Last date to apply for Science Exhibition is October 20

Staff Reporter,

Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) asked its affiliated schools to apply for the science exhibition 2017-18 at Regional and National levels before October 20.
This activity is being conducted aiming to provide a common platform to schools, teachers and students to shape to their innovative ideas and learn from each other’s experiences.
Last date for filling the online registration form is October 20. And the registration fee is Rs 650. Schools which are interested to take part in the exhibition can fill the form.

The regional level will be held in November and December. The national level will be conducted after completion of regional level. Themes for the Science Exhibition for 2017 – 18 are health and well–being, resource management and food security, waste management and water body conservation, transport and communication, digital and technological solutions and innovations for sustainable development.

Students may prepare a model on any sub–theme other than the six sub–themes but it should be in the context of the main theme of the exhibition that is ‘Science, Technology and Mathematics for Nation Building’. Some ideas that are new and may be applicable in future may also be presented in the form of presentations and discussions.

Sub themes are Health, Industry, Transport and Communication, Innovations in renewable resources for sustainable environment, Innovations in food production and food security and Mathematical solutions in everyday life.

The Board has been taking many initiatives to provide interactive, participatory, hands-on, innovative and creative learning experiences to students studying in its affiliated schools. One such initiative refers to the organization of Science Exhibition at Regional and National levels every year.

According to the board, these exhibitions also provide a medium for popularizing science and increasing awareness among stakeholders.
Taking into consideration the enthusiastic response from participating schools in the past, it has again been decided to organize Science exhibitions for the academic year 2016-17.

These exhibitions are likely to be organized in different parts of the country at regional level in the month of November and December in 2016 and at national level in the month of January and February in 2017.

Source: The Hitavada      Date: 04 Oct 2017 

Link : http://thehitavada.com/Encyc/2017/10/4/Last-date-to-apply-for-Science-Exhibition-is-October-20.aspx

Gandhi Jayanti 2017: 10 Quotes By Mahatma Gandhi On Education

Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 is an occasion to remember the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi.

Education | NDTV Education Team | Updated: October 01, 2017 18:54 IST

Gandhi Jayanti 2017 On October 2: 10 Quotes By Mahatma Gandhi On Education

New Delhi:  The world celebrates Gandhi Jayanthi on October 2 every year. Gandhi Jayanti (the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi) is the occasion, when people come togethor to remember the man who was influential in shaping the modern world with his ideas and struggles. Mahatma Gandhi, as a philosopher of education, was ahead of time. Mahatma Gandhi had talked about everything related to education, from school to primary education to technical education to idea of university to importance of exercise in a students' life. Mahatma Gandhi's ideas have influenced Indian education system in its full strength.

In this Gandhi Jayanti, we gathered some of his major thoughts on education.
 

Gandhi Jayanti 2017: Mahatma Gandhi On Education

 

Gandhi Jayanti On October 2: Why Mahatma Gandhi's ideas on education is important

Mahatma Gandhi on School

"The school must be an extension of home. There must be concordance between the impressions which a child gathers at home and at school, if the best results are to be obtained".

Mahatma Gandhi on technical education

"I would revolutionize college education and relate it to national necessities. There would be degrees for mechanical and other engineers. They would be attached to the different industries which should pay for the training of the graduates they need".

Mahatma Gandhi on literacy vs education

"Literacy is not the end of education nor even the beginning. It is only one of the means whereby man and woman can be educated. Literacy in itself is no education. I would therefore begin the child's education by teaching it a useful handicraft and enabling it to produce from the moment it begins its training. Thus every school can be made self-supporting, the condition being that the State takes over the manufacture of these schools".

Mahatma Gandhi on primary education

"Then as to primary education, my confirmed opinion is that the commencement of training by teaching the alphabet and reading and writing hampers their intellectual growth. I would not teach them the alphabet till they have had an elementary knowledge of history, geography, mental arithmetic and the art (say) of spinning".

Mahatma Gandhi on 'best education for citizenship'

"The emphasis laid on the principle of spending every minute of one's life usefully is the best education for citizenship".

'Money inversted in learning'

"In a democratic scheme, money invested in the promotion of learning gives a tenfold return to the people even as a seed sown in good soil returns a luxuriant crop".

