Education News
Schools closed in Puducherry amid rising H1N1, H3N2 influenza cases
The Union Territory of Puducherry on Wednesday announced holidays in schools for Classes 1 to 8 from March 17 to March 26, 2023, in view of rising cases of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza. Puducherry Education Minister A. Nammasivayam made this announcement after 79 influenza cases were reported in the union territory in the last four days. With the number of H1N1 influenza cases increasing rapidly in the state of Tamil Nadu and the possibilities of H3N2 also reported from Tamil Nadu and other states, the government of Puducherry announced the holidays for school children. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also asked the states and Union Territories to be on guard and to keep an eye on the spread of the H3N2 virus. The ICMR has also advised people to follow and maintain COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. Public Health experts are of the opinion that testing facilities to diagnose the H3N2 virus are much fewer in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and as far as the symptoms are concerned, there is hardly any difference between Covid and H3N2.
Education News
Fakir Mohan University starts initiative to provide education to illiterate adults
The Fakir Mohan University Balasore has started an initiative with the help of local Rotary Club to provide education to adults who could not get it during their childhood. It has launched Swabhiman Adult Learning Centres to help the new initiative. The university has been working on reducing dropout rates in the nearby schools of the institution. While reaching out to the community, the university found many illiterate adults. To make such people literate, the institution has come up with such a plan in association with Rotary Club of Balasore, said the official sources. Santosh Kumar Tripathy, vice-chancellor of Fakir Mohan University, said they have launched 20 Swabhiman Adult Learning Centres in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. Cadets of National Service Scheme (NSS) will be provided with incentives to take up this mission. “If it becomes successful, we can implement this idea in other places,” he added. Viswajit Ghosh, chief operating officer of the Rotary India Literacy Mission (RILM), said the project is being implemented as part of the RILM which aims to eradicate illiteracy completely from India. Sekhar Mehta, former Rotary International President, gave the keynote address at the launching ceremony held on Tuesday.
Education News
Stay vigilant, Centre tells states as Covid-19 positivity rises gradually
The Centre on Saturday expressed concern over a gradual increase in the Covid-19 positivity rate in some states and said it needed to be promptly addressed. In a letter to states and UTs, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said operational guidelines for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) or severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) need to be followed. Bhushan also requested taking a stock of hospital preparedness, such as availability of drugs and medical oxygen, and vaccination coverage against Covid-19 and influenza. “While the Covid-19 trajectory has decreased substantially in the last few months, the gradual rise in Covid-19 test positivity rate in some states is a concerning issue that needs to be promptly addressed,” Bhushan wrote. Despite low number of new cases, equally low number of hospitalisations and significant advances made in terms of Covid-19 vaccination coverage, the health secretary said there is a need to remain vigilant and focus on the five-fold strategy of test, track, treat, vaccination and adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior. Under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), as reported by states and UTs, an increasing trend of ILI/SARI is being observed across the country.
Education News
Common Entrance Test To Be Conducted In 3 Shifts: University Panel Chief
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG will be conducted in three shifts this year instead of two and plans for its merger with crucial entrance exams like JEE and NEET will be announced at least two years in advance, according to UGC chairman M Jagadesh Kumar. In an interview to PTI, Mr Kumar said the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Testing Agency (NTA) are prepared to ensure that the second edition of CUET-UG is glitch free. “I agree there were several glitches during the exam last time but this year all issues have been ironed out. Keeping in mind the experience of the students, a plan has been chalked out and we are ready to ensure that the candidates just have to worry about the exam and not any glitches,” he said. “Extra computers and extra centres have been arranged as plan B so that in case there are any glitches, the candidates can be shifted there and the exam for a particular shift will not be cancelled,” he added. Mr Kumar said that in a deviation from the usual pattern, the exam will be conducted in three shifts from this year. Asked about the proposal to merge CUET with engineering entrance exam JEE and medical entrance exam NEET, Mr Kumar said, “It is definitely doable. The details are being worked out but whenever the merger happens, announcement will be made at least two years in advance so the students can prepare accordingly.”
Education News
Delhi govt establishing 2 new campuses of Ambedkar University to increase number of seats: Atishi
The Delhi government is establishing two new campuses of the Ambedkar University to increase the number of seats and has prioritised re-conceptualisation of technical institutes, Education Minister Atishi said on Wednesday. Reviewing projects for higher education, the minister instructed officials to prepare an action plan for modernisation and expansion of all universities and technical education institutions of the Delhi government. “In Delhi, 2.5 lakh children pass out of class 12. But despite having talent and ability, only one lakh of these children get admission in any university. Taking cognisance of this, the Delhi government started increasing the capacity of its universities,” Atishi said. She also directed officials to expedite the construction work of the Rohini and Dheerpur campuses of the Ambedkar University and said the new campuses will address all academic needs of students. “The Delhi government is working with a vision of changing the country through education. After the Dheerpur and Rohini campuses of the university are ready, more than 26,000 students will be able to get admission here,” the minister said. Both the campuses will have multi-storey academic blocks, convention block, health centre, auditorium, administrative block, library block, amphitheatre, guest house, separate hostels for girls and boys. Residential units will also be constructed.
Education News
AICTE to lift ban on new engineering colleges, improve admissions in core branches
Technical education regulator, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), plans to revoke the moratorium imposed on new engineering colleges this year. The decision, AICTE member secretary Rajive Kumar told, has been taken after considering an increase in admission in core engineering courses last year. “We have analysed the data of core engineering branches in the last year. The admission trend in these core engineering courses is increasing now. Also, it was felt that students are losing interest in core engineering branches and AICTE’s moratorium was sending a negative message to the students. So it has been decided to revoke the moratorium,” said Kumar. The increase in admissions in core engineering, Kumar said, is linked to the introduction of minor degrees from 2020-21. In 2019, AICTE had imposed a two-year moratorium on opening new institutions in traditional areas of engineering and technology at degree, diploma and postgraduate levels, starting from 2020-21. The ban was extended to the 2023-24 academic year in 2022 with a few exceptions.
Education News
