Tag: <span>indian education</span>

28 Sep

Breaking the Mould

Kalpana Pathak, Breaking the Mould: Alternative Schools in India, Chennai: Westland Ltd., 2016, ISBN 978-93-85152-29-0, pp. XVI + 230, Rs. 295.

Education is a field of interest in our times. The mushrooming of numerous institutes and centres providing education and the amount of propaganda done are witness to this fact. The scene of education in India is neither something worth admiring nor is it deserving of absolute condemnation. There is no doubt that India doesn’t feature anywhere among the top countries when it comes to education. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2016, India ranks 102nd among the 149 countries surveyed, in the field of education. Our education system does leave a lot to be desired. While on the one hand there are people who uphold the IIT’s and IIM’s as exemplars of success there are a greater number who lament the rote learning approach that is characteristic of the Indian educational system.

In Breaking the Mould, the author explores the world of alternative education in India and attempts to present the intensive study she has made in the field. The book has nine chapters besides an enlightening introduction. The chapters explain different facets of alternative education and thus comprehensively provide a good view of alternative education in the country.

Alternative education in its broadest sense can simply be defined as everything that mainstream education is not. One’s first impression upon hearing about alternative education may be to think of it as a Western idea. If that is the case then one will be surprised to know that there have been illustrious Indians who have also pioneered this concept locally. Famous Western names associated with alternative education are Montessori and Steiner. In the pre-independence period, social reformers and freedom fighters began to explore alternatives to the education system of the day. Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Jiddu Krishnamurthi and Gijubhai Badheka emphasized on experiential learning and innovative pedagogy (pg. 19). For some of these individuals like Tagore, seeking a method of alternative education arose from their own negative experience with mainstream education.

The first chapter despite being named ‘The Origins and History of Alternative Education’ offers very little in that regard. What it does in fact, is give a brief history of education in India, beginning from the Vedic period through the medieval and modern and culminating in the post-independence period. The final part of the chapter introduces the concept of alternative education and briefly describes the reasons for its origin.

Chapter two is a lengthy one as it deals with ‘Philosophies of Alternative Education Thinkers and their Schools’. This perhaps is the most crucial chapter of the book as it forms the basis on which all further explanation depends. The author examines the situation of the philosopher in the light of his/her views on education. Then, she goes on to describe with care to fine details, one institute associated with the philosopher.

The third chapter scrutinizes the rationale of alternative schools and their views on educational components like classrooms, pedagogy, art and craft, physical activity and assessment and study material. The next chapter is also a very important chapter from the point of view of the book for it presents the ‘Advantages, Disadvantages and Myths of Alternative Schooling’. In order to emphasize the point, the author compares alternative education to mainstream education and thereby shows the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. The advantages far exceed the disadvantages and myths thereby showing a favourable inclination towards alternative education. The myths and disadvantages are presented albeit not in a completely neutral manner; the author tends to be defensive towards alternative schools.

The fifth chapter discusses the ‘Challenges for Alternative Schools’. Once again the challenges presented are decisive but receive a subtly biased representation. The author tones down the potency of these challenges and makes it seem as if they are minor hurdles that alternative education can hop over. A closer and critical examination will reveal that it isn’t as easy to push them aside as the author makes it look. Chapter six is evidently added for dramatic effect and chronicles the interviews of students, parents and a teacher associated with alternative schools. At this point the author does appear to become pushy with the concept of alternative education. The repeated emphasis on the goodness of alternative education works on the unconscious mind much like advertisements.

Chapter seven assesses the ‘Impact of the Right to Education Act (RTE) on Alternative Schools’. RTE threatened the ideology of alternative education and brought it to its knees. The stress on infrastructure and teacher qualification for example, placed heavy burdens on the shoestring budget of such schools and the voluntary nature of its teachers. Chapter eight briefly touches upon the topic of ‘Homeschooling and Alternative Education’. The author ends the book with a detailed directory of alternative schools in India. As I went through the list I noticed that mostly the bigger states were mentioned. I engaged on a little search myself and found a site (alternativeeducationindia.net) which acts as an online directory for all registered alternative schools. The author gives a brief description of each school and furnishes their contact details and address.

The book explores the lesser known contender to mainstream education. However, the author bathes alternative education in milk and honey and presents it in a glorified manner. On some occasions the author has repeated quotations in an attempt to drill a point. Such repetitions become tiresome after a while. The pictures accompanying the text are a fail as they are not clear on account of their conversion from colour to grayscale. On the backcover one reads: “All in all, a must-have on the bookshelf of every parent.” I beg to differ. While reading this may influence some parents into putting their children in an alternative school, most parents will find such an option not-feasible despite the attractiveness of the concept. Basic factors like proximity and transport have to be considered before enrolling a child in a school. While alternative schools are cheaper they are not always located in proximate vicinities on account of their pedagogical requirements. The book is without doubt very informative but suffers from numerous grammatical errors and typos. The author deserves credit for painstakingly visiting such schools firsthand and gathering data and feedback. Her presentation however lacked journalistic neutrality but made-up with thoroughness and style characteristic of a journalistic background.



Source by Ian Pinto

29 Aug

Co Education System in India

Co – education is the recent system of education where girls sit and study along with boys in same classes and in a common college. This system was not popular in ancient schools and colleges. At that time, it was not considered appropriate to allow boys and girls study together in same institutions. Rather, boys and girls were sent to separate schools and colleges. Social mixing of boys and girls was not allowed. This was considered essential to maintain the purity of character in them.

Actually the elders of each family consider many disadvantages in co – education and that’s why they are against sending their children or grand – children to such schools and colleges. They think that co – education makes their children absent – minded. The children become indisciplined and the whole atmosphere of the schools and colleges gets polluted.

The boys try all sorts of motions, gestures and songs to attract the attention of the girls. Even the girls tempt the boys for all sorts of indiscipline. Boys do not come for the teachers in the class. They keep combing their hair off and on and waster their time. The boys and girls all try to show themselves as heroes and heroines respectively and are mostly running to cinemas to see latest movies. The educational institutions start presenting a look of fashion parades. All sorts of unsocial and undesirable habits are developed and students forget to listen to their elders or teachers. In such an atmosphere, one cannot expect a good quality character.

Co – education is considered better from social point of view in spite of its various defects as explained above. Such a system of education gives an opportunity to understand each other’s problems and, therefore, can co-operate better in achievement of respective goals. A healthy spirit of working and competing is created by co – education. The boys try to keep a polite and gentle character so as to give a good impression to their girls class – fellows. During their long period of education, they can better understand each other’s psychology and even can choose their life partners from among their class – fellows. In this way, problem of parents to select a suitable match for their children is also solved. The boy and girl educated together make the best match due to their broad attitude towards life and closer understanding of each other’s habits and manners of living, likes and dislikes.

Co – education provides economical and advanced education to girl students. This is because same amount of money is invested to upgrade or provide better equipments and infrastructure in schools and colleges. Otherwise, funds would get diverted for constructing separate schools and colleges for girls. Further, in a free democratic country like India, we cannot deny education to girls along with boys, the girls must also be equally educated. However, where girls students take interest in greater numbers towards studies, there, special separate institutions can be established to impart education of each level and in various professions.

Co – education seems to be good at primary level and higher level in colleges. But due care must be taken at high school and inter-classes where lot of physical and mental changes take place naturally in children. Students must be guided properly to avoid their going astray. Separation between girls and boys can be made taking them into confidence and making them understand any implications. As such, at high school level, co – education can be imparted with able guidance and care. At university level, boys and girls get matured to understand good or bad of each other. So co – education can be very useful from social and economic point of view if given under proper care and guidance.



Source by Rajesh Mohan

02 Aug

MEDICAL Education in India

Becoming a doctor is a dream of millions of students in India. There isn’t any profession as respectful as a Doctor. However, many students aren’t aware of the complete process of becoming a doctor or a specialist. For same, the student needs hard work and dedication. It requires an undertaking to serve all forms of life with application of one’s knowledge, compassion and kindness. No other career is as satisfying as medical where you cure people suffering from illness, trauma, accidents, and disease. However, merely acquiring a degree isn’t enough as it is required to pick a branch in medicine and surgery to become a specialist. Several of the fields are – Pediatrics, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Surgery, Neurosurgery and Cardiology. We have compiled this article for students interested in becoming a doctor or a specialist in India. This article is an overview of the complete process of the same.

Specializations in Different Streams of Medical Courses

Various courses are offered for specialization in life-sciences. A few of them are given here for you to have an idea:

  • Cardiology – deals with disorders of the heart. He performs specialized work like angioplasty, angiography, and by-pass surgery
  • Neurosurgery – a surgical discipline which deals with treating central and peripheral nervous system and spine disorders. It focuses on primarily brain, spinal cord and nerves. Medical specialists are called neurosurgeons
  • Orthopedics – these surgeons deal with disorders in skeletal structure. Further, fractures and disorders of the skeletal frame are undertaken. He performs therapies and suggests exercise for patients which are conducted by Physiotherapists
  • Ophthalmologists – they deal with human eye and its disorders. They are trained with surgeries of eyes, operation of cataract, glaucoma and other ailments
  • Psychiatry – he deals with psychiatry and other issues related to mind such as mental, emotional or behavioral disorders
  • Medicine – MBBS doctor who gains specializes in medicine and acquires an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) degree is called a physician. His job is to comprehend patient’s problems, clinical test results, diagnosing the illness and then prescribing the treatment
  • Pediatrics – pediatrician deals with the children’s health from stages of newborn to adolescents. He diagnoses and performs treatment of the diseases of children
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology – Obstetricians and Gynecologists diagnose and treat the female reproductive disorders. They also perform operations like caesarian, laparoscopies and hysteroscopy. Further they deal with ovarian cancer and other illnesses related to reproductive systems

Stages of Medical Courses

There are basically three courses available for the interested candidates. It is not necessary to follow the hierarchy to become a specialist as one can pursue specialization course directly after pursuing the entrance examination.

  • Undergraduate Courses
  • Postgraduate Courses
  • Super Specialty Courses

Medical Governing Bodies

In India, we have four medical apex bodies which govern the medical professional and allied services. They function under the Government of India and comprises of separately affiliated medical associations.

  • Dental Council of India (DCI)
  • Pharmacy Council of India (PCI)
  • Medical Council of India (MCI)
  • National Board of Examination (NAT Board)

OVERVIEW OF COURSES

Undergraduate

B. D. S. (Bachelor of Dental Sciences)

Duration of this program is 4 years. 1 year is meant for compulsory rotating internship. Courses taught are -biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, basic anatomy and microbiology. Candidates are exposed to dentistry and hands-on-practice in the final two semesters.

M. B. B. S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)

This programs spans over duration of 5 ½ years and divided into three professional of three semesters. Each semester lasts 18 months or 1 ½ year. Last year is dedicated to compulsory rotating internship. Subjects like anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, forensic medicine, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, general medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), gynecology, orthopedics and preventive & social medicine are taught.

B. A. M. S. (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery)

Duration of this course is 5 ½ years. Ayurvedic Education in India is under monitoring by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), which again, is a statutory central government body.

B. U. M. S. (Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery)

This course deals with undergraduate degree in Unani Medicine & Surgery. Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory government body manages the Unani education in India.

B. H. M. S. (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery)

This program is of 5 ½ years duration. It includes one year compulsory internship. National Institute of Homeopathy, a statutory central government body governs the Homoeopathic education in India.

B. V. Sc. & A. H. (Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry)

Duration of this program is 5 ½ years. Undergraduate course is offered in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. Veterinary Council of India manages the Veterinary education in India.

B. Sc. – Nursing (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Duration of this undergraduate course is 3 to 4 years. Specialization is done in operation theatre, cardiac care and surgery. Nursing Council of India governs the education in nursing in India.

B. Pharm. (Bachelor of Pharmacy)

This is a 4 year degree program in pharmacy. Professionals are prepared for pharmaceutical industry, which is a multimillion dollar industry. Monitoring work of pharmaceutical education is done by the Pharmacy Council of India.

B. P. T. (Bachelor of Physiotherapy)

Different medical colleges of the country offer undergraduate course in physiotherapy. Course offers learning of scientific procedures and bio-mechanics used to treat a patient with disability or disease or injury. It is to acquire and maintain motor functional rehabilitation. Program also deals with prevention of malfunction or deformity.

B. O. T. (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy)

This is a graduate degree course in occupational therapy which is offered by various medical institutes. Through this program, professional therapists are prepared whose area of operation is to deal with people suffering from physical or mental disabilities. They are helped to achieve maximum functioning and independence related to daily activities of the body.

B. M. L. T. (Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology)

Various medical institutes in the country offer B.Sc. programme in medical laboratory technology. Successful candidates are conferred with B.Sc.-M.L.T. degree. They are the professionals who deal with practical and technical work to aid correct diagnosis and in the functioning of Biochemical labs.

Postgraduate Courses

M.D. (Doctor of Medicine)

This is a three year course which offers postgraduate degree in medicine. Those doctors who possess M.B.B.S. degree are eligible for this course. It is a specialized program in general medicine. Candidates who complete the degree successfully are eligible to choose physician as career.

M.S. (Master of Surgery)

It is a 3 years course which offers postgraduate degree in surgery. Those doctors who are M.B.B.S. are eligible to for this course. Successful doctors can work as surgeon, either independently or under an institute.

Postgraduate Diploma

Various medical colleges or institutes offer postgraduate diploma program in medicine. MBBS degree holders are eligible for the program. Duration of the course is 2 to 3 years.

Super Specialty Courses

DM / MCh

It is a super specialty course with duration of 2 to 3 years. Candidate need to be an MD (Doctor of Medicine). While M.Ch is a 2 years super specialty program in surgery which requires candidate to be having MS (Master of Surgery).

General Procedure for Admissions to Undergraduate Courses

Various medical institutes in the country, both government and private follow norms of eligibility criteria as suggested by the respective university. General terms of eligibility are that a candidate wanting to take admission in a medical college must have passed Senior Secondary Examination of CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) or its equivalent with physics, chemistry, and biology as subjects. Almost all of the government medical colleges offer admissions to Indian candidates on the basis of their performance in the entrance examination. A very few medical colleges, run by government, admit candidates from NRI/Foreign quota.

Such candidates need to contact the respective institute/university directly for admission. Appropriate documents and certificates must be submitted at the time of counselling. Various state boards conduct entrance examinations for admission in medical colleges and hospitals on behalf of the state government. Some private colleges either consider national level examination scores or conduct their own examination for admission.

Stages of Admission

Education Qualification – Candidate must be passed in class XII or equivalent with physics, chemistry and biology from any recognized Indian board (CBSE, ICSE etc.).

Entrance Exam – Candidate has to appear in a written exam for admission in medical colleges and hospitals. A candidate may be asked to undergo an interview or personality test as well. Congregate score of the exam and interview will be implemented for final decision.

Exam Pattern – Candidates can check the exam pattern, syllabus and interview/personality test (if any) in the official information brochure. Candidates can either download it from the official website or buy it from sale centers.

Result – Merit list of successful candidates who are declared eligible for admission will be issued by the examination board.

Final Selection – Candidates will be called for counselling and option filling by the concerned authority. After being selected, candidate has to go to submit certificates, course fee, and physical tests.

Entry Requirements for Courses

Candidates who have passed class XII exam with physics, chemistry and biology (zoology & botany) will be eligible for admission in MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery). Selection is done on the basis of all India competitive entrance examination or state level competitive entrance examination. All India Pre-Medical Test is conducted by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. State level examination is conducted by state entrance exam board.

Medical Entrance Examination

  • Admissions in medical colleges of the country (government and private) are made through entrance examination
  • Conducting body or organizations at national and state level will hold the examination
  • Purpose of examination is to select the most deserving candidates for admission
  • Courses are offered in diploma, degree, post-diploma, postgraduate degree and research level
  • On being chosen in the merit list, candidate can choose from a array of choices of colleges and courses
  • He will be allotted admission on the basis of merit list ranking, available seats, and choices filled

List of Important Medical Entrance Examinations

  • Annamalai University (AU) – Medical Entrance Exam
  • All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT)
  • Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) MBBS & BDS Entrance Test
  • Association of Management of Unaided Private Medical and Dental Colleges-(Asso-CET)
  • Banaras Hindu University-Pre Medical Test (BHU-PMT)
  • All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT)
  • All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS)
  • Armed Forces Medical Core Entrance (AFMC)
  • Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
  • Common Entrance Test (CET)-Jammu & Kashmir
  • Common Entrance Test (CET)-Karnataka
  • Common Entrance Test (CET), Punjab University
  • Delhi University Medical-Dental Entrance Test (DUMET)
  • Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), Maharashtra
  • Bharati Vidyapeeth University (BVU-CET)
  • Combined Entrance Examination (CEE), Kerala
  • Consortium of Medical, Engineering and
  • Dental Colleges of Karnataka-(COMEDK)
  • CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE(CMC), VELLORE
  • Engg., Agriculture & Medical Common Entrance Test (EAMCET)
  • medical education and research, Pondicherry (JIPMER)
  • Mahatma Gandhi Dental College and Hospital – BDS – Joint Entrance Test (JET)
  • Maharashtra Health Science & Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET)
  • Maharashtra Super Speciality Entrance Test (MH-SSET)
  • Meenakshi Academy Of Higher Education And Research (MAHER)
  • PGMAT- Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board
  • Pre Medical Test (PMT)-Haryana
  • Pre Medical Test media=””(PMT), Madhaya Pradesh
  • Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences -All India Common Entrance Test
  • Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh
  • Pre Medical Test (PMT), Rajasthan
  • PG Medical Entrance Test, Jammu& Kashmir
  • Punjab Medical Entrance Test (PMET) – Punjab
  • Uttaranchal Pre-Medical Test (UPMT)
  • Uttar Pradesh Combined Pre Medical Test (UPCPMT)
  • Uttar Pradesh Common Admission Test – Dental (UPCAT – Dental)
  • Undergraduate Admission Written Test (UG AWT)
  • UP Post Graduate Medical Entrance Examination (UPPGMEE)
  • Veterinary Council of India (VCI)
  • Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET)
  • Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University MBBS Entrance Test (GGSIPU-CET)
  • H.P. Combined Pre-Medical Entrance Test
  • Jawaharlal Institute of post-graduate
  • Masters in Medical Sciences Technology (MMST)
  • Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Competitive Entrance Examination (MGIMS-CEE)
  • SRM Institute of Science and Technology



Source by Sunil Kuuon

03 Jul

Hotel Management As a Career in India

Hotel Management has been rated as one of the most popular choice of students after 10+2 studies.

Introduction
In the present era, tourism in India has evolved from a simple leisure activity to a much more advanced – diversified activity having a direct bearing on the socio-economic progress and the effect on per capita income in India. The business volume of tourism in India is on a par with that of revenues earned from oil exports + automobiles, etc. India has earned the reputation of an incredible tourist destination with the diversity of experiences.

Visitors coming to India are influenced by the richness of Indian culture, touched by the warmth of Indians, amazed by the grandeur of Indian monuments and delighted with the excellent standards of Indian hotels.

To be able to cater to the increasing inflow of tourists in India, there are numerous international hotel chains across the country. Regardless of where you go & what your pocket allows spending for the purpose of boarding and lodging, India has all types of hotels ranging from budget hotels to 5 Star Deluxe Hotels in the country to cater to the varying tastes of all types of guests. So a degree in hotel management in India will open the door to a world of exciting career opportunities. Apart from this, hotel management students in India might also get the chance to go to exciting places abroad. The students can opt to work with hotels, resorts, cruise ships or other organisations affiliated to the Indian or International tourism industry.