Education for all

"Love requires that true education should be easily accessible to all and should be of use to every villager in this daily life".

Mahatma Gandhi on corporal punishment

"Experience gained in two schools under my control has taught me that punishment does not purify, if anything, it hardens children".

Mahatma Gandhi on education and exercise

"I hold that true education of the intellect can only come through a proper exercise and training of the bodily organs, e.g., hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, etc. In other words an intelligent use of the bodily organs in a child provide the best and quickest way of developing his intellect".

Mahatma Gandhi on idea of university

"There should be a proper background for new universities. They should have feeders in the shape of schools and colleges which will impart instruction through the medium of their respective provincial languages. Then only can there be a proper milieu. University is at the top. A majestic top can only be sustained if there is a sound foundation".

(All the quotes are taken from mkgandhi.org)

Source : htps://www.ndtv.com/education/gandhi-jayanti-2017-on-october-2-10-famous-quotes-by-mahatma-gandhi-on-education-1757287

Apply Now For CBSE Merit Scholarship For Single Girl Child; Know Details Here

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the window for scholarship application for class 10 passed single girl child.

Education | NDTV Education Team | Updated: September 30, 2017 15:48 IST

  

Apply Now For CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme For Single Girl Child

New Delhi:  The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the window for scholarship application for class 10 passed single girl child. The objective of CBSE merit scholarship scheme is to provide scholarships to the meritorious Single Girl Students, who are the only child of their parents; and have passed the CBSE Class 10 Examination with 60% / 6.2 CGPA or more marks/ grades and are continuing their further school education of Class 11 and 12.

The CBSE Merit Scholarship for Single Girl Child scheme is aimed to recognize the efforts of the parents in promoting education among girls and to provide encouragement to meritorious students.

As per the approval of the Competent Authority, all children born together are Single Girl Child of their parents.

The number of scholarships for a particular year shall be variable and shall to awarded to all such "Single Girl Students" who have secured 60% / 6.2 CGPA or more marks / grades in the CBSE Class 10 Examination in that year, said the notification from CBSE.

CBSE Merit Scholarship For Single Girl Child: Selection Procedure

a) Student should have passed Class 10Examination from the CBSE and secured 6.2 CGPA or more.
b) Pursuing Class 11 & 12 from CBSE affiliated Schools.
c) Student (Girl) should be ONLY CHILD of their parents.
d) Original Affidavit duly attested by the First Class Judicial Magistrate/ SDM/ Executive Magistrate/Notary as per prescribed format available on the Board's website. (Photocopy of Affidavit will not be accepted).
e) Application form should be attested by the School Principal from where the student is pursuing Class XI after passing Class X from Board's Examination.
f) Tuition fee should not be more than Rs. 1,500/- per month in Class X and 10% enhancement for Class 11 & 12.
 

CBSE Merit Scholarship For Single Girl Child: How to apply

1) Candidate need to enter her roll number and certificate no. (as printed on the class 10 grade sheet) in order to submit the online application form.
2) Enter all your particulars carefully and submit the form.
3) Note down the Registration Number shown on the page. This will be used while uploading documents and also for all other future communications.
4) Print the undertaking as provided in the "Guidelines Document" (this document), fill it, paste the photograph and get it attested from school.
5) Prepare affidavit, as per format provided in the "Guidelines Document".
6) Scan the above two documents, ie Affidavit and Undertaking so as to create JPG image file of up to 1MB size.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/education/cbse-merit-scholarship-for-single-girl-child-apply-now-know-details-here-1757086

IndiaToday.in | New Delhi, October 3, 2017 | UPDATED 14:21 IST

Aadhaar card made mandatory for CBSE Class 9, Class 11 registrations

"Aadhaar number field provided in online system is mandatory. Wherever Aadhaar number is not available; Aadhaar enrollment number can be provided," says CBSE. 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has started the online registration process for class 9 and class 11.
Moreover, CBSE has made it mandatory to use Aadhaar number for board exam registration, as reported by NDTV.

