To make kids aware of sexual abuse, CBSE asks schools to screen Komal

Meanwhile, the circular further states that the schools may download the film or stream it live from the links given above, preferrably at the time of the whole school assembly.

Written by Himani Bahuguna | Chandigarh | Published:July 30, 2017 3:37 am

THE CENTRAL Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has directed schools affiliated to CBSE to screen the short animation film, Komal, which has won the national award in the category of Best Educational Film to create awareness among school children about inappropriate touch. “Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, had commissioned the screening of Komal at all the schools and the film is uploaded and available at CBSE YouTube channel. The CBSE has informed schools vide Notification dated 24th October 2015 regarding this film before as well,” reads the CBSE circular which is available on the board’s website.

Talking to Chandigarh Newsline, as if the Commission would ensure implementation of the circular in city schools, Professor Nishtha Jaswal, member of the Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CCPCR), said, “We would certainly ensure that the schools should screen the film and with this, the commission has already been working hard to make sure that each child along with their parents are aware of the POCSO Act as only the awareness can stop the increasing sexual offences.”

She further stated, “On Monday, the commission would be meeting and we would make sure that the education department follows the directions given by the CBSE. It has always been a big problem that the directions are left on paper only and not implemented. But, this time, we will ensure that the directions are followed so that not only the children but also the parents get sensitised about the issue. We will also hold a meeting with the education department over this.”

Jaswal added, “The commission is also planning that before sensitising the children about sexual offences, parents, especially those living in colonies, should be sensitised so that the unfortunate incidents like that of the 10-year old would be avoided. We will even propose that the city cinema halls should also have awareness slides for this so that the awareness can reach the maximum strata of society.”

“With the aim of ensuring speedy action on POCSO complaints and sensitising city residents about the sexual offences, the region’s first POCSO Cell has been set up by CCPCR and with this, the commission has already been organising workshops at the city government schools, teaching the students about good and bad touch,” said Pramod Sharma, CCPCR member.

Meanwhile, the circular further states that the schools may download the film or stream it live from the links given above, preferrably at the time of the whole school assembly. It is expected that the schools would ensure that every child of the school views this instructive and informative film so that they are in a better position to help and protect not just themselves but also their friends in any such situation, if occurs.

Make parents aware of POCSO 

With this, the board has also directed that the schools should make both the students and their patents aware of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) E-Box developed by CCPCR. POCSO E-Box facilitates easy and direct reporting of sexual offences against children and by children themselves so that offenders can be taken under POCSO Act, 2012.

The board has directed that the schools should ensure that the parents are made aware about the E-Box on POCSO and Child Abuse at parent-teacher meeting. Also, the information on E-Box should be placed on notice board/school magazine/walls of the school. The school counsellors should be made aware about the E-Box and the students should also be briefed about the E-Box during assemblies.

Source : http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/to-make-kids-aware-of-sexual-abuse-cbse-asks-schools-to-screen-komal-4773506/

No proposal by CBSE to advance board exams: HRD ministry

This issue prompted the board to set up two committees to analyse the process and suggest measures to rectify the loopholes. “The idea will be studied taking into consideration various processes and preparations in the administration of exams,” the official added.

CBSE has last month said that they will not take any decision without consultations with various stakeholders including schools.

The Rajya Sabha was informed today that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has no plan to preponed the class 10 and 12 board examinations that are held in March every year.  “As of now, no such proposal has been moved by the CBSE,” Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha said in a written reply to whether the board has proposed to advance the annual examinations.
The response comes at a time when various schools raised concerns following reports filed on the exam will be held in February. Keeping rumours aside, the minister clarified they have no such plans. CBSE has last month said that they will not take any decision without consultations with various stakeholders including schools.
The exam advancement idea emerged due to the complaints about faulty evaluation process that happened this year.
This issue prompted the board to set up two committees to analyse the process and suggest measures to rectify the loopholes. “The idea will be studied taking into consideration various processes and preparations in the administration of exams,” the official added.
After complaints by students of evaluation faults in their class 12 exam papers, the CBSE had last month set up two committees to study loopholes in the evaluation process.

By: Express Web Desk | New Delhi | Published:July 27, 2017 4:39 pm
Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/education/no-proposal-by-cbse-to-advance-board-exams-hrd-ministry/

Jul 20 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Art, physical education classes may get longer

Mumbai: TNN





After requests from teachers' groups, education minister Vinod Tawde said that the government will consider making art and physical education classes longer.

 

Tawde said the state will consider extending the duration to 1 hour instead of the current 35 minutes. “During a physical education period, students take time to go to the ground and begin playing. They also need to get back to class before the next teacher is in. They hardly get time to play and unwind,“ said Uday Nare, teacher, Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri.





Source: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Art-physical-education-classes-may-get-longer-20072017005011#

Jul 20 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

 

Aadhaar may be made must for all e-courses

 

Manash Gohain|New Delhi





Aadhaar may be made mandatory for pursuing all online courses and only those universities which have been in existence for at least five years are allowed to offer such courses, according to the draft UGC rules. The draft of University Grants Commission (Online education) Regulations, 2017 says there will be continuous assessment even in online courses. The regulatory authority has invited feedback and comments on the draft by August 18.

As per the draft regulations, online courses will be as per UGC's guidelines on choice-based credit system scheme for conventional colleges universities.

For `quality' and `accountability', institutions offering online courses will have to undergo third party audit every two years. According to the eligibility criteria for an institution to be recognised for online programmes, the higher education institution (HEI) should have been in existence as a university for at least five years and should be accredited to the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with a valid minimum score of 3.25 on 4 point scale.

Moreover, only those courses which are on offer through regular classroom teaching mode will be allowed to be offered as online courses. Also there has to be one teaching assistant if the number of learners in a course crosses the 500 mark, which is apart from a fulltime director, registrar, assistant registrar and other academic staff. Making the process technology-intensive--right from content development using graphics, animation and webinars to e-learning modules and live virtual classroom sessions--even the evaluation and assessment process will require the HEIs to have a robust computer-based testing system for `proctored online examinations' with features like integration with Aadhaar for learner authentication, screen and webcam recording for live invigilation.

A student will get three additional years to complete the programme from the actual duration the formal mode of education. So for a three-yeardegree course, a student will be allowed six years. Institutions intending to offer online programmes will have to pass through two stages of approval. The first stage will comprise audit assessment for the academic technical infrastructural HR compliance. An expert committee will examine the “fitness of courses intended to be offered“ as well as target groups and delivery mechanism.

Source: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Aadhaar-may-be-made-must-for-all-e-20072017010047#
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Source: http://epaper.loksatta.com

• 18 Jul 2017 | Mumbai | HT Correspondent htmetro@hindustantimes.com

Beware of integrated courses: Edu dept

NOT OUR PROBLEM Department issues advisory on FYJC admissions website, warns students against the so­called integrated junior colleges

MUMBAI: The school education department on Monday warned students against taking admissions in colleges offering integrated courses — training to crack competitive exams along with regular syllabus — in collaboration with private coaching classes.

A disclaimer was put up on the first year junior college (FYJC) admission website in the evening stating that the department would not be responsible for any problem occurring in the future.
The step was taken after members of the Shiv Sena’s students’ wing demanded that the department shutdown colleges offering integrated courses.

In May, the department had shutdown a Borivli college offering such courses and for allegedly admitting students illegally. The department later transferred students to other colleges.
“Parents and students are requested to not take admission in so-called integrated junior college in Mumbai region. If they take admission in such colleges, the department will not be responsible for any problem occurring in the future,” reads the disclaimer.

The Sena had complained that integrated colleges were charging higher fees than those approved by the education department and stipulated in the admission manual.
Students in the Borivli college paid Rs1.5 lakh per year. In some of the integrated colleges, the fee can be anywhere between Rs2 lakh and Rs4 lakh.

Officials from the education department said colleges can only collect fees mentioned in the admission manual.

“We issued a circular informing all the junior colleges that the fees collected by them cannot be more than the sum mentioned in the FYJC manual,” said BB Chavan, deputy director of education, Mumbai region.
He also issued a letter on Monday stating that the department has asked zonal education inspectors to compile a list of colleges offering integrated courses and conduct inquiries.

The CBSE board in 2015 had said that it would cancel affiliations of colleges offering integrated courses.

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

Jul 14 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

 

Now, no oral exam for state board's Class IX students, Class X next year 

 

Vinamrata Borwankar | Mumbai:





Starting this academic year, Class IX students from Maharashtra state board-affiliated schools will have to write 100-mark theory papers for languages and social sciences. The board has done away with orals and internal exams for the subjects. The change will apply to Class X students next year.

 

The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board revamped the Class IX syllabus this year and the change in paper patterns is part of the same initiative. Until now, students would appear for internal examinations, which could fetch 20 marks in every subject.These internal exams would be conducted at the school level.

A circular issued by the board on Wednesday stated that the paper pattern for science and mathematics will remain the same. Oral examination has been done away with in languages. In social sciences, too, students will now appear for a 100-mark written exam where history and geography will constitute 40 marks each and political science will be worth 20 marks. Graded subjects will have no written exams.

In the past, education officials have found that students were marked very leniently in the internal examinations even if they did not perform well. The decision was taken following meetings last month by experts from the state board and the education department's textbook bureaus.

Teachers have welcomed the move.

“Oral exams did give students a good chance to score and tested skills beyond writing but a lot of schools were not marking students ethically and that meant an unfair advantage,“ said Uday Nare, a Marathi teacher at Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri.

Some others are waiting for more details on the marking pattern. “The textbooks are just coming in and we need to see if the changed syllabus or marking criteria will test students beyond the just their ability to mug up and write,“ said a history teacher.





 Source: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Now-no-oral-exam-for-state-boards-Class-14072017005040#

Jul 16 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

Science, English now part of school competency tests

Mumbai TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Two years after introducing learning-level tests in first language and maths for primary students, the Maharashtra government has decided to include science in the exam to improve the state's performance at the national level. From this year, students of classes III to V from the vernacular medium will also have to take the tests in English subject.

 

According to a government resolution issued by the education department, previous learning-level tests found that the state's performance in science and mathematics was not up to the mark in the national achievement survey (NAS) and the annual status of education report (ASER).

The state also plans to give importance to children's competency in English, so students with English as their third language will have to take the test in the subject. Three tests ­ one baseline test and two summative exams will test students on their concepts in the respective subjects.

Teachers will have to upload the students' marks on a mobile application that will help the state evaluate the data. “There have been instances of schools either inflating the results or under reporting it. But, the quality of education will improve only when the real learning levels are known. To ensure there are no malpractices, a supervising offi cial must visit a school on the day of the exam and also check the evaluation of others on a later day ,“ said Nandkumar, secretary of the education department. Teachers will be issued a memo if discrepancies are found in the reporting of marks.

The initiative is part of the state's Pragat Shaikshanik Ma harashtra programme. On the basis of the students' performance in the learning level tests, schools are categorized as successful or unsuccessful. Schools have to identify students with poor performances and help them improve their skills.

However, school principals are not happy . “Most schools are conducting the tests for the sake of it. There is no seriousness and several students also get access to the papers ahead of the exams.There is no order in the way these exams are conducted. This is only additional burden to schools,“ said the principal of an ICSE school.

The students' performance in learning level tests will be a critical area in the performance appraisal report of teachers, principals and local education officials.

 
Source : http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Science-English-now-part-of-school-competency-tests-16072017004038

Jul 18 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

`Do not opt for colleges that have tie-ups with pvt classes

Mumbai |  TIMES NEWS NETWORK





Education Dept Warns Parents, FYJC Students 

Following complaints about integrated coaching programmes flouting norms, the education department has warned parents against taking admission in such set-ups for classes XI and XII.A ticker stating the same was uploaded on the FYJC admission website on Monday .

Members of Yuva Sena met the deputy director of education on Monday to complain about alleged malpractices at 36 junior colleges in the city. “These colleges tie up with coaching centres and their teachers do not conduct classes. Students have to pay fees at the colleges as well as the coaching centres. The education department is aware of this and has still not taken action against any of the colleges. We have recordings of these courses being offered at three colleges in the city,“ said Sainath Durge, core committee member of Yuva Sena.

Over the past few years, these programmes have gained popularity with students from science stream. In a description of how the system works, a popular coaching class on its website said, “The main advantage is that a student's time is saved as she does not have to travel between classes and schoolscolleges.The student will be taught physics, mathematics and chemistry in the college or on school premises by our faculty, three to four days a week.“

Education department officials said it will act on Yuva Sena's complaint. “We will verify if the colleges are tying up with coaching classes and manipulating attendance. Coaching class teachers cannot take classes in junior colleges. If they are found to have done so, we will take action,“ said BB Chavan, deputy director of school education, Mumbai.Eduction inspectors will also be asked to visit colleges whe re the courses are on offer, inquire and submit a report. He added that the education department's divisional fee regulatory committee will look into any complaints related to fees if parents approach them.

Parents, however, feel there is a need for the state to improve the education quality .“Students go to coaching classes because there isn't good faculty in most colleges and students will lose out at competitive exams. Going to both coaching classes and colleges is very hectic for students and hence the integrated course is preferred,“ said a parent of an engineering student.

 


Source: http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=Do-not-opt-for-colleges-that-have-tie-18072017005033

Jul 18 2017 : The Times of India (NaviMumbai)

HSC question papers may get tougher for 2019 exam 

 

Ardhra Nair





When Maharashtra state board students studying in Std XI (science) will write their HSC exams in 2019, it will be based on a national framework laid down by Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE).

 

The question paper pattern for physics, chemistry , biology and mathematics has been changed so that students fare better in entrance exams like National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Exam (JEE). But there will not be any change in curricula.

If the level of questions is considered, around 20% will come under `difficult' category in all four subjects, and around 50% will be in `average' category .

The question papers give weightage to objectives with about 30% testing a student's knowledge about the subject, about 40% testing the student's understanding of the subject and the remaining testing the students' skill and ability to apply the concepts to solve questions.

“The question paper format has been changed so that our students perform well in national entrance tests. The question paper will be based on the CBSE pattern,“ Gangadhar Mhamane, chairman, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said in Pune on Monday .

The difficulty level of questions may go up, he added.“We give many options for students, like answer three out of five questions. Here, options will be less, which will automatically increase the difficulty level. More than difficulty level, it is the thoroughness of preparation that will be required of students so that they are prepa red like central board stu dents for national level ex ams like NEET and JEE,“ Mhamane said.

After the board of studie received the framework of questions for PCMB from COBSE, a detailed report on how that framework can be adapted for HSC syllabus and how each topic can be given weightage was submitted to the state education board.

“This report, after being scrutinized by the exper committee within the state board, was sent to the govern ment for approval. The re port was approved by the mi nistry this month,“ the circu lar from the board said.

Source : http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31840&articlexml=HSC-question-papers-may-get-tougher-for-2019-18072017002036#