Education News | Latest Updates, Trends, and Insights - Edinbox

Patliputra University (PPU) conducted its syndicate meeting at the university headquarters here on Saturday. Led by the vice-chancellor (VC) Sharad Kumar Yadav, the meeting witnessed unanimous consent of some major issues which were passed in the recent academic council meeting.

One of the major decisions taken, syndicate members consented to promoting teachers, a much-awaited step aimed at honoring academic achievements and offering growth chances to the arts, science and commerce stream faculty members. The VC stated this approval was a part of the university's continuing endeavors to increase staff morale and achieve quality education.

The syndicate approved promotion of 115 teachers to professor rank, nine of whom were promoted under career advancement scheme (CAS), while 16 teachers were promoted to readers' rank and then 31 assistant professors in senior grade scale, said PPU coordinator college development council (CCDC) Prof Rimjhim Sheel. She added that the same also sanctioned a proposal to include cases of promotion to non-teaching employees as well as those teachers who were left behind during the recent promotion process of the university in due course.

In another significant move, the university budget proposal of the 2025-26 fiscal year was also approved. The proposal entailed a detailed financial plan to enhance infrastructure, increase academic programme and fund research activities, ensuring the university's sustained progress and contribution in the field of higher education, said PPU registrar N K Jha.

The syndicate also agreed on a recommendation from the affiliated colleges to add vocational courses, increasing education opportunities and responding to the increasing need for skill-based training on a two-year temporary phase. The program will provide students with the practical skills and knowledge required to compete in many careers, and improve their employment opportunities, Jha added.

The university will organize its next senate session on April 3 to provide final sanction to all the proposals in respect of academic and development plan approved unanimously in the syndicate meeting, she added.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra inaugurated and launched scholarship distribution for higher education for Wayanad Landslide survivors on Saturday.

During the event, Priyanka Gandhi claimed that when she had gone to Wayanad following the landslide, she witnessed the destruction, suffering, and pain the people had endured.

"We saw it from the outside, but it was you who lost their homes, their loved ones, schools and many things. We can attempt to make life easier for you in the future. Everyone across political parties and ideologies, everyone has contributed to try to help and rebuild the life that you lost," she said.

"It was concerning to witness how many kids lost their families and were left more or less to themselves. A lot of students who were pursuing studies outside the region lost their entire families. In such a situation, we are all very worried about how they will be able to pursue their education," Priyanka Gandhi said.

According to The Free Press Journal reports, the Wayanad MP also added that the United Democratic Front (UDF) made a decision that they will do their best to ensure that all of the affected students are able to pursue their education.

"I am happy to announce that there is a dedicated office working on education rehabilitation. I am extremely glad to hear that 121 Wayanad students are studying in Kanyakumari. I am pleased to congratulate the Malabar Gold Foundation for disbursing Rs 62 lakhs so far and for their offer to sponsor college fees to the extent of Rs 2 crore up to the time when students complete education," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated.

"We are all here to help you and assist you in rebuilding your lives and creating a better future for yourself," she said.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, MP of Wayanad, also interacted with a delegation of elected representatives, leaders and delegations in Wayanad. She heard their issues and deliberated on various issues.

On July 30, 2024, the Kerala state was struck with a landslide, which was the most fatal in the state, killing over 300 individuals and leveling scores of homes and other structures.

The education schemes of the former AAP government, such as Business Blasters, Happiness Curriculum and Mission Buniyaad, launched in Delhi government schools, have been shut down, a government official announced on Friday.

The Delhi BJP-led government is on the verge of replacing them with new programs such as 'Rashtraniti', 'New Era of Entrepreneur Ecosystem and Vision (NEV)' and 'Science of Living', an official at the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) said.

The official informed PTI that one of the key changes is introducing the NEV, which will be a replacement for the Business Blasters program. While both schemes address extending financial assistance to students for starting their ventures, the framework and execution will be varied.

Under the discontinued scheme, students were provided with Rs 2,000 each as seed capital. Under NEV, the amount has been increased to Rs 20,000, and the money will be provided to a batch of students, the official said. This new program will emphasize educating students on moral values, elderly care and including a range of meditation techniques such as yoga, mindfulness and stretching exercises, he further added.

A schedule will be drawn up so that each element of the Science of Living programme is carried out effectively, he said. The Business Blasters programme was launched in 2021 under the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum. It gave seed funds to students of classes 11 and 12 to enable them to work out startup ideas.

The Happiness Curriculum, initiated in 2018, was intended for nursery to class 8 students and involved daily routines like storytelling and self-expression activities that encouraged emotional well-being. Its launch was attended by the Dalai Lama.

From April 1, the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) will be formally granted autonomy, setting in motion a major change in education administration in the state. The step is likely to simplify procedures, speed up decision-making, and improve the quality of education reforms, officials declared on Saturday.

What Autonomy Means for SCERT

SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar laid stress on how autonomy will fast-track different administrative tasks, specifically recruitment procedures, which have until now been pending.

"SCERT has so far existed as a section within the Department of Education. We have now registered under the Societies Act and shall be independent in our functioning. A governing council with academicians and subject experts will handle all key decisions, making decision-making quicker and eliminating bureaucratic hesitation in appointments," she said.

Another significant alteration is that SCERT will receive a separate budget from the government, which will provide more fiscal flexibility and autonomy in the execution of educational programs.

Role in NEP Implementation

The National Education Policy (NEP) is to revolutionize the state education system, and SCERT is going to play a crucial part in its implementation, particularly for Classes I-VIII students. With the phased implementation of NEP, SCERT will have charge of developing curricula, teacher training, and pedagogic innovations so as to converge them with the aims of the policy.

For Classes IX to XII, the State Board will continue to be the implementing agency, while SCERT will continue to give academic guidance and support.

A New Era for Educational Reforms

The transition to autonomy is expected to enhance SCERT's capability for formulating and executing innovative educational strategies, thereby increasing its responsiveness to changing academic needs. According to experts, with increased independence, SCERT will be able to better introduce new approaches to teaching, improve teacher training programs, and initiate curriculum reforms more effectively.

With a governing board consisting of education specialists and policymakers, the institution will be in a position to make informed choices based on data, and both teachers and students will reap the rewards of the most current education advancements.

With SCERT entering its new era of autonomy, the emphasis will be on speed, efficiency, and educational quality, with the aim of positioning the state's education system to better address future challenges.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has placed the state budget for 2025 in the Assembly, with special emphasis on the education sector. The government has provided ₹2,100 crore to strengthen learning infrastructure, launch skill-based training, and implement digital learning at schools and campuses of higher education. Maybe the most interesting thing about the budget is the compulsory internship program for all undergraduate students to narrow the gap between teaching in class and industry demands.

In its initiative towards e-learning, the state government has declared that every government middle school will be equipped with a laptop per class. In addition, school computer labs will be upgraded to allow students to use advanced technology tools. These efforts are likely to encourage digital literacy among students and equip them with the skills to handle the changing job scenario.

Anticipating the requirement for schools to have appropriate infrastructure, the government provided ₹200 crore for the renovation and repair of the school infrastructure of the state. It is planned to ensure that all the repair work is finished well ahead of the onset of the monsoon season so that the students have a proper and healthy learning setup.

It also provides huge facilities for vocational courses. Students studying courses such as garment designing, house furnishing, beauty and wellness, horticulture and agriculture, and automobiles under the NSQF would be presented with an accessory kit of value ₹20,000. This is done to motivate the students to pursue skill training and become employable in some of the various industries.

Through graduation requirements for internships, the government seeks to equip students with practical skills and improved employment opportunities. This is in line with the state's vision to develop a skilled workforce that can meet industry demands.

Goa Budget 2025 focuses the government's interest in streamlining the education sector by putting into effect digital strategies and enhancing infrastructure and skill development. All these steps are sure to provide students with theoretical knowledge as well as practical experience, making them adequately equipped for future employment.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday stated that the process of appointing 16,347 teachers through the District Selection Committee (DSC) exam will start in the first week of April. Speaking at the third Collectors' Conference at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister said the recruitment process for teachers should start in early April and be completed with their appointment before schools reopen for the next academic year in June.

Further, the CM indicated that teacher recruitment could incorporate Scheduled Castes (SC) sub-categorisation under the A, B, C, and D categories. The state has referred the one-man commission report submitted by Rajiv Ranjan Mishra on SC sub-categorization to the Centre and another important stakeholder, as per Naidu.

Depending on their response, the state will move ahead as pledged in the build-up to the 2024 elections, he added. District collectors were requested by the Chief Minister to see that the DSC examination is held perfectly.

Stressing welfare, development, and good governance as the three main pillars of administration, Naidu urged collectors to be ever vigilant to these priorities. He stressed that poverty elimination and public welfare are a must, particularly when hopes are high.

Further, Naidu pointed out that district collectors will be the Swarna Andhra-2047 Vision execution chairpersons, and MLAs will implement it at the constituency level. He emphasized that preparation for this vision must be done from the state level to the district, constituency, Mandal, and village secretariat levels.

Chief Minister also directed collectors to obtain environmental and other approvals required for Rs 55,000 crore worth of infrastructure projects, including national highways, and asked them to finish these in two years.

Pointing out that the Polavaram project is on track again with the Centre's support, Naidu stated that the mega-irrigation project is "set for completion" by 2027.

Charging the collectors with attaining a 15 percent growth rate, he stated that Andhra Pradesh had achieved a 13.5 percent growth rate between 2014 and 2019 but claimed that it fell to 10.3 percent during the last YSRCP rule.

Additionally, he instructed the collectors to scrutinize and recover GST arrears and take strict action against tax evaders, among other primary objectives.