Here's what the circular reads:

"All CBSE affiliated schools should register themselves before proceeding for online submission. They can use the password and 'Affiliation Number' as user ID already available with them. Newly affiliated schools should contact the concerned Regional Office of the CBSE for obtaining password."
"Aadhaar number field provided in online system is mandatory. Wherever Aadhaar number is not available; Aadhaar enrollment number can be provided. Residents of Indian states where Aadhaar enrollment is not being done may provide Bank details in lieu of Aadhaar."
Further, for foreign nationals, passport number must be provided; else Social Security Number/ID Number issued by that Foreign Country may be provided.

How to register:

The online registrations for regular candidates of Class 9 and Class 11 can be done on the official website, the link for which is www.cbse.nic.in

CBSE might conduct Class 10, Class 12 board exam in February:

With the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) taking major steps in the re-evaluation process of class 12 board exams, the board has recently announced the decision to conduct class 10 and class 12 board examination one month early from the next year onwards.
This means, CBSE will conduct the board examination in February instead of March.

Why change in the age old practice of board?

As reported by TOI, the board has taken this step to advance the cycle of exams and related activities from 2018-19 as a part of reforms focused on "error-free evaluation."

Source : www.indiatoday.intoday.in/education/story/aadhaar-card-mandatory-for-cbse-registrations/1/1060385.html

• 27 Sep 2017 | Mumbai | Shreya Bhandary and Musab Qazi htmetro@hindustantimes.com

Tech a new turn for city schools

Digital boards, mobile apps and new softwares – city schools come up with ways to keep in touch with parents, make students tech­savvy

MUMBAI : From digital boards in classrooms and mobile apps to closed-circuit television cameras – Mumbai schools are doing all this and more to keep up with the changing tech-savvy times.


A case in point could be Bandra’s Rizvi Education Society’s school. Here, teachers no longer shout out names of students to mark their attendance. The school has set up a biometric system — a device to register attendance using thumb impression – at the entrance. They have also introduced mobile application for parentteacher interaction and gone paperless for the admission process. The aim is to reduce paper work, reduce administrative hassles and bring in transparency in the functioning of the school.

“Paperless admissions have made the process transparent. Parents, too, are at peace as they get daily updates on their child’s attendance without visiting the institute,” said AH Rizvi, president, Rizvi Education Society, adding all seven institutes managed by the group have got the system for staff and students.
In their second phase of digital revolution, the group will start online assessment of answer sheets, similar to other schools in the city.

The Children’s Academy in Malad (E) introduced online assessment for physics, chemistry and biology papers of Class 8 students this year. The new software is being introduced in phases to ensure it works smoothly. “Our teachers underwent thorough training. Once the assessment work started, care was taken to ensure the results are error-free,” said Rohan Bhat, principal.

The system allows students and parents to access the corrected answer sheets online. The school has so far received positive response from parents. “We want to introduce this system for other classes too, but the software is expensive. We will first consult with parents before going ahead with the plan,” said Bhat.

Meanwhile, RN Podar School in Santacruz has successfully implemented flipped classroom -- a new method of learning at home to give students respite from dreary lectures. Their science and mathematics classes are conducted using audio-visual aids delivered to students in the form of pre-recorded videos that they can watch at home. The exercise is then discussed in class using various activities to solve students’ problems.
“When students come to the classroom they already have knowledge about the topic being taught. As a result, teachers get more time to focus on problem-solving,” said Avnita Bir, principal of the school.

The transition, however, wasn’t easy. Parents were initially apprehensive and students, too, were used to the old method of teaching. Soon, they realised unless they come prepared to the classroom, they would be left behind. The videos contain pop-up questions to make them more engaging for children.

Many schools in the city are using mobile applications to keep parents in loop about the progress of their children and happenings in the school. These applications, which are often connected to the school’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software - better known as school management system - provide instant access to details about examination, results, attendance record and notifications. The applications also allow parents to interact with teachers without visiting the school.

The applications also come with a host of other features, such as a Global Positioning System (GPS) to track children and school buses. The application even alerts anxious parents as soon as their children enter the school.

Some schools, like Smt. Sulochana Devi Singhania School in Thane, are developing their own in-house applications to connect with parents. The parents were provided access to the school’s ERP system eight years ago while a chat application ‘MTalk’ been facilitating interaction between parents and teachers. “We are now developing a mobile app to keep in touch with parents,” said Revathi Srinivasan, principal of the school.