The Indian Tourism sector has shown a remarkable capacity to adjust itself to the changing market conditions, fuelling growth & job creation around the world, despite the lingering economic & geopolitical challenges present in the world.

Demand in India for international tourism was strongest for destinations in Asia and the Pacific with a projected growth of 5%- 6% in the year 2015.

Career after doing Hotel Management Degree:
In the last 10 years, Indian tourism industry has witnessed an increase in foreign tourist arrivals plus spurt in domestic tourism with around 30 million Indians who travel within the country every year. The rising demand has given a boost to the employment opportunity in the Indian tourism sector. While most graduates usually seek work in 5 Star hotels or other private hotel chains, some find themselves seeking alternative employment, career avenues in restaurant management, cruise ship, hotel management, institutional & industrial catering, club or bar management, airline catering and cabin services or management of catering departments in Indian banks & insurance houses.

At middle management and supervisory levels in the Hotel Industry, students are absorbed in the multifarious areas of hotel operations including Front Office/ Food & Beverage Services/ Food Production or Kitchens/ Housekeeping and Marketing & Sales. All of these are specialized areas of operation and require a great deal of study and practical application in India. Coupled with this is the requirement for trained manpower in India in special areas such as airline and railway catering- industrial catering- institutional catering- etc. and that has warranted further augmentation of training capability and modernisation of existing facilities in India. The Indian hospitality industry has grown by leaps and bounds in the past 2 decades and the demand for trained manpower in this industry is immense.

Courses:
There are various short term and long term courses available in the Hospitality Management studies. Students can pursue Certificate (6 months- 1 Year), Diploma (1 Year) or Degree (3 Years). There are tremendous Hotel Management colleges in India to gain this professional education.



Source by Rohit Jain

03 Jun

How to Increase Education Percentage in India

India is a country which has though adopted the Right to Education Act and has made a mention of this right in Article 21A of the Indian Constitution; even then India has strived to achieve a literacy rate of only 74-75 percent. This figure may seem huge, but the simple criteria to certify a person as literate along with the advancing world is referred; the figure seems to be a small one only.

To determine the literacy rate along with the percent of educated people we need to discuss upon various heads of education in India. Here we will discuss some topics to increase Education Percentage in India.

Primary Education

The opening up of the Anganwadi centers and the Indian government schools at each and every city and village has brought most of the children to school. Moreover, the appropriate governments also provide the students with various perks like free education, meals, books and uniform. This is the level of education where most of the students are enrolled and it is going up.

Secondary Education

This is the level where the drop out from school begins. The reason being, the poor conditions of the family. Not in all States, the education till the secondary level is free. The poor send their sons to work and get their daughters married after they complete their primary education. Scholarship schemes can help benefit this level of education.

Higher Education

This is the level of education where most of the students tend not to opt for. The reason being the high fees. It is very much evident that top class government colleges like IIT, NLU, AIIMS, IIM, NIFT are all high prices and private institutions charge double and more. Due to this reason, most the population which is either poor, or constitutes of the lower middle class doesn’t send their children for higher education. They prefer sending their children for jobs. The Central and the State universities charge less but still the poor household cannot afford the same. In this regard, the various scholarship schemes have played a very important role and so has reservation.

Adult Education

This is one of the trends mostly observed in the rural areas. The reason being, the population is unaware of the perks of being literate. In rural areas, night schools are operated by NGOs where the farmers who are not literate and also, the population who is senior is change are taught free of cost. This type of schooling is becoming popular and is bearing fruitful results.

Gender Literacy

The gender literacy is a big issue for the country to tackle. If we rely on the stats, then we can see that 82 percent of the males are literate as compared to 65 percent of females. A huge gap of 17 percent still lies. Though the 2011 census figures are better than the previous ones. It is only due to the different schemes introduced by the various State Governments with the support of the Central government. Schemes like Cycle Yojana, Uniform, Free meals and most importantly, free education have attracted most of the female students in the nation to schools. The poor parents are now sending their daughters to school.

Education is very much important to survive in the globalized world of today. It is most of the times seen that the poor people are the ones who remain literate and so do their children. This is one of the reasons due to which they are victimized. But, the efforts of the governments at the different levels have helped increase the literacy rate in the recent years and are continuing to do the same.



Source by Ankur Rautela

03 May

Overseas Education

Matters of education are one of the most important decisions of life as it holds the power to frame the personality, characteristics, and individuality of a person. In the new era of education today there are lot many changes in the global education system. Owing to a bundle of changes, the new age education system embraces ample of opportunities to explore and discover. Amongst the wide choices available, overseas education is one of the most lucrative and beneficial choice.

The trend of overseas education in India is increasing tremendously with leaps and bounds. Indian students are now progressively approaching to venture into the world of opportunities. There are many growth factors that are constantly pushing the growth of overseas education in the Indian scene and globalization is one of the key factors.

With advancements and globalization, Indian students feel the need to match to global expectations. Apart from this, students get an opportunity to immerse themselves into the multicultural world that opens a huge gateway to success. This gives them opportunity to interact, learn, and communicate with people from different religions, cultures, and family backgrounds. This kind of learning makes them outspoken, flexible, and confident, thus forming an extrovert personality. This also helps to stimulate academic learning and discipline along with polishing their skills and talents.

Apart from this overseas education has opened a gateway to immigration. Immigration through education has become the latest trend in global scenario. Many countries provide easy work permit as well as citizenship when applied through means of education. Today many countries like Canada, New Zealand, United States, and United Kingdom are embracing this latest trend and the applicants or immigrants are mostly to be from countries like India and China.

New Zealand is known to be a leader in terms of immigration through education. The country has friendly and supportive government policies along with advanced system of education. It is believed that education in the country facilitates entry of spouse and children along with the student. Over that it also provides work permit to spouse in order to make financial contributions to the family. This is certainly an inviting feature that all Indians look for.

Canada happens to be a hot destination because of its multicultural environment and United Kingdom is known for its high level of education along with its tremendous business prospects. Students are also immigrating to United States but this is one place where uncertainty is the rule of life. Everything changes from time to time but the education system is undoubtedly the most advanced. Another good aspect of the U.S is that it offers sponsorships to family members and close relatives. Even Australia cannot be left behind when it comes to immigration through education.

Owing to these numerous advantages, benefits and potentials offered through overseas education, the trend is constantly increasing and is sure to take over the education system in the years to go.



Source by Jennie Kakkad

03 Apr

Foreign Education Bill – An Education Revolution in India Or a Myth

The government has finally given its approval to the Foreign Educational Institutions Regulation of Entry and Operations, (Maintenance of Quality and Prevention of Commercialization) Bill 2010 (“Bill”). The bill seeks to regulate entry, operation and restriction of foreign universities in India. However shortly after the Union Cabinet cleared the long-pending draft bill that allows foreign education providers to set up campuses in India and offer degrees independently, most of the Indian opposition parties objected to the bill, slamming it as “commercially driven” and one that would breed inequity. As long as the opposition concerns over issues such as equivalence/parity of degrees, fee structures and equity in terms of access to all students remains, passage of the bill in the Parliament looks tough.

Though, the present FDI policy allows 100% foreign investment in the education sector including higher education, foreign universities are currently not allowed to directly offer degree courses in India. It is estimated that nearly 150 foreign institutes offer courses with Indian varsities under a twinning arrangement, i.e. a part of the course in India and remaining abroad but most of them do not have all required accreditation from the regulatory bodies. The existing arrangements are regulated by the All India Council for Technical Education Regulations for Entry and Operations of Foreign Universities in India Imparting Technical Education, 2005 (“Foreign Universities Regulations”), which is presently applicable only to technical and management institutes.

Some of the reported provisions forming part of the present bill approved by the Union Cabinet include:
• Different levels of registration process for getting registered with the University Grants Commission (“UGC”) or any like regulatory body. Subject to necessary approvals by the UGC, a foreign university could be registered as a ‘deemed university’ under the relevant provisions of University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
• A corpus fund of INR 50 Crore (US$ 10 Million Appox.) is required to be deposited by intending foreign university;
• Such foreign universities would be established as “not for profit” companies under Section 25 of the Companies Act and thus cannot take the profit back. Similar provisions are applicable to Indian private universities and deemed universities as profit making activities in education sector is frowned upon by the regulators;
• Foreign universities can however provide consultancy services, faculty development and other like activities and the profit generated from those projects can be repatriated back. Similar structures are being adopted by Indian private universities;
• a time bound process for granting approval to foreign educational institutions to set up campuses;
• scrutiny of proposals of aspiring institutions on the basis of their previous experience, faculty strength, reputation etc;
• Quota laws providing reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, may not be applicable to foreign universities setting up campuses in India.

It is indicated that various foreign institutes are already keen to set up campuses in India and these institutes are viewing the recent development with great interest. Thus, legislation of the bill would open a huge market for international educational institutions and collaborations with Indian universities.

The bill once finalized and enacted, is expected to bring huge foreign investment in Indian education sector and support the Indian Government in its commitment to increase public private participation in education sector and raise the college going ratio to 30 per cent by 2020 as compared to the present 12 per cent of all school-leavers entering college. It is also being claimed that this will put India as a “preferred destination for attaining education” on the global knowledge map as it will not only bring down the number of Indian students going out for higher education (estimated to be 1.6 lakh Indian students every year with an outflow of about 7.5 billion of foreign exchange per annum) but would also attract foreign students from south eastern countries.

Besides this, it is also expected to create new business opportunities for the Indian educational players and new and better salaried job opportunities for the teachers, administrative and technical staff.

