Education News
Digital Varsity Will Scale up Gross Enrolment Ratio in Higher Education Dharmendra Pradhan
Union Minister for Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan has said that the National Digital University which will be launched by the end of 2023 will increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education. He said that the presence of National Digital University would scale this up from the 27 per cent enrolment. The Minister was speaking after inaugurating the second floor of the LOGOS lecture hall at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Tiruchi on Sunday. He said that there should be a collaboration between the IITs, IIMs, and NITs for research and innovations intended for the benefit of the people of the country. The minister also said that a focus on online education, collaboration between existing institutions, and starting of new ones would lead to the attainment of the intended target of 50 GER in the days to come. Dharmendra Pradhan said that the impending entry of select foreign universities was intended as a cost-effective alternative for some students who would join foreign universities without any knowledge of the standing of these universities globally. The minister also assured support to NIT, Tiruchi’s plan to set up a research park next year coinciding with its diamond jubilee. He also appreciated the teaching club of NIT, Tiruchi for identifying students from underprivileged backgrounds and providing training for them to face the toughest entrance examinations in the country. The minister also called upon the students to take up entrepreneurship and called upon them to focus on research and to be oriented towards the community.
Education News
SATLUJ CAREER FEST 2023 ‘Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Life-Skills will Drive Careers of the Future’
5000+ students from 300+ schools gained knowledge from over 300 Indian & International University representatives Panchkula, January 21, 2023 Prominent educationists from across the country today got together for the 4th Satluj Career Fest 2023 held in virtual mode here today. Experts stressed on the need to inculcate life skills in students instead of rote learning for living a meaningful, successful and a happy life. The focus of the Fest this time was on innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for careers of the future. The topics for the panel discussions included – how great businesses are built around social entrepreneurship and how the tricity is fast emerging as the hub of entrepreneurship in North India; Career opportunities in Canada for undergraduates; Job Realism: Are today’s Teenagers Dreaming of Jobs That will Still be There in 15 years’ time? Jobs and skills of the future. Region’s largest career fest ‘Satluj Career Fest’ was organised by Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula (a part of Satluj Group of Schools—Satluj Public Schools, Little Satluj Pre-Schools), with an aim of guiding the students of class 9th to 12th and their parents about various career opportunities. This was the third year that the event was hosted virtually, leading to not only a pan-India, but international reach with student registrations from all over the world. Counsellors and foreign representatives from more than 300 universities, foreign and Indian, took part. Over 5,000 students represented 300+ schools from India (including metros, tier 2 and tier 3 towns) and around the world during the career fest.
Reekrit Serai, Managing Director, Satluj Group of Schools, welcomed the esteemed guests, parents and students. “This is the fourth time we are hosting the career fest. Satluj School has started this initiative which is helpful for the students and different from career fairs where only universities interact with students. The idea behind holding such an event, which originated five years ago, was to support our students beyond the realms of our gates, helping and preparing them beyond school life. We wanted to hosts interactions from different fields so that the students get to hear from the experts and also aspire to become like them. The major theme of the fest is jobs and skills for the future as the world will change rapidly and globalisation will bring the world closer.” He also stressed on the fact how startups were changing the employment scenario in our country and entrepreneurship is the engine to global growth. Krit Serai, Co-Chairman of Satluj Group of Schools, said, a lot of hard work went into the planning of Career Fest, which is one of the biggest career shows. He said, 20 plus panellists deliberated on various aspects which helped the youth to choose proper careers. “Career planning is very important in our lives and for a proper career choice planning must start at plus two stage or even Class X. We have a variety of jobs for the youth available now”, he added. Anurag Tripathi, Secretary, CBSE while stressing on the need for inculcating life skills among students said, “The main objective of education was to develop your mind, body and soul. Such students turn out to be responsible citizens of the country. The new education policy aims at introducing a different approach to education, which was initially knowledge-based and rote learning. Are you making creative use of your studies in school, your performance in exams and overall learning in classes? While there has been rote-learning, there were no skills, which come handy when you enter the real world and cope with the society, because of which such students have been facing difficulties with facing actual life situations, which were never told to them.
It has been seen that students who pass out from schools and colleges have no competency and the new education policy stresses on the fact that rote learning should be shifted to competency learning. If a child has learnt communication skills, problem solving skills and critical thinking skills and creative skills, he or she can reach the top.” He also added that being a topper in exams necessarily do not mean you will achieve new heights but it is your own competency that can take you places. Ratan Lal Kataria, MP, Ambala and Former Union Minister, in his inaugural message said, Satluj Public School was contributing towards providing quality education and by organising a career fest, it will help students to make India self-dependent. Ranjeeta Mehta, Honorary General Secretary, Haryana State Council for Child Welfare, said, “Job scenario is changing in the country and only those with life skills can get got employment opportunities. India has a lot of young population, hence we need a lot of jobs. She said beauty business, entertainment industry and healthcare are the key sectors for employment opportunities, besides the e-commerce industry and social media which have also gained momentum especially after the pandemic.” She also spoke about other sectors and career opportunities and how AI was coming into being and helping in different businesses. Mehta also said rote learning should be done away with for a fruitful career ahead. Mr. Harsh Kumar, Former Secretary NCERT, said, “The main objective of education is that we become good human beings. Indian education system is unique. Indian traditions are distinct and our children are intelligent and progressing. We must show them the right guidance in senior classes as educators and parents. National Education Policy has come with a lot of changes and even during the pandemic India handled the situation because we are educated. We have to convert knowledge into wisdom and become good citizens of the country and should do something to make our country proud of us. He appealed to the students that they should understand their strengths and then decide which field has to be chosen.”