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

CBSE issues circular on safety of students

Thiruvananthapuram , September 14, 2017 19:49 IST

Updated: September 14, 2017 20:23 IST

File picture for representational purpose.   | Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Moots CCTV cameras and psychometric evaluation of staff members

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a circular laying down steps to ensure safety of children in schools, including installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras on school premises and police verification and psychometric evaluation of all staff members.

The circular comes against the backdrop of a series of incidents in schools across the country in recent times, including the Gurugram murder. It said that as children spent most of their time in school, parents’ concern about the safety of schoolchildren and their mental and emotional health is increasing, particularly in the wake of incidents involving their safety.

The onus on safety and security of children on school campus should solely lie with the school authorities, the circular said adding that it was the fundamental right of children to study in an environment where they felt safe and free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment.

Accordingly, schools have been asked to get a security/safety audit of the premises and personnel done by the local police station concerned and follow security-related advice for the safety of schoolchildren. It called for detailed checks in the case of non-teaching staff such as bus drivers, conductors, peons, and other support staff.

Supporting staff should be employed only from authorised agencies and proper records should be maintained.

The circular asked schools to report about the compliance on the CBSE website www.cbse.nic.in within two months.

Besides installing CCTV cameras at all vulnerable areas/points on school premises, schools had been asked to ensure that these were functional. Parent-teacher-student committees should be set up to address the safety needs of the students, and parents’ feedback taken regularly.

Significantly, it called for controlling access to school building by outsiders and monitoring of visitors. The circular said staff should be given training to discharge their responsibility to protect children from any form of abuse.

Schools should constitute separate committees for redressal of public/ staff/ parents/ students grievances, an internal complaints committee on sexual harassment, and committees under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offence) Act, and display details of these committees, along with contact details, on the school notice board and on the school website, the circular said, adding that any violation/lapses with regard to student safety and well-being would invite action, including disaffiliation of the school.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/education/schools/cbse-issues-circular-on-students-safety/article19684817.ece

• 15 Sep 2017 | Mumbai  | A Mariyam Alavi letters@hindustantimes.com

Schools need an eye beyond CCTV cameras

IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE A major overhaul of policy and practices needed to ensure students’ safety in schools

A student was found murdered in Ranchi. A student drowned in a swimming pool at Bhopal. Such incidents are happening everywhere... But it happens more so in private schools because of a lack of vigilance
PRIYANK KANOONGO, member of RTE and NCPCR

Just one or even ten cameras are not sufficient. At Bal Bharti Public School in Pitampura, we have 300 such cameras in every corner of the school. But how many schools will actually be able to afford it?
K BHATTACHARYA, Secretary, Bal Bharati Public School, New Delhi

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued a notice to all affiliated schools this week enlisting guidelines to ensure a child’s safety on school premises. A day later, LieutenantGovernor Anil Baijal directed the Delhi government to make security measures mandatory and linked the rules to schools being recognised. He also asked the Delhi Police to waive verification charges so that schools are incentivised to do background checks on their staff.

The problem is that these moves were precipitated by the murder of a sevenyear-old student in a private school in Gurgaon and the rape of another toddler at a school in Delhi’s Gandhinagar. Such reactionary responses seem to be the standard modus operandi in most cases.

INVOLVE PARENTS 

Priyank Kanoongo, member-RTE and Education at National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), said that such incidents were not endemic to any particular region but indicated a “national crisis”.
“A student was found murdered in Ranchi. A student drowned in a swimming pool at Bhopal. Such incidents are happening everywhere, in urban and rural schools. But it happens more so in private schools because there is a lack of vigilance,” said Kanoongo.

A major reason for this, according to him, is a lack of parents’ intervention in private schools, affecting accountability.

“Under the RTE, the formation of a School Management Committee (SMC) is mandated for government schools, but private schools are exempted. This means that around 73% of schools in India have SMCs, while others don’t. And most of schools that do not have SMCs are private schools,” he said.

But in the wake of recent incidents, many schools are involving parents in committees set up to improve security. “We have time and again taken suggestions from parents on security but of late, parents are still anxious so we have decided to include some parents in our security committee. Many have agreed to even visit the school on a regular basis to ensure security is in place and we have agreed to come to a conclusion on the same,” said Rohan Bhat, principal of Children’s Academy in Mumbai’s Malad.

TIGHTENING PROTOCOL 

The CBSE guidelines have asked schools to restrict access to their buildings and monitor any visitors.
Schools in Ludhiana, such as the BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School and the local branch of Ryan International School, have started issuing ID cards to parents.

“We do not let our students leave unless it is with a person holding a valid parent ID card, or with people who have been authorised by the parents,” said SK Bhattacharya, secretary of Delhi’s Bal Bharati Public School and president of the School Action Committee.

One of the directives and suggestions that have come from most law enforcement agencies is verification of staff to check for criminal records.

Police sources said the suspect in the murder of the student at the Gurgaon branch of Ryan International School was hired without verification. Investigations suggested the suspect, Ashok Kumar, was fired from his previous job at a private school in his village Ghamroj because of suspicious behaviour.

FIXING SURVEILLANCE 

The CBSE guidelines include a direction to ensure vulnerable and isolated parts of a school are monitored constantly by closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, but officials believe it is easier said than done.
“Just one or even ten cameras are not sufficient. At Bal Bharti Public School in Pitampura, we have 300 such cameras in every corner of the school. But how many schools will actually be able to afford it?” asked Bhattacharya.

CCTV by itself may not be sufficient since instances of abuse, such as the Ryan murder, take place in areas that are in surveillance blind spots, such as toilets. Parents in many schools have sought attendants in toilets for safety of children.

In addition to security on campus, concerns also relate to when children are in school buses. Some of the suggestions in this regard include the hiring a female staffer who will be on a school vehicle at all times. The added expense of an extra staffer, could however, be a deterrent. School’s like Bal Bharti have figured a way out. “We are actually looking at getting female conductors. So we will be able to do with one staff instead of the two,” Bhattacharya said.

WAY FORWARD 

Though these measures are expected to provide immediate relief, a major overhaul of policy and everyday practices maybe required to ensure long term safety of students.

“One of the first things is to get parents more involved in the school. Principals also need to be empowered in management because they are usually more sensitive to the issues. Teachers are the best medium to reach students and hence they need to be properly trained and sensitised,” said Kanoongo of NCPCR. Monitoring remains crucial. “District education officers need to be empowered and given access to private schools as well,” he added.

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

• 14 Sep 2017  | Mumbai  | Neelam Pandey neelam.pandey.hindustantimes.com

Safety of kids is duty of schools, says CBSE

THE CIRCULAR COMES FIVE DAYS AFTER AN EIGHT­YEAR­OLD BOY WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR THE TOILET OF RYAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

onus of safety and security of children in school campus lies solely upon school authorities, the CBSE said in a circular related to safety of students on Wednesday.

The circular comes five days after an eight-year-old boy was found dead with his throat slit near the toilet of Ryan Internation School, Bhondsi.

“It is a fundamental right of a child to engage and study in an environment where he/she feels safe and is free from any form of physical or emotional abuse or harassment,” the CBSE said in its circular. The circular issued also says that schools affiliated to the CBSE need to get a “psychometric evaluation” of their teachers and staff done by professional psychologists within two months and send an action taken report.

The CBSE, at the same time, has also asked schools to adhere to existing guidelines that were issued by the board and the Union Human Resources Development ministry in 2014. In the circular, CBSE has also directed schools to get a “security and safety audit” of their premises and all employees from their respective local police stations within a period of two months. “Such verification and evaluation for non-teaching staff such as, bus drivers, conductors, peon and other support staff may be done very carefully and in a detailed manner. This may be complied and reported online on CBSE website within two months,” the board said, threatening punitive action against those failing to comply. There are more than 18000 CBSE affiliated schools in the country including Kendriaya Vidayalayas and Jawahar Navodaya Vidayalayas.

“The access to school building by outsiders should be controlled and visitors monitored,” the circular said. “Any violation or lapses with regard to safety of children campus would invite action,” CBSE deputy secretary Jaiprakash Chaturvedi said.

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