While the bill is likely to benefit Indian students by increasing choices presently available to them and help in overall development of the education system in India especially the higher education system, there are still several questions left unanswered such as the lack of regulatory clarity and level of governmental inference, lack of independent regulator (non-government body), compliance with mandatory campus infrastructure and development requirements, flexibility in fee fixation, taxation, closure of universities, etc.

In the absence of the actual Bill being publicly available (it will be available once it is being presented in the Parliament) the above views are based on the earlier version of the Bill publicly available and recent public discussions on the bill.

Seema Jhingan
[email protected]



Source by Seema Jhingan

04 Mar

Studying Abroad: Admission of International Students in India

India might not have been the first country to spring to mind when considering higher education overseas, but its education is quickly making a name for itself. According to the latest Open Doors annual survey by the United States’ International Institute of Education, the number of US students in India has surged by 44%, while the number of Indian students – who account for one of the largest groups of international students in the States – in the US has fallen by 1% to 104,000. Are Indian freshmen forsaking the West to go to college at home? If they are, they would be doing so for good reason.

India – the world’s second largest education network, with 343 universities and 17,000 colleges – offers a huge variety of courses spanning the undergraduates, postgraduate, doctorate, skill-based and vocational levels. Distance learning is also an extremely viable option: there are 66 distance learning institutions functioning in 60 universities and 11 open universities.

Education is valued very highly and this is reflected in the quality of teaching and in the courses and faculties themselves. The institutions are respected internationally. Many academics who have studied in the top ranking universities in the United States and United Kingdom are either returning or relocating to India due to the prestige of education. As a result, India has become an innovation hub with Multinational Corporations such as General Electric, IBM and Daimler establishing Research and Development centres in major cities.

India’s GDP is growing rapidly. Home industries are already well established – in 2010 Tata Motors became the world’s first automobile company to make a $2000 car. The demand for educated employees will continue to rise and with it, the standard of education is only set to increase. Obtaining higher education qualifications here will put graduates in an ideal position to begin their careers.

Compared to the Americas and Europe living and education costs are low. This includes course fees, food, accommodation and even luxurious extras such as clothes, alcohol and beauty treatments. India’s large cities offer all the leisure activities and distractions international students would expect from their home countries.

The country is a popular tourist and backpacker destination and there exist several budget airlines offering a fantastic opportunity to explore the subcontinent with ease. As the largest English speaking population in the world, there is no language barrier to contend with. Any international student arriving in India is assured a warm and friendly welcome from its people. India is unlike any other country on earth, closer to a continent in terms of size and in the variety of culture, landscape and people.

Eligibility of admission: Foreign students and Non Resident Indians

International students must have completed a minimum of 12 years schooling prior to being admitted to a higher education institute.

International students already studying at schools in India can submit their applications pending their Higher Secondary (10 + 2) or equivalent examination results. Upon obtaining their marks sheet, students should send results within 10 days to: Students Cell, Room No. 1009, Ministry of External Affairs. Akbar Bhavan. New Delhi.

Direct admission of international students to Engineering, Medical (MBBS), Dental (BDS) or any other medical course offered by public institutions is not permitted.

International students can seek university admission to undergraduate courses in Engineering, Medicine (MBBS) and Dentistry (BDS) in private colleges. The number of NRI / PIO /Foreign students is limited to a quota. Remaining places are filled by Indian students.

For students from developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where facilities for medical degrees are either inadequate or unavailable, a limited number of places exist in the MBBS, BDS courses. The exact number and country-based allocation varies annually. Students applying for these places are required to submit their application through the Indian missions abroad or through the diplomatic missions of the respective countries in India.

The academic year in India starts in July/August. All the international students seeking admission to schools, colleges & universities in India are advised to apply well in advance.



Source by Dhiraj Sharma

02 Feb

Best 4 Scholarships for Indian Students to Study Abroad

In India, many students dream of studying in top international universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Caltech and MIT. Due to financial constraints, however, many young minds are denied the opportunity. This is the reason why many governments and international bodies have come together to introduce low-interest student loans and scholarships ensure that talented students are not denied the chance of quality education due to lack of funds. Here are 5 scholarships you can apply for, if you too are planning for higher studies in countries such as the United Kingdom, Europe, China, Canada and the United States.

1. Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships
Introduced by the United States-India Educational Foundation, or USIEF, these scholarships are offered to Indians who wish to pursue either a master’s level course or research in any U.S. institution.

Students who have completed the U.S. equivalent of Bachelor’s (4 years of college education) and have at least 3 years of relevant work experience are eligible for the scholarship. Besides education, candidates are also evaluated on communication skills, leadership and community service, and their motivation to pursue higher studies. Therefore, it is better if you highlight these aspects in the application.

The scholarships cover airfare (economy), tuition fee, textbooks, and a living stipend. That said, candidates who wish to pursue their Master’s in areas of Environmental Science, Arts and Culture, International Legal Studies, Gender Studies, Public Health, Public Administration, Urban and Regional Planning are eligible to apply for these scholarships

There is no specified number of seats for these scholarships as USIEF considers the applications of all candidates who are found deserving. The application process usually starts in the month of June and continues till July, prior to the year of the start of the course. Final selections are then declared in the month of March.

2. Tata Scholarship
By getting this scholarship, talented Indian students can apply for undergraduate courses at Cornell University, USA.

Candidates who are Indian citizens and have secured an admission to Cornell University are eligible to apply for this scholarship. They must also produce proof that they need a need-based financial aid.

Introduced by the Tata Education and Development Trust, these scholarships cover the tuition fee for undergraduate programs for a period up to eight semesters. For programs such as Architecture that exceed that duration, the additional costs are managed by the student themselves. Other expenses including food, medical, living and travel expenses are also covered under the scholarship.

Furthermore, the Trust only supports a total of 20 students studying at Cornell at once. Applications for the scholarship open in the month of October/November each year, around the time of college applications, while the final selections are declared in December.

3. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship
The Commonwealth Scholarships Commission offers financial aid in the form of scholarships to students coming from Commonwealth countries such as India, who seek to pursue Master’s and Ph.D. programs in the UK.

To be eligible, the candidate must be an Indian Citizen and should have completed education in the English medium. In addition, the candidate must have secured a minimum of at least 65% in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Agriculture or 60% in Social Sciences and Humanities. Same criteria apply to Ph.D. candidates as well.

Moreover, the Ministry of Human Resource Development does shortlist the applicants on the basis of preliminary interviews. The scholarship amount covers tuition fee, economy return airfare, and living expenses.

Scholarship applications open in August every year, prior to the start of the course the next year. Having said this, the commission does not have any specific number of seats; deserving candidates are shortlisted for the scholarship.

4. Chevening Scholarships
These scholarships are offered by the UK government to help Indian students and professionals complete a one-year master’s program in the country and take on leadership roles in the future.

To be eligible, applicants must have completed their undergraduate or postgraduate studies. In addition, the UK government also considers candidates with 2 years or more of work experience for this scholarship.

The application process for the scholarship usually takes about 6 months, starting from the second week of August. The process ends in July every year. There are 65 scholarships on offer every year under the program.

Wrapping Up
Well, there you go! Don’t let your dreams of furthering your education wither away because of financial constraints. There are various programs that offer loan for higher education in India and scholarships, to deserving applicants. You can also choose one according to your aspirations.



Source by Sachhin Garg

03 Jan

Grading System in Indian Schools

The Indian education system has taken a step forward towards reviving the education system with the introduction of grading system in session 2009-10. It will help in reducing the pressure on students during exams. In the last five years the meaning of education has changed for students from imbibing knowledge to merely scoring marks, resulting in myriad forms of education policies.

As per reports, every day more than 17 students aged between 15-25 years commit suicide in India due to non-performance in the examination or an entrance test. Watching young children of the country succumbing to the undue pressure of scoring high marks is horrifying. One of the points to note here is the thinking of the society, which puts lot of pressure on students to ‘to perform’.

This pressure from schools, parents, peer groups and society takes away the youthfulness of a child. Further, a health report also supports that this often causes health hazard such as fatigue, body aches, eye weakness, stress and in more severe cases, depression (neurotic/psychotic.) Looking at today’s education scenario, the Central Board of Senior Education has introduced educational counselors and child psychologists in schools to boost the confidence of young students and mentally prepare them for the board examination. This method has helped in reducing the stress and making them comfortable with the examination.

Understanding the board exam system in India and its relation with students is of great importance in present times. While coping with the expectations of school, parents and society and keeping pace with their talent, students face a lot of hardships. Thus, the implementation of a grading system and abolition of board exams is really a boon for students.

Adoption of grading system in India, the grading system was introduced in 2008-09 from class I-VIII, reducing the exam stress. Extending the concept to class IX and X has further reduced the pressure, giving students an opportunity to explore other avenues. Following the US model, the implementation of the grading system is to bring in more practical education than the current theoretical method. This model prescribes a varied range of opportunities, providing children of all levels a platform to showcase their talent and pursue their interests traditionally; class XI students were given subjects as per marks scored in Class X. This system often disappointed students if they scored low. Moreover, if a student didn’t get the required percentage due to poor scoring in one subject, then the entire percentage gets affected. The grading system will give students relief. It will provide ample opportunities to students to excel in their choice filed.

Its implementation will help an average student to cope with the stress though leaving a lot of toppers to question it. Students will be evaluated on a 9-point grading system, which will diminish the difference between a student scoring 99% and one scoring 91%. Both students will get the A+ grade. To make the grading system a success, parents and teachers need to acknowledge children’s special assets and encourage them pursue their interest.

The grading system by HRD minister – Kapil Sibal has brought in a new wave of transformation in the Indian education system. He put India up on the ladder of the global education system. The HRD minister commenting on the system said that it would provide a standardization of excellence at the school level.



Source by Amanpreet Singh