Madhya Pradesh
Mahatma disrespect notice
Seoni (mp), february 7.
The education ministry has issued a show-cause notice to a teacher of the government-run CM Rise School in Seoni district after a student recited a poem criticising Mahatma Gandhi during an event organised as part of the state government’s ongoing Vikas Yatra (development campaign). A video clip of the function also showed BJP MLA Dinesh Rai Munmun applauding the boy during the recitation.
The poem accused the Mahatma of remaining silent during a period of violence, and questioned why so many people sacrificed their lives for the country.
“A show-cause notice has been served to the teacher who guided the student, and a report sought from the principal. School principals and teachers have also been directed to preview student performances and ensure that no religion, caste or renowned personality is disrespected,” said Kamal Kishore Patel, district education officer, addressing the media.
Maharashtra
Exam cheating FIR
Pune, february 28. An FIR was lodged against nine teachers for alleged involvement in a mass copying incident by students of the Jawaharlal Secondary and Higher Secondary School, Kedgaon in Pune district, during board examinations. “These teachers allegedly aided and abetted students to write their physics paper,” said Ayush Prasad, CEO, Pune Zilla Parishad.
Addressing a press conference, Prasad said: “A squad of the state’s education board uncovered the exam malpractice and reported it to the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary & Higher Secondary Education. The Zilla Parishad is coordinating with the police and municipal corporations to strictly enforce the copy mukt abhiyan (copy free exam campaign) of the state government. Moreover, it has provided study notes, exam paper analysis and test materials to schools to help students better prepare for exams.”
Gujarat
Exam paper leak
arrests
Ahmedabad, february 3. Two persons allegedly involved in the Gujarat panchayat junior clerk exam paper leak scandal were arrested in Kolkata, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 19. Over 9.5 lakh candidates had registered for the exam for recruitment to 1,181 clerical posts statewide.
The state government had cancelled the competitive exam for recruitment of junior clerks hours before its scheduled time on January 29. The question paper was leaked in Vadodara following raid of a computer centre by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). At the time, 15 people were arrested. According to ATS sources, the two arrested from Kolkata are kingpins in the case. Most of the accused are engaged in the education consultancy business.
J&K
Capacity building fellowship
Jammu, february 4. Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off a batch of nine undergraduate students of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu for a 60-day capacity building fellowship programme at Kansas State University, USA.
The students will visit KSU under the Student Overseas Fellowship Programme of the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) funded by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the World Bank. The group includes undergraduate students of the faculty of agriculture, school of biotechnology, faculty of veterinary sciences, and animal husbandry, said a SKUAST spokesperson.
Kerala
PDA ban circular
Kozhikode, february 9. Dr. Rajanikant G, dean (students’ welfare) of the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NITC) issued an e-circular banning public display of affection (PDA) on campus.
In enlarged bold letters, the e-mail communication warned students that any violation of its PDA policy would result in disciplinary action. “PDAs and engaging in private activities in academic areas, rest rooms, and poorly lit areas as well as anywhere on and around the NITC campus can make others feel uncomfortable and distract them from the educational environment,” said the circular.
“It is important to remember that our campus is a place for education and academic pursuits,” the dean added.
Punjab
Free uniforms to preschoolers
Chandigarh, february 2. The Punjab government will provide free-of-charge uniforms to children in pre-primary sections of government schools across the state. According to school education minister Harjot Singh Bains, uniforms will be given to 351,724 pupils at an estimated cost of Rs.21.10 crore to the exchequer.
“Earlier, uniforms were not provided to these students. But after the matter came to my notice, I directed officials to take immediate action,” said Bains, who also added that special classrooms for toddlers have also been constructed in government primary schools.
Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs
