Study: States hardly invest in improving education quality

New Delhi:  TIMES NEWS NETWORK





`Just 1% Of Funds Spent On Training Teachers'

 

For all the talk on education quality and improving learning outcomes, little is actually being done to achieve either. The Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) and Child Rights and You (CRY) studied state budgets for education in 10 general-category states and found that allocations for measures, even statutory provisions for ensuring quality -teacher training, monitoring, community mobilisation and training -are close to negligible in education budgets. In fact, share of any of these categories rarely rises beyond 1% in the education or Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) budget in any state.

 

“There is much discussion on quality but governments are not investing in the systems responsible for improving quality ,“ said Subrat Das of CBGA. The share of teachertraining in the education budget doesn't rise above 1% in any of the 10 states included in the analysis except Bihar, where it was 1.6% in 2015-16 (budget estimate). Inspection and monitoring are similarly neglected with their share crossing 1% in only Tamil Nadu and Odisha, both 1.2%. The study considered all 12 years of schooling. While there is huge variation across states, perstudent expenditure is less than that of relatively successful centrally-funded systems ­ the Kendriya and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (KVs and JNVs) -nearly everywhere.

 More than 98% schools in the 10 states have formed school management committees (SMCs). Mandated by the Right to Education Act 2009, these are composed mainly of parents and communitymembers. In addition to monitoring the functioning of schools, the RTE also requires them to formulate school development plans and clear school budgets. But, again, states have spent very little on training them. The share of training SMCs and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) in the SSA budget was less than 1% in all 10 states in 2014-15. Teachers' salaries do claim the largest chunk of the budget in all 10 states. Their share ranges from 51.6% in Bihar to 80.4% in Rajasthan. But, as Protiva Kundu from CBGA said, “The myth that teachers' salaries take away all the funds for education is not true.“ State governments, especially UP and Maharashtra, spend significant amounts on non-government schools ­ as grants-in-aid and compensation for children enrolled in the 25% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and Disadvantaged Groups (DG).

Education as a sector is under-funded, believe the organisations that authored the report. The per-student expenditure in public education in practically every general-category state is below that of KVs and JNVs.

 
Source:Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

RELIEF FOR STUDENTS - SSC exam timetable changed to give break between papers

Mumbai: TIMES NEWS NETWORK





In a relief to students, the state government has changed the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam timetable so as to give them a break between three papers -science II, historycivics and geography-economics -that were scheduled from March 20 to 22.

 According to the new timetable, which was issued by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), the science II paper will now be held on March 20, history-civics on March 22 and geography-economics on March 25. The change in timetable means that the papers scheduled after geography-economics will now be pushed ahead and hence, the exam, which was to conclude on March 29, will go on till April 1.

The MSBSHSE after announcing the timetable on October 29 had given 15 days for feedback. During this period, several teachers' groups, local leaders and students raised concerns over the three papers, which were scheduled one after the other, without any break. They demanded at least a day's gap between the three papers.

“Considering the feedback, we decided to change the timetable. Class XII time table remains unchanged,“ said Krishnakumar Patil, secretary of the state board. The exam begins on March 7.

Teachers have welcomed the change in timetable.“Three papers in a row would have been stressful for students. They must be given a day to revise and refresh their minds. It is, in fact, a practice that the board follows every year,“ said Anil Bornare, secretary of the junior college teachers' association.

Source: Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

CBSE to introduce test for teachers aspiring to be principals

The eligibility and modalities for introducing the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) will be notified by the Board in due course of time.

By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:December 22, 2016 9:22 pm

Amendment shall not be applicable to the principals of Government schools.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is working on introducing a Principal Eligibility Test (PET) for teachers aspiring to become school heads. According to a circular, the proposal was ratified by the Governing Body in its meeting held Wednesday.

“The Board has decided to conduct the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) for aspiring teachers to become principal and for existing principals, who fulfill the minimum qualifications of Principal as laid down in rule 53 (I) of Affiliation Bye laws of the Board,” the circular issued by the CBSE said.

However, it added that the amendment shall not be applicable to the principals of Government schools.
The eligibility and modalities for introducing the Principal Eligibility Test (PET) will be notified by the Board in due course of time, it added.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-to-introduce-test-for-teachers-aspiring-to-be-principals-4440605/

CBSE gets say in picking heads of unaided schools

Dec 23 2016 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

CBSE gets say in picking heads of unaided schools

Manash Gohain

New Delhi:





Private unaided schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will no longer be able to appoint principals or heads on their own as the board has empowered itself to monitor such appointments in schools that fall under its ambit. Also, teachers aspiring to be principals will now have to qualify a Principal Eligibility Test (PET) conducted by the board, a circular issued on Thursday said. According to a CBSE circular issued to all state education directorates, school principals and other stakeholders, it will now be mandatory for schools to include a CBSE nominee and a state government nominee in their selection panels for principals.

Further, these committees will have to comprise five or more members instead of the four , the new addition being that of the state government nominee. What makes this change significant is that the member with experience in school administration, hitherto nominated by schools' managing committees, will now be nominated by the chairperson of the CBSE.

This effectively means that out of the five members on the panel, two will be appointed directly by , or with the approval of, the CBSE. “Till now, it was the managing committee which used to independently pick the two, with the president of the society and the managing committee chairperson being the remaining two constituents. In case of private unaided schools, the recruitment used to be completely in the hands of the school management,“ said a member of the CBSE's governing body .

 Voicing concern at the apparent curtailment of autonomy , a principal of a private school in Delhi said on condition of anonymity , “We don't really know how reducing schools' members in the selection panel will help them. The strength and kind of candidates vary from school to school. For that there should have been more autonomy .“

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आधार क्रमांक नसनारे विद्याथी केंद्राच्या शिष्यवृत्ती योजनेतून बाद ?

CBSE move to three-language format proves burdensome

Parents feel that learning a foreign language will help their children in an increasingly globalised world, says Anvita Bir, Principal of R. N. Podar School.   | Photo Credit: File photo

The CBSE insists that the third language to be included in the syllabus must be an Indian language rather than popular foreign languages

The proposal of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to revert to the three-language system is likely to increase the burden on students. “The return of the three-language format could further prove difficult for students as it increases the number of subjects from five to six. Earlier, students had to learn three languages only until Class VIII, after which the emphasis shifted to Science, Maths and Social Sciences in Class IX and X. However, it might become a way of life soon,” according to Rakesh Joshi, Principal of Apeejay School in Nerul.

The CBSE insists that the third language must be an Indian language rather than popular foreign languages like French and German. According to the Board, the syllabus should include English, Hindi, and an Indian language, while foreign language should be the fourth, optional language subject for Class X board exams.
Explaining the logic for the new proposed format, Dr. Mousumi Bhoumick, who has worked as an advisory with various CBSE committees, said, “The theory behind the three-language format is that students should first be taught their mother tongue, then a language spoken in their environment, and thirdly the language of the society in which they stay. Thereafter, they can be taught foreign languages. However, parents misuse this system by enforcing foreign languages on their children, which is very unfair and could be harmful for them in the long run.”

Foreign language preference

The contention behind the CBSE’s new policy is that many parents prefer their children learning foreign languages like French and German over regional languages like Marathi. This is so that their children will be equipped to participate on an international stage. The government’s bid to downgrade foreign languages and upgrade Indian languages has however, not gone down well with the parents.

“We chose French over Sanskrit for our son since learning Sanskrit offers no practical use. Learning French would be helpful in communication while travelling abroad,” says Shubra Singh, whose son is a Class IX student in a CBSE school.

In R. N. Podar School, Santacruz, most students opt for French over Hindi or Sanskrit as the third language option, according to Principal Avnita Bir. “Most parents prefer their children to learn French as they feel it would be an advantage to them in an increasingly globalised world,” she says.

Incidentally, the confusion over foreign languages by the CBSE has led to much chaos in classrooms. In 2014, CBSE had introduced Mandarin in some schools, following a tie-up with China. However, schools were left scrambling in the middle when the deal with China expired within two years. The subject was discontinued in many CBSE schools as they couldn’t find the language teachers at a short notice. Similarly, German language was allowed to be taught in schools but was suddenly discontinued in 2014 by the then Human Resources Minister, Smriti Irani, in spite of intervention by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel.
The new system will privilege the learning of the local regional language. However, sentiments are strong that frequent changes to the CBSE syllabus are disruptive.

“Education should be insulated from political changes. It has caused enough confusion in the classrooms. The government can’t keep going back and forth on policies like this. It does not help our students go anywhere,” an academician said.

The difficulty faced by students is also not going unnoticed. “My daughter had opted for French but later gave it up. It is difficult for her to learn one more language for her Class X boards next year. In today's times, when there are so many opportunities opening up, students should be given the option to choose the subjects that they wish to learn,” says Rupa Sen, mother of television child actor Anushka Sen, who is a Class IX student.
 

The writer is a freelance journalist

Hepzi Anthony

Mumbai: December 22, 2016 00:44 IST

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/CBSE-move-to-three-language-format-proves-burdensome/article16920570.ece

CBSE’s Three-Language Formula: Won’t impose any language, says Prakash Javadekar

All CBSE schools will now not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X.

The Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) decision to implement the three-language formula up to Class X will not lead to the imposition of one language on schools, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar assured on Wednesday.

Asked if Sanskrit would become compulsory in CBSE-affiliated schools, he said, “I have not gone through the Board’s recommendation in detail, but we are not going to impose any language on schools. The three-language formula is currently being implemented across the country, except in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. We are not changing that.”

 

Under the National Education Policy, the three-language formula means students in Hindi-speaking states should learn a modern Indian language, apart from Hindi and English and, in non-Hindi-speaking states, they should learn Hindi along with the regional language and English.
However, a majority of the 18,000 affiliated institutions offer the mother tongue or Hindi, English and a foreign language such as German and Mandarin up to Class VIII. All CBSE schools will now not only have to implement the three-language formula in letter and spirit, but also extend it up to Class X. A directive, with finer details and timing of implementation, will be issued to schools as soon as the move is ratified by the government.

The decision comes almost two years after the HRD Ministry, under Smriti Irani’s leadership, forced Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) to discontinue teaching of German as a third language in classes VI to VIII on the ground that it violates the three-language formula. KVs were directed to replace it with Sanskrit or any modern Indian language. German is still taught, but as a hobby/additional language.
Javadekar also supported the CBSE’s move to make the Class X Board exams compulsory from 2018. “This (opting out of Board exams in Class X) was an anomaly. Why should only CBSE students have the freedom to opt out (of Board exams) when the students elsewhere cannot,” he said.

Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/cbse-compulsory-board-three-language-prakash-javadekar-hrd-wont-impose-any-language-4439304/

Want to study a foreign language at CBSE school? You may have to take 3 more

delhi Updated: Dec 21, 2016 11:23 IST

Heena Kausar
New Delhi, Hindustan Times

The CBSE has recommended to the government that all schools should follow this system and those wanting to study a foreign language will have to take it as an elective or an additional subject. (Vipin Kumar/HT file)

Students in CBSE schools may soon have to study four languages if they want to take up a foreign language as the board has recommended that schools follow three-language formula under which students study Hindi, English and one modern Indian language such as Sanskrit or Telugu.

Many private schools in the Capital offer foreign languages along with Sanskrit as the third language. But with CBSE’s new move, foreign language will become an elective or additional language.
Some schools are unhappy with the move and said that students should be free to study foreign languages if they wish to. Principals said that most students take up foreign languages because they want to go abroad or make a career in the language.

“We are looking at providing students with global upbringing. We cannot limit their options because many of the students want to go abroad for graduation,” said principal of a private school on condition of anonymity.
According to sources, in its governing body meet on Tuesday, the CBSE has recommended to the government that all schools should follow this system and those wanting to study a foreign language will have to take it as an elective or an additional subject.

Also, while the three-language formula is applicable only till Class VIII, as per a decision of the board, students of Class IX and X will also have to study three languages. Reportedly, they will only be required to get passing marks in the third language, sources said.
Some schools said it will add unnecessary burden on students.

Most private schools offer Sanskrit, German, French, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese as the third language under the formula. Most private school principals said students prefer to take up a foreign language.
“It is not a good idea to limit options for students if they want to study a foreign language. It will add burden on students if they want to take foreign language as an elective because they have to study other subjects also. In this situation a student will study four languages plus other courses,” said LV Sehgal, principal of Bal Bharti School, Ganga Ram Hospital Marg.

Manohar Lal, principal of Delhi Public School, Mathura Road, said, “This will create a lot of problems for our students. Most of them take up foreign languages but now they will have to rethink because students cannot burden themselves with only languages.”

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/want-to-study-a-foreign-language-you-may-have-to-study-three-more/story-HoJlzq9B2PMd49y0nZtXsL.html

CBSE removes lesson on Nadars from textbook

Board was asked by HC to review ‘derogatory’ references to community.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed that a topic in the Class IX social science textbook on ‘Caste conflict and dress change’ with references to the Nadar community be dropped from the curriculum.
“No questions from the section should be asked in 2017 Summative Assessment,” a Board circular addressed to teachers and students read.
The topic features in ‘India and the contemporary world-I’, one of the social science textbooks published by the National Council of Education and Research Training (NCERT) and used in CBSE schools across the country.
In the chapter titled ‘Clothing: A social history’, the Nadar community is referred to under the ‘caste conflict and dress change’ sub-head, wherein it is stated that a majority of them were considered a ‘subordinate caste’ and that they were expected to follow the local custom of not covering their upper bodies.

Widespread protests

The reference to the Nadar community in the textbook had triggered a major controversy in 2012 and attracted strong condemnation from political parties.
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi and MDMK chief Vaiko had said it was unpardonable to describe the Nadars as a community of migrants.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss also criticised certain objectionable remarks against Nadar women in the textbook.

Later that year, the then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to the Centre seeking removal of the “objectionable” portions

S. Poorvaja

CHENNAI: December 21, 2016 01:27 IST

Updated: December 21, 2016 01:48 IST 

 

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/CBSE-removes-lesson-on-Nadars-from-textbook/article16915107.ece