Education Notes

Mizoram University Bill for select committee The mizoram assembly has referred its Mahatma Gandhi University Bill introduced by the state higher and technical education minister C. Lalsawta to a select committee of the legislature. On April 4, Lalsawta withdrew the Bill and sought permission of the house to refer it to the select committee for review. The minister was forced to withdraw the Bill as it contained “too many mistakes”. According to Lalsawta, the Bill paves the way for establishment of a self-financing private higher ed institution — Mahatma Gandhi University — to be sponsored by the Vivekananda Institute of Computer Education Society in the state. He assured the house that the proposed varsity would “safeguard the interests’’ of the local population.  Delhi CBSE’s new students helpline The Delhi-based Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) — the largest pan-India exam board with 10,000-plus affiliated schools — has launched a helpline for class X and XII students to manage exam stress. “CBSE has launched a helpline for class X and XII students during May-June, the time of declaration of board results. It will provide psychological counselling to students to deal with examination-related stress,” says a media release of the Union HRD ministry dated April 4. The counselling facility is offered through a toll free number (1800 118 004), accessible from any part of the country. Moreover, CBSE will also offer legal studies as an elective in classes XI and XII from the academic year 2013-14. The board has written to affiliated schools to submit their expression of interest, a CBSE official said on April 9. The elective will be offered in class XI as a pilot course on first-come-first-serve basis to around 20 schools. “It can be offered as an elective subject with any combination of three other electives and a language,” says the board’s communication. According to the CBSE spokes-person, the objective of introducing legal studies is to provide exposure to several branches of law such as common, civil, Hindu and Islamic laws, among others, and help students understand rights, duties and various categories of liability principles. Jammu & kashmir New education policy imminent The j&k government is set to introduce a new education policy for the state. “The  government is contemplating a new education policy to improve the education scenario in the state on modern lines,” deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of school education Tara Chand, said in reply to a question in the legislative council on April 4. According to him, a committee comprising well-known academics of the state will be constituted for the purpose. While addressing the council, Chand also expressed concern about poor learning outcomes in government schools. “Despite the presence of highly qualified teachers in government schools, academic results are not as we would like them to be. Steps have already been initiated to fix accountability for poor performance,” the minister said, adding that directions have been issued to the chief and zonal education officers to monitor and inspect schools on a regular basis,…