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DU teachers ask UGC to extend deadline for submission of documents for OBC (NCL) applicants
DU teachers ask UGC to extend deadline for submission of documents for OBC (NCL) applicants

The Hindu

time23-06-2025

  • Politics
  • The Hindu

DU teachers ask UGC to extend deadline for submission of documents for OBC (NCL) applicants

A group of Delhi University teachers have written to University Grants Commission (UGC) chairperson Vineet Joshi seeking directions to the university administration to extend the deadline for submission of documents by applicants, particularly for applicants from the Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer), for undergraduate programmes by 15-20 days. In their letter on Sunday, the teachers said that many OBC (NCL) applicants had approached them saying they are facing issues in renewing their certificates and are apprehensive about missing the application deadline. As in the previous years, the DU administration has in its recent admission bulletin directed OBC (NCL) candidates to submit their families' income certificates issued after March 31, before the end of the first phase of admissions, the deadline for which is yet to be declared. One of the signatories, Anand Prakash, executive member of Delhi University Teachers' Association (DUTA) and former member of the Delhi government's Commission for Other Backward Classes, said, 'Many students have reached out to us saying that they need more time to submit their certificates.' A university official said that the applicants are given 'ample time' to submit their forms. 'We follow the guidelines laid down by the DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training). The updated certificates are required in order to determine whether the candidates are eligible,' the official said. The letter, which was submitted by Mr. Prakash, along with Ashok Kumar, former DUTA executive member, Ram Kishore Yadav, member, Academic Council, and Sarvendra Kumar, former member of the Delhi government's OBC Commission, stated: 'As per estimates, nearly 10% of the eligible OBC students miss out on admission opportunities at DU each year due to this procedural bottleneck [the requirement to submit income certificates issued after March 31 before the end of the first phase of admissions].' When reached for comment, the UGC Chairperson did not offer a comment.

Govt panel to examine reliance of students on coaching, fairness of entrance exams
Govt panel to examine reliance of students on coaching, fairness of entrance exams

Indian Express

time21-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Indian Express

Govt panel to examine reliance of students on coaching, fairness of entrance exams

The Ministry of Education has set up a nine-member panel to examine issues relating to coaching, emergence of 'dummy schools' as well as the effectiveness and fairness of entrance examinations, according to officials. The panel headed by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi will suggest measures to reduce the dependency of students on coaching centres for transition to higher education. 'The committee will examine the gaps in the current schooling system that contribute to students' reliance on coaching centres, particularly the limited focus on critical thinking, logical reasoning, analytical skills and innovation and the prevalence of rote learning practices,' a senior Ministry of Education official told PTI. Scores of students preparing for engineering, including JEE Main and JEE Advanced and medical entrance exams, including NEET UG prefer to take admission in dummy schools so that they can focus solely on their preparations for competitive exams. They do not attend classes and straightaway appear in the board exams. Aspirants also choose dummy schools to take advantage of state-specific quotas for admissions to medical and engineering colleges. For example, candidates who complete their senior secondary education in Delhi become eligible for the Delhi state quota in medical colleges, giving them an additional incentive to enrol in dummy schools in the capital. 'The reasons behind the emergence of 'dummy schools' will be examined and the panel will study their role in encouraging full-time coaching at the cost of formal schooling and suggest ways to mitigate them,' the official added. The panel will study the effectiveness and fairness of competitive entrance examinations in the context of the school education system and their influence on the growth of the coaching industry. 'The role and impact of formative assessments at school and higher education levels will be assessed and how their absence affects students' conceptual understanding and preparedness for competitive examinations. The panel will also analyse the rising demand for quality higher education, limited availability of seats in premier institutions and how the imbalance drives students towards coaching institutes,' he said. Evaluating the awareness levels among students and parents regarding multiple career pathways and the impact of this lack of awareness on the over-dependence on a few elite institutions; assessing the availability and effectiveness of career counselling services in schools and colleges and suggesting measures for strengthening career guidance frameworks, are among other terms of reference of the committee. Other members of the panel include the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman; joint secretaries from school education and higher education departments; representatives of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy, IIT Kanpur and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT); and principals of schools (one each from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodaya Vidyalaya and a private school). The coaching centres in the country have been at the centre of several controversies and the move comes following complaints received by the government about rising cases of student suicides, fire incidents, lack of facilities in coaching institutes as well as methodologies of teaching adopted by them.

Education ministry forms panel to cut coaching centre dependance
Education ministry forms panel to cut coaching centre dependance

Business Standard

time20-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Business Standard

Education ministry forms panel to cut coaching centre dependance

The Union Ministry of Education has set up an eleven-member panel to deliberate on concerns regarding the coaching centre ecosystem and suggest measures to reduce students' dependency on these centres for their transition to higher education. To be chaired by Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, the panel also includes the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) chairman, joint secretaries from the departments of school and higher education, and representatives from three IITs — Madras, Trichy and Kanpur — as well as the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). According to the order accessed by Business Standard, the panel will examine the reasons behind the emergence of dummy schools and their role in encouraging full-time coaching at the cost of formal schooling, and will suggest ways to mitigate the issue. This comes after the CBSE, in March 2025, barred students enrolled in dummy schools from appearing for the Class 12 examinations. Dummy schools are institutions where students are officially enrolled but are not required to attend regular classes. These schools are often associated with students preparing for competitive entrance exams like the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) for engineering courses and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses. Calling the initiative a much-needed step towards reimagining schooling in the country, Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, chairperson and executive director, Education, Innovations and Training at DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship Programmes, said the move helps reclaim school systems that have been rendered irrelevant — particularly at the senior level — due to the rise of dummy schools. The committee will also examine gaps in the current schooling system, particularly the limited focus on critical thinking and logical reasoning, and the prevalence of rote learning. Dr Wattal added that there needs to be discussion on the misalignment between school and coaching curricula, noting that an exam-centric system of rote learning may not help students develop academic depth in their subjects. It has also been tasked with evaluating awareness levels among students and parents regarding multiple career pathways and career counselling. The panel will additionally review advertising practices, including the use of misleading claims and promotion of selective success stories, and suggest measures to address the issue. This comes after the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued guidelines last year for the Prevention of Misleading Advertisements in the Coaching Sector, in response to growing concerns about exaggerated success rates, misleading claims and unfair contracts often imposed by coaching institutes.

Promise to make Punjab drug-free 'farce', says BJP leader; AAP contradicts
Promise to make Punjab drug-free 'farce', says BJP leader; AAP contradicts

Hans India

time01-06-2025

  • Politics
  • Hans India

Promise to make Punjab drug-free 'farce', says BJP leader; AAP contradicts

The promise to make Punjab drug-free has once again proven to be a farce as the fifth deadline set by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 31 has passed, but the drug situation in the state has not improved, the BJP's state media head Vineet Joshi said on Sunday. He said the ground reality is that 'chitta' (synthetic drug) is now being sold openly, and home delivery of drugs has become common. Responding to the BJP's assertions, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Neel Garg said it has become a party of press conferences, completely detached from the ground realities. He asked the BJP whether they are unaware that in just 90 days, the AAP government has arrested over 14,000 drug smugglers and sent them to jail. 'Are they oblivious to the fact that 8,472 first information reports (FIRs) have been registered under the NDPS Act and that hundreds of encounters have taken place? Furthermore, hundreds of illegal structures built by drug smugglers have been demolished using bulldozers,' he said. Garg highlighted that the BJP might not know how people across villages, towns, and cities -- be it the elderly, women, or youth -- are coming forward to pledge that they will neither consume drugs nor allow their sale. Not convinced with AAP's justification, the BJP leader said the war against drugs is failing because the drug supply chain has not been broken. He stated, 'Drugs will be eradicated only when the supply chain is crushed. During Covid-19, when the drug supply chain was disrupted, long queues were witnessed outside de-addiction centres. But no such scenes were seen during this campaign against drugs, proving the supply chain remains intact'. Joshi said the AAP government is presenting hollow statistics to gain applause. For instance, Member of Parliament Malwinder Kang cited a case in Patiala, 'labelling a youth as a drug smuggler, while in reality he was an addict undergoing treatment at a de-addiction centre for a year. The FIR mentioned only a non-commercial quantity was found with him'. The BJP leader said the seriousness of the government and CM Mann in fighting drugs could be gauged from the fact that no state-level programmes were held on the last three International Anti-Drug Days.

CPRG launches national dialogue on AI in education at
CPRG launches national dialogue on AI in education at

India Gazette

time27-05-2025

  • Politics
  • India Gazette

CPRG launches national dialogue on AI in education at

New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): The 'prhAI' Conclave on AI in Education, organised by the Centre of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), was inaugurated on Tuesday in Delhi. According to the official statement, this two-day dialogue explores how AI and emerging technologies engage with diverse aspects of traditional education models to create a new approach to education and workforce development. Ashish Sood, Minister of Home, Power, Urban Development, Education, Higher Education, and Training & Technical Education, Government of Delhi; Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education and Chairperson, University Grants Commission and, and Milind Sudhakar Marathe, Chairman, National Book Trust graced the session, setting the agenda for positive discussions on using AI to enhance learning outcomes in education. Dr. Ramanand, Director, CPRG, also joined the panel. Ashish Sood, in his keynote address, emphasised furthering equity through AI. He highlighted, 'Our vision for Delhi is clear: AI is for all. It is about using technology to democratise education, break barriers, and create opportunities for all students'. He also reiterated Prime Minister Modi's vision of empowering youth through digital literacy and training. Adding to the discussion, Vineet Joshi Higher Education Secretary govt of India posed a thought-provoking question to the audience, asking, 'Are we truly ready to accept AI?' where he outlined a contrast between traditional classroom learning and integration of AI, calling for a need to reflect on the relevance of the current curriculum design and testing frameworks to better engage today's learners, as per the release. Milind Sudhakar Marathe, in his address, said, 'AI has massive potential in education, but we have to blend it with our social systems, and address the digital divide and limitations of AI.' Dr. Ramanand, Director of CPRG, added, 'prhAI is not a mixture of two words; it's an integration of AI and Society. At CPRG, we lay emphasis on the societal perspective of AI adoption through our Future of Society Initiative'. CPRG's 'prhAI' Conclave is aimed at initiating meaningful dialogue and actionable strategies, with subsequent sessions on themes like school education, higher education, educational governance, inclusivity, and employability. The Centre of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG) is a policy research think tank that aims to promote responsive and participatory policy-making. As an Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)-recognised institution, it has established itself as a leading voice in technology policy through its 'Future of Society' initiative. (ANI)

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