UTTARAKHAND Demolition order Dehradun, september 15. School education minister Dhan Singh Rawat ordered demolition of all dilapidated school buildings in the state, a day after the ceiling of a toilet in a government primary school in Champawat district collapsed, killing an eight-year-old student and injuring three others. Addressing a press conference, the minister said a district-wise survey will be conducted to identify all dangerous school buildings and they will be demolished. “The school management is to blame for this incident as instructions to evacuate dilapidated school buildings are issued from time to time,” added Bansidhar Tiwari, director, school education. MADHYA PRADESH Molestation outrage Bhopal, september 15. Sexual molestation of a three-year-old child inside a school bus in Bhopal has shaken the confidence of the people, said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan following an emergency meeting of the cabinet. He directed officials to take stringent action against the accused and management of the private school. “Parents send their children to a selected school because they have faith in the institution. It is the duty of school managements to ensure this trust is not broken. We can’t leave children to the mercy of barbarians,” said Chouhan. The chief minister directed the officials to ensure police verification of employees and organise workshops to train staff as well as make parents and children aware of the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. MIZORAM New campus impasse Aizawl, september 16. Chief minister Zoramthanga briefed Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and apprised him of the need to improve education standards and establish additional higher education institutions in the state. According to a state government communique, the chief minister especially sought the Centre’s help to establish a new campus of Mizoram University (MZU) in south Mizoram’s Lunglei town. Earlier state higher and technical education minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana informed the legislative assembly that the state government is ineligible to finance the construction of MZU’s southern campus because it is a Central government-funded university. TRIPURA Five new colleges Agartala, september 16. Five new undergrad colleges including an English-medium college will be inaugurated in the new academic year, said Ratan Lal Nath, the state’s education minister. Of the five colleges, three will be promoted by the state government and two including a law college will be promoted privately. As a result the total number of undergrad colleges in the state will rise to 22. “Tripura Central University has already granted affiliation to all these degree colleges including the two private colleges,” said the minister, addressing a media conference. BIHAR No-bags day Patna, september 18. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state government is all set to introduce a ‘no school bags’ order and a mandatory weekly games period in public and private schools. An official notification will be issued soon, said Dipak Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary in the education ministry. Addressing a press conference, Singh said: “The weekly ‘no-bag day’ will have task-based practical classes. At least once…
