Educational institutions

India orders schools to reopen, but Kashmiri parents keep kids at home: ‘Education is less important than our children’s lives’

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Asia/ India/ 20.08.2019/ Source: www.independent.co.uk.

Authorities criticised for move as situation remains volatile in disputed region

Parents across Kashmir kept their children at home, despite an order from Indian authorities for schools to reopen, fearing the youngsters could get caught in clashes between civilian protesters and armed personnel.

Authorities closed schools and colleges on 5 August after India revoked the special status of Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed in entirety by both.

Kashmiris have criticised the authorities for reopening the schools when the situation remains volatile and clashes continue.

The ongoing internet and communications blockade also contributed to the fears of parents who had no means of contacting the school authorities.

“If normality has returned to that extent that schools can be reopened, then why don’t authorities lift the ban on phone connectivity and public movement?” said Showkat Nabi, whose son is in nursery at Tyndale Biscoe School, a Christian missionary institution in Srinagar.

“The kids are too young to understand what has happened… If we send them to schools, they will go – but we fear for their safety,” he continued.

At Burn Hall School, one of the oldest Christian missionary educational institutions in Srinagar, gates have been locked for the past two weeks.

The security personnel guarding the school told The Independent no student attended today’s classes and few teachers had turned up.

“Who would risk sending a 5-year-old kid to school in the present situation in Kashmir?” said the guard, who asked to be identified as Sagar.

Mohammad Younis Malik, director of school education in Kashmir, said 166 of Srinagar’s 196 primary schools were open, but admitted that 72 of them had “thin” attendance.

Tariq Aziz, whose son studies at a private school in Srinagar, argued that not sending children to school was a form of protest by the parents.

“I want my son to know that India is trying to grab our land. Our future is at risk in Kashmir now. I want to make him conscious that he has to fight for it in future,” Mr Aziz said.

“Education is less important than the lives and safety of our children. We have seen the closure of schools for months in the past and if it continues our teachers will volunteer to open community schools,” he said.

Government employees were also ordered to attend their offices today, but it is unclear how many exactly followed the order.

Sehrish Asghar, an official spokesperson of the government, described the numbers of those heading back to work as “encouraging”.

“It is difficult to reach the office amid strict restrictions on public movement, but we have to take a risk to save our jobs,” engineer Aftab Ahmad told The Independent.

Across Kashmir, most shops and businesses remained closed, and the streets remained largely deserted.

But in a several locations, small-scale protests were seen as people clashed with the heavy contingents of armed forces deployed across towns and villages of the disputed region

Deputy Inspector General VK Birdi, who briefed media about the situation in Kashmir, said there was no major law-and-order incident reported in the region.

“Some minor incidents of stone pelting were reported at some localities and were dealt with as per norm. The culprits were dispersed,” Mr Birdi said.

He said authorities are closely monitoring the situation, which is “slowly returning to normality”.

Source of the notice: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/kashmir-schools-open-india-pakistan-crisis-a9070431.html

 

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Pakistan: Education and sanity

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Asia/Pakistan/26.06.18/Source: nation.com.pk.

Education is prioritized on such a huge level that important tools needed to survive in the society are often ignored

We have been raised in an environment where we are made to believe that education is essential and the path to a successful life. We have heard Urdu sentences like “Parhoge likhoge banoge nawab, kheloge kudo ge banoge kharab”, “Parho takay baray aadmi ban sako” with regards to study all our lives and children often think of it as boring as it may seem education is indeed important. Children and adults alike believe that education is so important to the point that nothing else is supposed to come in between and in some cases not even your own life.

While many people might be of the view that education does indeed come first above everything else and every other aspect even if it is important or a favorite pastime is something secondary which can only come after education or be successfully achieved after it, but I tend to disagree, education has often been confused with gaining knowledge or perhaps even gaining some degree. For me education is not important as people think it is, gaining knowledge on the other hand is.

The importance of education has been pressurised upon people through different institutions of society like educational institutions and even parents. This mindset can be traced to even the smallest of things for example most people might remember that back in school, it was a common practice among teachers to take games, P.E. or a free period in order to complete their syllabus. While teachers might have been of the view that it was for the benefit of the students, the truth is it was done in order to just wrap up things quickly. If schools were really concerned about the benefit of the students, they would have made it against the rules to do such a thing because it doesn’t give students the time to relax but instead most schools are now just a money-making business that puts up information in brains of students for which they don’t even get enough time to process.

Another issue is that of tuition centers. It’s one thing if a child doesn’t go to school and is attending a tuition centre but what is the point of wasting your money on a school if you’re going to send your child to a tuition centre anyway? Even the excuse that your child is weak in a certain subject is not a valid one because isn’t it the incompetence of the school and teachers or their parents in the first place if the child is weak in a certain subject?

Not only that but while most parents, teachers and schools emphasise on studies, they either very rarely or never take into consideration things like sports or arts. Their misconception is that those are things that are simply useless and can be done at a later time or is something extra that does not need any time at all. The person’s time is fully prioritised on studying that they do not have the time to do anything else.

Education is prioritized on such a huge level that important tools needed to survive in the society are often ignored such as how to pay your bills, how to cook, how to buy a house or how to drive. A disagreement to this might be that without education you might not able to even know this but the thing is a formula in physics is not going to help you solve these problems; someone has to educate you on this stuff. Not everyone is going to learn from YouTube tutorials.

Then there comes another problem; the question what are you studying? If you’re not doing medical or engineering, your education is invalid. It is true that people have become more acceptable towards other disciplines today but the mindset which disregards other disciplines still exists today and is unfortunately pretty common. People need to realise that every person is different and they all have their qualities and flaws, but the society unfortunately tends to focus on the latter as if their flaws are the only things they see in a person.

Formal education and gaining knowledge is necessary. It is not something that should be done to impress the society but to have a successful path for one’s self. Pressurising people on studying in order to become a better person in a society on the other hand is wrong and should be discouraged. There should be a certain time for studying with breaks in between. This is something that should be realised by parents, teachers and schools. Having four periods with one break followed by another four periods is unhealthy and helping none. There needs to be a more open and liberal approach to education with a focus on other important things as well. Only then will the person and the society in general be on the path to successful road.

Source of the notice: https://nation.com.pk/24-Jun-2018/education-and-sanity

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United Arab Emirates: Students throng education expo in search of sponsors

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United Arab Emirates/May 01, 2018/Source: https://gulfnews.com

Government entities, education institutions guide students in choosing courses and careers.

Hundreds of students from different educational institutions of the country flocked to the education interface exhibition on Yas Island on Tuesday and explored future academic opportunities, sponsorships and programmes.

A number of government entities including the Ministry of Interior, public and private educational institutions also offered students guidelines and avenues to join them through qualifying their tests after Grade 12.

The two-day 5th Education Interface Exhibition and the Middle East Youth Expo, which opened at Du Forum on Yas Island of the capital, will conclude on Wednesday. The event is being held under the patronage of Lt-General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The exhibition aims to offer future opportunities and guidelines to youth.

Speaking to Gulf News at the Adnoc stand, Fatima Al Za’abi, team leader of admissions and registrations at Adnoc Technical Academy [ATA], said, “We are here to encourage students to register with us and join us; we will sponsor their higher academic qualification and provide them stipend too.”

The starting monthly stipend will be Dh5,000 at Adnoc, while studying, she said. All students who have passed Grade 10th and 12th are able to register under the ATA.

“A lot of students registered with Adnoc on the first day,” she said adding, there are currently 777 students at the ATA. “We want to tell the people about our educational programmes where they will be fully supported and recruited upon completion of their studies.”

The Ministry of Interior’s stand also encouraged students to join the ministry after their Grade 12 and the ministry will sponsor them for their future higher education inside or outside the country.

An official at the stand said, “We will provide them guaranteed jobs, with a fixed monthly salary until they finish their studies and we will finance their studies as well.”

“They need to just register and quality our examinations,” he said.

Students streamed in to the venue in groups to explore the different higher education programmes on offer at different stands.

Fatima Khadar, 17-year-old, from Syria, said, “I visited stands of different universities and found out different specialisation programmes they offer.

“I am happy to find that a lot of universities have been brought under one roof,” the Grade 11th student from Al Israa’ Private School in Al Ain who wants to become a pharmacist in future, said. Another Syrian student from the same grade and school, Shaima Al Amri, 17, said, “I navigated lots of stands along with my classmates. I was looking for some sponsorship for my future studies. I want to pursue my studies in law.”

Amnah Salem, Grade 12 student from Omamah Bint Al Harith Secondary School, said, “I want to enrol in Khalifa University or UAE University for my higher studies but looking for some sponsors to finance my education.”

Salem, an Emirati from Abu Dhabi, wants to pursue bio-medical engineering.

Her classmate, Sara Khalid Al Nabhani, was also looking for sponsors to study engineering at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi.

“We were looking for sponsorship and exploring study programmes of different universities,” Al Nabhani said.

Cultural education

At a stand in a corner at the venue, three women could be seen weaving different kinds of bags from sheep wool, showcasing hand paintings on wooden boxes called mandoos and preparing big umbrella-shaped lid [makabba], which is used to cover food, giving youth a taste of the local culture.

Ahmad Al Rumaithi, director of Abu Dhabi Centre of Emirates Heritage Club, said, “We intend to highlight the local culture and traditions which our forefathers used to practise in the past.

“We need to preserve them, spread them among youth. If you don’t have a past preserved, you can’t have a future,” he said.

Handicrafts on show also included small woollen carpets, pillow covers and woollen strings for decorations.

