JHARKHAND
Room to Read project
Ranchi, november 5. Students of government primary schools across the state will soon have access to child-friendly libraries to develop the reading habit and enhance learning capabilities, said Kiran Kumari Pasi, director of the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC).
In association with Room to Read, a San Francisco (USA)-based non-profit working for children’s literacy and education of the girl child, JEPC has introduced a pilot project to establish 50 well-equipped libraries with low-height chairs and tables statewide.
“We have tied up with Room to Read for this path-breaking project. Room to Read is setting up libraries and providing free-of-charge study materials to the state government. If the project is successful, it will be extended on a large scale through a formal government programme,” said Pasi, addressing a media conference.
UTTAR PRADESH
TCS teacher training initiative
Lucknow, november 22. The Mumbai-based Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) — India’s largest information technology services company — signed a memorandum of understanding with the Uttar Pradesh government’s social welfare department.
Under terms of the agreement, over a period of 18 months under its go- IT and Ignite My Future programmes, TCS will train 1,500 teachers and 35,000 students of 105 Jai Prakash Narayan Sarvodaya and Eklavya Residential schools managed by the state government, in computational and logical thinking.
Under the Ignite My Future program, teachers will be familiarised with the usage of computers, algorithms, programming, coding and problem-solving pedagogies. These teachers will be certified as master trainers.
Under the company’s go-IT program, students will be taught design, logical thinking, problem-solving skills and also prepared for the Bebras India Computing Challenge, an international student competition.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Football for Schools
Itanagar, november 22. The state government has finalised plans to launch a ‘Football for Schools’ programme, an initiative to promote the field game of football in 200 schools statewide, said education minister Taba Tedir.
“The objective of the programme is to nurture budding football stars in the 6-13 years age group. In this connection, a partnership agreement has been inked between FIFA and the Union education ministry to promote the game among children countrywide. The Union education ministry and FIFA will jointly support the successful implementation of the programme,” said Tedir addressing the media.
UTTARAKHAND
Hindi medical
education
Dehradun, november 5. Uttarakhand is set to become the second state to permit undergraduate medical education in Hindi language from the academic year 2023-24. This decision was taken in light of the special importance being accorded by the Central government to Hindi, said medical education minister Dhan Singh Rawat.
The medical education ministry has constituted a four-member expert committee chaired by Dr. CMS Rawat, principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar (Kashmir). The committee will prepare a draft of the new syllabus for colleges after studying the MBBS Hindi syllabus in Madhya Pradesh’s medical colleges, added Rawat.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
Back-to-Village programme
Jammu, november 8. Over 14,000 children who had dropped out of school during the Covid pandemic rejoined classes under a Back-to-Village (B2V) programme of the administration of the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir. This was declared by chief secretary Arun Kumar Mehta who reviewed a pilot programme (October 27-November 3).
Readmission of 13,977 school dropouts who have been assured urgent remedial education is the biggest achievement of the programme, said Mehta, addressing a press conference.
The programme has also been successful in providing self-employment opportunities to 21,329 individuals, he added.
CHHATTISGARH
Drinking & teaching directive
Jashpur, november 18. The education ministry has directed school teachers and staff in the tribal-dominated Jashpur district to submit a declaration that they will not consume alcohol while on duty, said Madhulika Tiwari, the district education officer (DEO).
This directive was issued through block education officers after several incidents of teachers attending school in inebriated condition were reported in recent months.
The directive drew attention to Rule 23 of the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965 which prohibits government servants from being under the influence of intoxicating drinks or drugs while discharging official duties.
Some teachers, including a lady teacher of a primary school, found in inebriated state during duty hours have been suspended, said Tiwari.
Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs
