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)