Source:

https://gulfnews.com/news/uae/education/students-throng-education-expo-in-search-of-sponsors-1.2214949

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India: Maharashtra Government To Strictly Enforce Fee Regulation Law

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ASIA/INDIA/NDVT.COM

Resumen:  El ministro de Educación de Maharashtra, Vinod Tawde, dijo hoy que el gobierno tomará medidas para garantizar la aplicación firme de la ley de regulación de tarifas en las instituciones educativas. Respondiendo a una discusión sobre el tema planteada en la Asamblea estatal a través de un llamado de atención por Atul Bhatkalkar (del BJP) y otros, Tawde dijo que en la actualidad, la legislación no prevé la restitución de las quejas de los padres contra el aumento de tarifas en las escuelas. Para abordar esto, se ha establecido un comité para abordar las quejas de los padres, dijo. «Ahora, los padres pueden presentar una queja al comité encabezado por el juez retirado de la corte superior VG Palshikar», dijo Vinod Tawde. Él dijo que los padres deberían participar en las reuniones de la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTA) en las escuelas.Si la PTA es fuerte, no habrá irregularidades en las escuelas, dijo. El ministro también dijo que no habrá compulsión para que los padres adquieran artículos de papelería de la escuela. «Si los padres no desean (comprar artículos de papelería y libros de las escuelas), no serán forzados», dijo. «Se implementará estrictamente la Ley de regulación de tarifas a partir de este año académico», afirmó. En mayo del año pasado, Tawde anunció que la Ley de Instituciones Educativas de Maharashtra (Regulación de recaudación de honorarios) de 2011 se modificaría para garantizar que las escuelas del estado no cobren tarifas exorbitantes a los estudiantes. La ley entró en vigor en 2015. El ministro también dijo que las escuelas CBSE e ICSE en el estado no pueden obligar a los estudiantes a comprarles libros.

MUMBAI:  Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde said today that the government would take steps to ensure a firm enforcement of the fee regulation law in educational institutions. Replying to a discussion on the issue raised in the state Assembly through a Calling Attention notice by Atul Bhatkalkar (of the BJP) and others, Tawde said at present, the legislation has no provision for redressal of parents’ complaints against fee hike by schools.

To tackle this, a committee has been set up to address the complaints of parents, he said. «Now, parents can complain to the committee headed by retired high court judge V G Palshikar,» Vinod Tawde said.

He said parents should participate in meetings of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at schools.If the PTA is strong, there will be no irregularities in schools, he said.

The minister also said that there will be no compulsion for parents to purchase stationery from the school.»If parents do not wish (to buy stationery and books from schools), they will not be forced,» he said. «A strict implementation of the Fee Regulation Act will be done from this academic year,» he asserted.

The Act had come into force in 2015.The minister had also said that the CBSE and the ICSE schools in the state cannot force students to buy books from them.
Fuente: https://www.ndtv.com/education/maharashtra-government-to-strictly-enforce-fee-regulation-law-education-minister-1826227

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Ghana: Education experts call for partnership between industry and academia

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Ghana/November 28, 2017/ Source: http://citifmonline.com

Experts in education at a high level panel discussion organised by the Association of African Universities (AAU), have called for strong partnership between industry and academia, to accelerate Ghana’s socioeconomic development.

The panelists said such a collaboration will enable universities get funding from industry, whereas industry gets the needed research from universities.

They expressed the hope that a strong collaboration between industry and universities, will also help prepare graduates adequately with the requisite skills for employment by industry.

The panelists included Professor Nicholas N. N. Nsowah-Nuamah, President, Regent University College of Science and Technology; Dr Eva Esther Shalin, the Associate Dean, Students Affairs and Collaboration, BlueCrest University College (GH) Limited; Mr Rizwan Ahmad, the Director, IPMC; and Mrs Eva Hazel, the Director of Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education.

The panel discussion forms part of the AAU week celebration on the theme “AAU@50: Achievements and Prospects for Sustainable Development in Africa”.

It was attended by participants from the Regent University College of Science and Technology, Bluecrest University College, University of Energy and Natural Resources and Koforidua Technical University.

Others are University of Professional Studies, Accra, Knutsford University College, IMPC, Accra Institute of Technology, Ghana Institute of Journalism, Anglican University College of Technology and Wisconsin International University College.

Prof Nsowah-Nuamah said in designing the syllabus for various schools, there is the need for universities to find out from industries whether the programmes they intend to run are in line with their needs.

He said in addition, the inputs of other stakeholders should be sought before the new programmes take off.

He urged the Government to come out with a new policy that would make industrial attachment compulsory for all tertiary education students; stating that at the moment, it was only the Technical Universities and the Polytechnics which were implementing such a policy.

Dr. Shalin urged industries to open their doors to the universities; adding that universities must be innovative and proactive.

She advised students to have mentors and be mindful that research was about global networking.

Mr. Ahmad called for a holistic approach in addressing the needs of education and industry.

Mrs. Hazel said the Ministry of Education was developing a new policy that would ensure that the syllabi of educational institutions, right from the kindergarten to the tertiary level, are related to industry.

She said the syllabi of educational institutions would be structured in such way that it would give people employable skills.

She said the Ministry would be coming out with a new policy to ensure that students actually benefit from industrial attachments.

Professor Etienne Ehouan Ehile, the Secretary-General of the AAU, reiterated the AAU’s commitment to partner with the right institutions in improving the quality of higher education in Africa, as demanded by its mandate.

“The AUU is further playing a key role in promoting and sustaining best practices across higher education institutions on the continent,” he said.

Source:

http://citifmonline.com/2017/11/26/education-experts-call-for-partnership-between-industry-and-academia/

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