Rajasthan
Coaching school guidelines
Jaipur, september 29. Recommendations made in the Rajasthan government’s guidelines for test prep/coaching institutes statewide include no glorification of toppers, results of routine tests to be kept confidential, no segregation of students in special batches based on ranks, and a policy for easy exit and fees refund within 120 days, among others.
The nine-page guidelines were issued days after the state government constituted a 15-member committee headed by education secretary Bhawani Singh Detha to issue guidelines after a record number of 23 students in Kota’s test prep institutes died by suicide this year.
“Coaching institutes should not encourage students below class IX to take admission. They should give admission after screening tests and counselling to assess their interest,” state the guidelines.
In addition, another set of recommendations have been issued to ease pressure on students. Among them: facial recognition to prevent fake attendance, mandatory weekly holidays, not holding exams on days after a holiday and a code of conduct for faculty and hostels. Moreover, district collectors have also been asked to sensitise coaching institutes under their jurisdiction to ensure the guidelines are followed.
Uttar Pradesh
Child abuse indictments
Sambhal, september 28. A private school teacher was arrested for inciting communal hatred after she allegedly ordered a Muslim student to slap a Hindu classmate for failing to answer a question.
On the basis of a complaint filed by the Hindu boy’s father, the teacher was booked under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Additional Superintendent of Police Shirish Chandra, informed the media
This follows a similar incident at Khubbapur village in Muzaffarnagar in August, where a teacher of a private school instructed students to slap a Muslim child for failing to complete his homework. A case was registered against accused teacher Tripta Tyagi, under IPC sections 323 (voluntary causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace).
On September 25, the Supreme Court castigated the Uttar Pradesh government for a shoddy probe into the Muzaffarnagar incident.
JAMMU
Model space lab
ammu, september 26. A space lab was inaugurated in the Government Higher Secondary School, Kishtwar district. Developed under the ISRO space tutor programme by the Vyomika Space Academy, this pioneer space lab is funded by the Directorate of Education, Jammu.
Speaking on the occasion, Kishtwar’s deputy commissioner Prahlad Bhagat said: “The lab is equipped with high-tech telescopes, ISRO rocket and satellite, drones and aircraft demonstration models. This will enable class VI-XII students to explore the wonders of the cosmos and notable space missions of ISRO to acquire a deeper understanding of space and inspire students to consider careers in space sciences and astronomy.”
The academy will also host a state-level inter-school hydro rocket and astronomy workshop on October 15, in commemoration of the birth anniversary of former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he added.
Chhattisgarh
Sexual molestation charge
Gariaband, september 13. A government school principal in Gariaband district has been transferred after a group of 25 girl students accused him of sexual molestation and assault.
The girl students together with their parents visited the collectorate office and submitted a written complaint to the collector, said Naveen Bhagat, the district’s Assistant Commissioner (tribal department).
In their written complaint demanding action against the principal within a week, the students claimed that the principal sexually molested and misbehaved with them within school premises on September 8 and several times in the past. “When students opposed his acts, the principal assaulted them and threatened to expel them from the school,” stated their complaint.
“After receiving the complaint, the collector immediately ordered the tribal department to probe the matter, following which a three-member enquiry team has been constituted,” said Bhagat. Meanwhile the principal has been transferred to another school, he added.
Maharashtra
Food poisoning complaint
Latur, september 13. The headmaster of a Zilla Parishad school in the state’s Latur district was suspended a day after 15 students suffered food poisoning symptoms, said the district’s primary education officer.
“Fifteen out of 87 students showed symptoms of food poisoning after eating khichdi and cooked gram. Fifteen of them were immediately admitted to a government hospital in Udgir for treatment. The remaining 72 students were treated by the tehsil health officer in the school. The condition of all students is stable after treatment,” added the officer.
Punjab
Student police scheme
Chandigarh, august 22. In collaboration with the community affairs, police and education ministries, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann introduced a Student Police Cadet (SPC) scheme.
Starting this year the course curriculum formulated by the Bureau of Police Research and Development, will be taught over two years to class VIII students. The state government has allocated Rs.50,000 per annum for each school towards the scheme which will be implemented in all districts statewide.
Under the scheme, students will visit police offices, police stations, cyber cells, forensic science labs and police training centres. They will also be taught traffic rules and regulations, unarmed combat and legal rights and laws, and encouraged to participate in Republic Day and Independence Day parades.
Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs
