA: It was introduced two years ago on March 2014 for Class 9 in Hindi, English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science and in a few subjects in Class 11 such as Economics, Biology and Geography. CBSE-I: Owing to unavailability of quality reading material of global standards and other technical difficulties, CBSE’s international curriculum started in 2010-11 as a pilot, will be discontinued from the coming academic year, 2017-18. Optional board exams: The Class 10 board exams will be compulsory for students once again from 2017-18. In 2011, the board exams were made optional. Instead, students could appear for school-based exams. This was an attempt to reduce the fear of exams.

CCE: Schools will no longer follow the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) policy that emphasised on all-round assessments introduced in 2009. The board has revised the assessment pattern for schools, bringing back the focus on end of the year exams. The board exams will carry 80 marks and school-based tests only 20 marks. Problem solving assessments: In 2015, the CBSE cancelled its problem solving assessment (PSA) component abruptly in the middle of the academic year for classes 9 and 11. The exams were aimed at testing students higher order thinking and problem solving skills.

Source: Hindustan Times |16 Feb 2017 | Mumbai
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Students stand to lose out with CBSE scrapping reforms: Experts

REGRESSIVE Doing away with steps like continuous assessments will hurt children’s progress, say schools

Students passing out of schools affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Examination(CBSE)exams willnolonger have an edge over others, fear experts.

Schools in Mumbai complained that in the last few months, the CBSE has done away with all the new academic reforms that set it apart from other boards. They said they will, however, continue to implement reforms upto Class 8.

The board recently scrapped the open text-based assessment (OTBA) for Classes 9 and 11. This came close on heels of discontinuing the international curriculum, erasing the continuous comprehensive evaluation that focused on all-round assessments, and making Class 10 board exams compulsory again.
Many of the academicians in Mumbai fear that these changes have turned back the clock on the progress made by students.

“These are regressive steps, undoing all the innovative assessments and evaluations brought in over the last decade,” said Avnita Bir, principal, RN Podar School, Santacruz. “These assessments were on par with foreign universities and higher education institutes.”

The OTBA, for instance, which was scrapped earlier this month for classes 9 and 11, was aimed at developing thinking and analytical skills of students. It involved pouring over casestudies and answering openended questions, instead of merely copying down mugged up answers. “We were so impressed with OTBAs that we had introduced them for our lower classes as well and we don’t want to change that,” said Bir.

Refusing to do away with the reforms completely, many schools have decided to continue with them for primary and middle school.

“The CBSE policies are politically driven but we cannot keep changing the assessment pattern. It will affect our students,” said Deepshikha Srivastava, principal, Rajhans Vidyalaya, Andheri.
Srivastava added, “We will take the good practices from all the assessments and stick to it for classes 1 to 8.”

Schools said they were not consulted before any of these changes were done, leaving them anxious about what the future holds. “It was unfair for the board to just scrap it without even giving us any reason. We are now worried whether they will do away with the new subjects,” added Bir.

Some of the principals said that while the assessments were good, they were not implemented properly by the board. “They were hastily introduced, without proper planning. None of the actual stakeholders were involved in the discussions while implementing them,” said Ganesh Parmeswaran, Bal Bharti Public School, Navi Mumbai.

 Source: Hindustan Times | 16 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Puja Pednekar puja.pednekar@hindustantimes.com

CBSE 2017 queries? 

Here are the contact details

The CBSE class 10 and 12 board exams will start from March 9. Check the contact details here.

The CBSE class 10 and 12 board exams will start from March 9. In case of any queries, the students can speak to the concerned authorities.
The board also conducts examinations like AIPMT, JEE, CTET besides others.

Listed below are the contact details for the same:

CBSE Helpline Number:

1800-11-8002

Enquiry:

Tel. 91-11-22509256, 22509257, 22509258, 22509259

Examination Unit:

K K Chaudhary, Controller of ExaminationsTel.   91-11-22515828Fax: 011-22057089Email: ce.cbse2014@gmail.com

AIPMT:

Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, OSD (AIPMT)Tel. 91-11-22059683Fax:  011-22509251Email: osd.cbse@gmail.com

U.C. Bodh, Dy. SecretaryTel: 91-11-22054966
Email: osd.cbse@gmail.com

Raj Rani Sharma, Assistant Secretary and Karnail Singh, Assistant SecretaryTel:91-11-22019683Email: aipmt.cbse@nic.in

CTET

P.I.Sabu,Director (CTET, Special Exams & Affiliation)Tel.  91-11-22248885Fax: 91-11-22248990Email: rodelhi.cbse@gmail.com

Regional Offices

DELHI:

Regional Officer
Tel.  91-11-22248885Fax: 91-11-22248990Email: rodelhi.cbse@gmail.com

CHENNAI:

Srinivasan (Regional Officer)
Tel. 91- 44-26162214,26162213, 26161100 Fax:91-44-26162212Email: rochennai.cbse@nic.in

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Source: New Delhi, February 13, 2017 | UPDATED 15:29 IST 
Link : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/cbse-2017/1/881465.html

No writers for slow learners this SSC, HSC exam





Vinamrata Borwankar  | Mumbai:

Exception: If They Get Recommendation From KEM, Nair Or Sion Hospitals

Slow learners, with the exception of those who have secured a special recommendation from doctors, will not be able to avail of writers for the upcoming SSC and HSC exams.

 

While parents and activists have been campaigning before the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education that slow learners be allowed to use writers, the change is not expected to come through before the exams begin later this month.

In a January 2016 government resolution, the state board had revised the concessions offered to students with special needs. Under the new rules, two categories of students can avail of writers during an exam: Those with an IQ below 70 and those with learning disabilities. However, students with an IQ between 70 and 90, usually referred to as slow learners, do not fall in either of these categories and therefore cannot be given writers.Several parents and activists had approached the state board to add slow learners to the list.

A member of the committee, which addresses issues related to exam-related concessions, said, “We have once again written to the state board in this regard. While board officials, too, are of the opinion that these students must be included in the list, they need to communicate this proposed change to the government.“

Board officials said that slow learners will be allowed writers only if a certification centre makes a specific recommendation. The city has three certification centres--at KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals.

“Slow learners do not fit into any of the categories described in the Central Act concerning persons with disabilities.Hence, we cannot provide them with writers. However, in case a certifying doctor specifies that astudent needs a writer, we will consider the request and give the concession. Otherwise, students will only get 20 minutes of additional time per hour to write a paper,“ said Siddeshwar Chandekar, secretary of the board's Mumbai division.

Parents want slow learners to benefit, though. “Sion Hospital recommended that our child needs a writer and we are therefore being allowed to use one.Several other students might not have got such a recommendation. The rules should be changed so that parents don't have to run around till the last minute trying to prove that their case is an exception,“ said a mother.

Mental health experts, too, had written to school education minister Vinod Tawde requesting a change. “If a child with mild mental retardation can get an adult writer and those with normal and above normal intelligence with learning disabilities can get the same provision, then this facility should be extended to slow learners who are in the middle of these two groups. This would mean abiding by the principles of na tural justice,“ read a letter by psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty .Activists say there could be a way out if parents joined forces. “Autism was included as a category in the Act only in 2016.But parent groups pushed enough with the education boards and managed to get concessions the same year,“ said Merry Barua, founder director, Action for Autism.
TIMES VIEW:

Although `slow learning' is not recognized as a disability under the central legislation, it is important for groups working in various areas of education to study the problem and lobby with the government to bring about necessary changes in law. Given the scholastic and competitive standards of school education and the sheer percentage of dropouts at higher levels, it may be necessary to support sections of students who have a lower-than-average IQ; institutions and educationists must adopt an all-inclusive approach so that no child is left behind.

Source : Feb 14 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Link : http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=No-writers-for-slow-learners-this-SSC-HSC-14022017005009





Tall order to keep kids away from junk food

While many private schools have been able to introduce healthy snacks in their cafeteria menu, govt schools are still struggling to do the same

Parents can monitor what their children eat at home, but once they step out, healthy options dry up. Instead, children’s palate is assaulted with unhealthy food high in fat, salt and sugar and low on essential nutrients they need to grow mentally and physically.
IMAGES BAZAAR  

When schools ban sale of unhealthy food on campus, vendors make their own makeshift shops and start selling meals­on­bicycles outside the institute. (Picture for representational purpose only) Chips, sweetened beverages, instant noodles, fries, samosas, bread pakoras and patties are the standard fare in most school cafeterias. When schools ban them, enterprising vendors set up makeshift kiosks and sell meals-on-bicycles outside schools. With no running water or quality control for cooking and storing, most children end up with empty calories and very often, gut-destroying germs.

“All refined, fried and processed foods are just empty calories because most of the essential sugar and fat the body needs are present naturally in food, such as sugar in fruits and fat in dairy, seeds, nuts, meats and cooking oil,” says Rahul Verma, founder of the Delhi-based non-profit Uday Foundation, which filed a PIL in the Delhi high court in December 2010 asking for a ban on the sale of junk food in schools. “Though traditional snacks are freshly made and do not have additives such as colour and preservatives added to them, they are usually high in low quality oils, salts and sugars,” Verma underlines.

In March 2015, the Delhi high court asked the administrator of Delhi to issue healthy eating guidelines under Rule 43 of the Delhi School Education Rules, 1973, and directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to formulate guidelines, which have since been circulated but are not binding.

While many private schools in Delhi and Mumbai have not waited for government guidelines and moved towards healthier snacks years ago, Punjab, where the state’s child rights commission banned junk food in schools in January 2016, unhealthy foods are still widely available.

Delhi’s Springdales School on Pusa Road removed fried snacks and aerated drinks from their canteen menu a decade ago. The shift in the attitude occurred after a survey showed 70% of the students were overweight and were either suffering from associated conditions or would grow up to be unhealthy adults.

“Children eat only one meal in school. To make the child healthy, we have to involve their parents. Many kids were eating two-minute noodles, fried potato taters or food high on sugar and fats,” says Ameeta Wattal, principal, Springdales, where poha, idli sambar and wholewheat sandwiches are sold along with lassi, chaach and lime juice.

These foods are also part of the cafeteria menu at Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, where the menu is changed periodically to include seasonal vegetables. The school also has a committee consisting of teachers, students and some parents. They monitor the nutrition value of the food, the taste and the oil it is cooked in. “Our canteen is outsourced, but we strictly monitor it to make sure that the quality of the food is maintained,” says Manohar Lal, principal of the school.

In Lucknow’s La Martiniere Girls’ College, children are encouraged to eat more fruits and vegetables from kindergarten. “The practice was introduced by our former principal Late Farida Abraham and it is still continuing,” vice-principal Aashrita Dass told HT.

In Mumbai, parents associations are sore at the lack of guidelines in Maharashtra. “Schools receive cutbacks from vendors, and canteen contractors also prefer such items because it boosts their sales,” says Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education, a parent-teacher body. Even education officials admit they do not check whether schools serve junk food as there is no regulation against it so far. “We cannot stop a school from serving junk food, as there is no official ban in place. We can at best advise them to opt for healthier choices,” says BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai division.

While many schools said it is difficult to restrict junk food in its vicinity, some have come up with innovative ways to restrict fast food on the campus: Rajhans Vidyalaya in Andheri serves fresh, hot and hygienic food in breakfast and lunch on campus and doesn’t allow home food to ensure parents don’t send unhealthy food. Aerated drinks are also banned.

At Ryan International, Kandivali, teachers patrol the streets after school to ensure children walking out don’t stop at the nearby McDonalds or other junk food joints.

In government-run schools, the hot meals provided under the National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (Mid Day Meal Scheme) are nutritive and safe. The scheme was launched to increase enrolment, retention and attendance while improving the nutrition levels of children by giving them 300 calories of energy, 8-12 gms of protein and adequate micronutrients. However, it was not good enough to keep children in school. A 2015 audit of the action taken on the Comptroller and Auditor General’s 2008 Report on Mid Day Meal Scheme showed that the enrolment in the midday meals-covered schools dropped from 14.69 crore in 2009-10 to 13.87 crore in 2013-14, while enrolment in private schools shot up by 38% in the same period.

The audit also found children were given less than the prescribed quantity of foodgrains. Moreover, inspections were not carried out to ensure quality. Most schools checked in the audit lacked facilities like kitchen sheds, proper utensils, availability of drinking water etc. There were several instances of food being cooked in the open in unhygienic conditions, the report found.

Few lessons seem to have been learnt from the shocking case of negligence that left 23 children dead and dozens others seriously ill after they ate a pesticidelaced midday-meal at a primary school at Dharmashati Gandaman village in Bihar in July 2013. A month later, 30 kids fell ill in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh; and in November 2014, 25 kids fell ill after eating their mid-day meal at a government school at Gaya in Bihar.

In July 2016,40 students fell ill at Chincholi village in Adilabad district of Telangana after eating food prepared in the school kitchen at a farewell party for seniors. In September that year, 25 students were hospitalised in Kolar district in Karnataka. In September 2015, about 150 students in Chandoor town and Ilapuram village in Telangana started vomiting after having mid-day meal.

“Such cases of food poisoning are very rare and take place in remote areas due to lack of proper supervision and maintenance of kitchen. Otherwise, there is a periodical check on the quality of food. Even we eat the same food regularly to ensure the quality,” said L Ravinder Rao, headmaster at a government school in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana.

Source: 8 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Anonna Dutt and Puja Pednekar letters@hindustantimes.com 

Source Link:  http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

Single entrance test for engg, architecture seats from 2018

Entrance test to be held in multiple languages





But Nat'l Test Won't Include IIT Admissions 

The Centre has approved a proposal for a single entrance exam for engineering and architecture at the undergraduate level from 2018. It will be on the lines of the national eligibility and entrance test (NEET) for medical colleges.

The human resource development ministry has asked the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to issue a “suitable regulation“ for the implementation of the proposal from the academic year 2018-19. The test will be conducted multiple times a year, as is the case with college admission tests like SAT in the US, and is intended to bring uniformity in academic standards and reduce the influence of donations.

The test will, however, not include admission to IITs, wh ich will continue to hold their own entrance exams. IITs, unlike private and state colleges, are not seen to be affected by fluctuating standards and admission processes.

According to a senior HRD official, “Admission for IITs will continue as per the present scheme. IITs will con duct the joint entrance examination (advanced). Students who qualify after JEE (mains) can appear for the JEE (advanced) exam. Approximately, 2 lakh students qualify to appear for JEE (advanced) exam.“ The proposal on holding only one entrance exam for engineering admissions is seen to be in “accordance with the policy of the government to improve standards and the quality of engineering education“. At present, many states conduct their own engineering exams or admissions are done on the basis of Class XII marks.

Engineering colleges in five states use the score obtained in JEE (mains) as the basis for admission. There are 3,288 engineering colleges across 27 states, with most of them in Tamil Nadu (527), followed by Maharashtra (372), Andhra Pradesh (328), Uttar Pradesh (295) and Madhya Pradesh (211). The HRD ministry has asked AICTE to ensure that the testing process is standardized, keeping “in view the linguistic diversity of the country“. According to AICTE sources, the exam is to be conducted in multiple languages like NEET, which will be conducted in 10 languages this year.

The ministry has requested all state governmentsdeemed universities “to communicate their constructive suggestions for the smooth implementation of the regulation“.It has also said it would help if as many institutions as possible come under a joint seat-allocation system for a more efficient seat-allocation process.

Source: Feb 11 2017 : The Times of India (Navi Mumbai)





Link: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Entrance-test-to-be-held-in-multiple-languages-11022017020034

CBSE's diabetic students to get mid-board exam snack break

Can Eat 60-90 Minutes Into Tests, Schools May Be Asked To Follow Suit

Manash Gohain New Delhi:





Here is news that should cheer students with Type-1 diabetes and put a smile on the faces of their anxious parents. The Central Board of Secondary Education has decided, in principle, to allow students appearing for Class X and XII board exams in March and April this year to take a break for a mid-exam snack.

 

Type-1 diabetic patients, who depend on two to four insulin injections every day to keep their sugar levels balanced, are advised not to have too long a break between snacks. Else, the low sugar level will lead to them having a headache and suffering from irritability , restlessness and confusion.

CBSE will soon notify that diabetic students will be allowed a snack break during exams, an hour or 90 minutes from the commencement of the test.

It is also likely to advise school principals to start a similar practice in their institutions, as is done in the United States.

“We are working out the details,“ announced RK Chaturvedi, chairman, CBSE, on Friday . “We will probably is sue a detailed circular on the matter in the coming week.“

The relief to the diabetic students was considered by the education board after Dr Ashok Jhingan, chairperson of the Delhi Diabetes Research Centre, approached it to consider the problem. He buttressed his request with the results from a study in four Kendriya Vidyalayas that had allowed its students with Type-1 diabetes to have a mid-exam snack. According to Jhingan, there are four lakh children with Type-1 diabetes in the country , around 14,000 of them in Delhi-NCR. “These children need insulin half an hour before eating, which means between 6.30 am and 7.30 am,“ the doctor said. “In schools, the students generally are allowed a light snack after two hours to prevent their sugar level falling.This is because the regular class breaks usually take pla ce at 11 am, around three hours after school starts. Without the snack between 9am and 10am, their sugar level could drop, leaving them irritable and unable to concentrate on their studies.“

Even students who otherwise do well academically through the year face problems at exam time, said Jhingan. They normally leave for the exam hall at least an hour before the scheduled time for the test. “If the exam starts at 10 am,“ explained Jhingan, “then it means the children have their insulin shots at around 8.30am. They start developing low sugar levels by 11 am. If the exam is of three hours' duration, it will go on till 1 pm. In such a situation, there is a decline in the performance levels of the diabetic students.“

Source :Feb 11 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Link: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=CBSEs-diabetic-students-to-get-mid-board-exam-11022017018005#

Kids have a huge impact on their peers, finds study

ANI





When preschoolers spend time around one another, they tend to take on each other's personalities, indicates a new study by Michigan State University psychology researchers. The study suggests personality is shaped by environment and not just genes. “Our findings, which states that personality traits are contagious among children, flies in the face of common assumptions that personality is ingrained and can't be changed. This is important because some personality traits can help children succeed in life, while others can hold them back,“ said Jennifer Watling Neal, co-investigator on the study .

 

The researchers studied two preschool classes for an entire school year, analysing personality traits and social networks for one class of three-year-olds and another class of four-year-olds.Children whose play partners were extroverted or hard-working became similar to these peers over time. However, kids whose play partners were overanxious and easily frustrated did not take on these particular traits.

The study is the first to examine these personality traits in young children over time. The researchers deduced that kids are having a bigger effect on each other than people may realise.While parents spend a lot of their time trying to tell their child to be patient, be a good listener, among other things, it wasn't them who have an influence but their friends.





Source: Feb 05 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Link: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Kids-have-a-huge-impact-on-their-peers-05022017105037#

NEET: Confusion persists on admissions, Syllabus

Medical aspirants unsure if Class 12 marks will be considered

MUMBAI : The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) statement on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has clarified many doubts for medical aspirants and their parents, but there is still ambiguity about admission rules for deemed universities in state, and the syllabus for NEET 2017.

A group of parents from Maharashtra are planning to meet officials from the Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) this week for better clarity.

“In the last many years medical admissions had never given any weightage to class 12 marks, but recently the Supreme Court requested all higher education courses to consider that score as well as entrance exam scores. We are not sure if the rule is applicable this year,” said one of the parents.

Earlier this month, the DMER had also released a statement saying that admission to all medical seats (except for 15% all-India quota) in government-run and private institutes will be conducted by DMER. However, there is no clarification about seats in deemed institutes. “We don’t want to wait till the last minute for clarity. So hopefully the state government will release another statement soon,” said a parent.

When HT contacted the DMER director, he said the matter of admissions to deemed institutes is still sub-judice, as the matter is still pending in Supreme Court. “Once we get a go ahead from SC, we will release a statement on that as well. As for weightage to class 12 marks, medical admission have given no weightage to class 12 marks since 1999, and we will continue the same rule in 2017. As for 2018, we can decide later,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, director, DMER.

Parents have complained about other problems, including an unclear stand by CBSE on the portion applicable for NEET 2017.

“The website says that the question paper will include questions from CBSE as well as a common state board syllabus, but there is no common state board syllabus. Each state has a different syllabus,” said Sudha Shenoy, another parent. Many are hoping to hear form the CBSE soon.

Source: Hindustan Times | 7 Feb 2017 | Mumbai | Shreya Bhandary ■ shreya.bhandary@hindustantimes.com

Link: http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

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