He added we will progress according to a system and it is our duty to guide the new generation and lauded the efforts made by Satluj Public School in bringing all experts together for a meaningful discussion. ther prominent speakers included, dignitaries such Harsuhinder Singh Brar, Director Secondary Education (Chandigarh UT); Dr. Parag Kalkar, Member of Senate of Savitribai Phule Pune University; Dr. PJ Singh, Founder & MD, Tynor Orthotics and Vice-President, CII Punjab; Manmohan (Mac) Sarin, Senior Advocate; and Dr. Dinesh Dua, Immediate Past Executive Director of Nectar Lifesciences and Past Chairman, CII Chandigarh.
Education News
To encourage children Army holds Snow Art Competition in Ramban
Army took an initiative to encourage children and commemorate upcoming Republic Day by providing children and youth an opportunity to showcase their latent talent by organising Snow Art Competition at Neel valley in Ramsoo Block of Ramban District. PRO Defence Jammu Lt Col Devender Anand said, “A large number of children of various age groups from villages of the Neel Valley participated in the competition.” “The participants surprised the spectators with their ingenuity and innovative art reflecting their hidden talent,” Col Anand said. “Emotions were expressed by means of art carved out of snow and beauty was enhanced by adding colors to their snow sculptures, PRO Defence Jammu said, adding, “The enthusiasm, creativity and patriotism of the children added to the charm of the event.” Col Anand said, “All the participants were felicitated with painting kits to further encourage them in pursuing their studies and taking art as a hobby. “The initiative was widely appreciated by the Awaam while the enthusiasm, creativity and patriotism of the children added to the charm of the event, Col Anand added.
Education News
Film institute students end protest after peace talk with Kerala government
The agitation at the government-run K R Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts in Kottayam came to end on Monday after the Kerala government held conciliatory talks with the protesting students here. The representatives of the protesting students held talks with Higher Education Minister R Bindu who informed that a search committee has been formed to appoint a new director for the institute. Announcing that the students have ended their weeks-long protest, the minister said the various commissions appointed by the state government have given many suggestions to improve the quality of the institute. “We have discussed all the recommendations with the students,” Bindu told the media here. She said the main demand of the students was to remove the director. “He resigned from his post on Saturday. We will appoint a new director and a search committee has been constituted for that purpose. The committee will be chaired by T K Ramachandran with Shaji N Karun and T V Chandran as members,” she said. The director of the institute, Shankar Mohan, had resigned from his post on Saturday, weeks after a section of students and staff alleged caste discrimination amongother complaints against him. The institute had been embroiled in controversy for some time after a section of students levelled charges against Mohan.
Education News
Supreme Court declines to make public answer sheets of candidates in judiciary exam in Madhya Pradesh
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to make public answer sheets of candidates who appeared in the district judiciary examination in Madhya Pradesh. A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices V Ramasubramanian and JB Pardiwala said such a move was ‘extremely dangerous’ and likely to be misused. “This will be extremely dangerous. These coaching classes fellows will get hold of the answer sheets… You can’t give answer sheets to whoever wants…. “We are not inclined to entertain the Special Leave Petition under Article 136 of the Constitution. The Special Leave Petition is accordingly dismissed,” the bench said. The top court was hearing the plea filed by NGO Advocate Union for Democracy and Social Justice. The plea sought directions for uploading answer sheets and adopting a transparent process in the recruitment of judicial officers. The petition said that the selection process for the appointment of civil judges and additional district judges should be transparent and fair.
Education News
PM Modi interacts with youngsters on Parakram Diwas
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday advised youngsters to read biographies of historical personalities to learn about the challenges they faced and how they overcame it as he interacted with them on the birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose. Modi interacted with them on the Parakram Diwas at his residence. These youngsters, a statement said, were selected under the ‘Know Your Leader” programme to participate in the ceremony to honour Bose in Parliament’s Central Hall. The statement said Modi engaged in a candid and free-wheeling talk and discussed various facets of Bose’s life and what can be learnt from him. The youngsters shared their excitement on getting the unique opportunity to meet the prime minister and to sit in the Central Hall of Parliament, it said.
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