Education Notes

Orissa Teachers recruitment row The Orissa high court declined to grant a stay on the ongoing process of recruitment of sikhya sahayaks (primary teachers) in the state. Following a notification issued in January, the state government is now in the process of recruiting 24,000 sikhya sahayaks to help implement the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. While the government has stipulated the minimum qualification as Plus Two with Certificate Teacher (CT) qualifi-cations, more than 200 citizens in separate petitions had brought to the notice of the high court that while the minimum educational qualification for primary teachers is matriculation with CT, the government has arbitrarily mandated Plus Two with CT for sikhya sahayaks. Adjudicating all the petitions jointly on February 9, Justice H.S. Bhalla refused to stay the recruitment process when the government informed the court that delivery of quality education demands better qualified teachers. However the judge ruled that the petitions will be heard in extenso on February 28. Sikkim High-powered NMEICT committee The Sikkim state government has constituted a sub-committee under chairmanship of the human resource development (HRD) secretary, to oversee implementation of the centrally-sponsored National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT). According to a February 15 HRD department notification, other members of the sub-committee are the vice chancellors of Sikkim University and Sikkim Manipal University, general manager BSNL (broadband), principal of the Sikkim Government College (Tadong), principal and director, NIT Calicut. Introduced by the Union government NMEICT’s objective is to increase enrolment and ensure access and equity in institutions of higher education across India. The brief of the sub-committee is to supervise implement-ation of the scheme, monitor internet connectivity and coordinate efforts of various stakeholders. The sub-committee will also convene workshops and seminars for college and university faculty to enthuse them to participate in the activities of the mission. Jharkhand Teacher recruitment goal A day after he won the Kharsawan assembly by-election on February 17, Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda told media personnel that his priority is to ensure that adequate teachers are recruited within the next three months to strengthen the state’s secondary school system. “A large number of high school teachers’ posts have been vacant for long and my government’s priority is to recruit teachers for the education system,” says Munda. According to Munda, his governm-ent will ensure every secondary school in Jharkhand has its full complement of teachers. “Secondary school is a turning point in the life of students as it prepares them for study in colleges and universities,” says Munda, admitting to a shortage of at least 5,000-6,000 secondary school teachers in the state. The shortage of teachers, which was 3,500-4,000 in 2004-05, has risen following the government recently upgrading 300 primary schools into high schools. Following his confirmation as Jharkhand chief minister, Munda said he will resign his Lok Sabha seat on March 2. Haryana Red carpet welcome The Haryana state government is exploring joint venture possibilities with British universities in the areas of medical science, technology…