Punjab
School security initiative
Ludhiana, october 4. Under a special initiative to transform public education, the Punjab state government has appointed 1,378 security guards for all government senior secondary schools with an enrolment of more than 500 students.
Addressing an audience at a local government school function, education minister Harjot Singh Bains said: “These security guards will be posted at the entry and exit gates of schools to ensure students don’t leave the premises during school hours without the principal’s permission. They will also maintain visitors’ records.”
Moreover, the state’s AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) government has budgeted Rs.250 crore to build boundary walls for all government schools while 2,000 campus managers are being appointed for maintenance of school buildings, added the minister.
Uttarakhand
Milestone agreement
Dehradun, october 5. A partnership agreement was signed between Samagra Shiksha (secondary education department) Uttarakhand and Swiss Education Group, Switzerland for training class IX-XII students in tourism and hospitality management.
“There is abundant employment potential in the state’s tourism and hospitality sectors, and given sufficient training, many of our students will be better equipped to avail career opportunities in this sector. This is a milestone agreement,” said chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, addressing the media.
Sikkim
Online learning directive
Gangtok, october 10. The state government has directed all schools in the floods-ravaged state to conduct online classes for class IX upwards students of public and private schools.
This directive for online classes has been issued to compensate for learning loss caused due to closure of educational institutions until October 15 after several people lost their lives in flash floods on October 4, explained a state education department official.
An estimated 70 people have lost their lives in this tragedy and 80 are missing. The total number affected is 87,300, said an official of the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority.
Nagaland
First medical college
Kohima, october 14. Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (NIMSR), the state’s first medical college.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union minister said: “Under the Central government’s initiative to set up healthcare facilities countrywide, Nagaland’s first 100-seat medical college will not only impart medical education but encourage students to undertake deep research as well.”
The medical college offers 100 seats — 85 for students resident in Nagaland — and 15 are reserved for students of other states. “This is a historic day for the people of Nagaland as their dream of a medical college has been fulfilled. The state has a severe shortage of doctors, and there are shortcomings in the delivery of secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare. I hope this new facility will grow into a centre of excellence,” added chief minister Neiphiu Rio.
Jharkhand
AI powered app
Ranchi, october 16. Chief minister Hemant Soren launched J-Guruji (Jharkhand’s Guruji) AI app and distributed appointment letters to over 800 secondary school teachers during a function at Dr. Ram Dayal Mundal Football Stadium in Morabadi.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said: “The Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered app is a diverse learning platform equipped with digital books, learning videos, audio books, notes, summaries, question banks, bridge courses and model question papers. Developed by the Jharkhand Council of Educational Research and Training (JCERT), a wing of the state’s school education and literacy department, the app is expected to assist students academically to avoid private tuition.”
Himachal Pradesh
New science learning centre
Shimla, october 7. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated a science learning centre at a cost of Rs.11 crore, a government statement said.
The Centre for Science Learning and Creativity (CSLC) — a joint endeavour of the Himachal Pradesh Council for Science Technology and Environment and the National Council of Science Museums — established near Shoghi, a suburb of Shimla, is equipped with 60 interactive science exhibits, thematic galleries and informatics displays, all housed within the institutional block, said the statement.
“Fully funded by the state government, the new centre will revolutionise science education particularly for students from rural backgrounds,” the statement quoted the chief minister as saying. According to the CM the learning centre will kindle curiosity in young minds towards deep scientific study enabling them to comprehend science subjects better.
