NCPCR seeks redressal mechanism for RTE law

New Delhi: The absence of a clear grievanceredressal structure for the Right To Education (RTE) law was questioned on Thursday by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The NCPCR is the apex body that ensures the implementation of the RTE Act in the country. 

It has been a year since the law had been brought to action in India. However, the NCPCR has cited the lethargy on the part of most state governments that have failed to notify key rules for the successful implementation of the RTE.

National RTE Coordinator at the NCPCR Kiran Bhatty said that there was definite tardiness in the implementation of the act. "We have written to the state governments repeatedly and would still keep on writing to them," she said. 

Guidelines for a redressal mechanism for the RTE have also been proposed by the NCPCR to theHuman Resource Development (HRD) ministry. These guidelines are currently being examined by the law ministry. 

According to the RTE Act, the NCPCR, chaired by Magsaysay Award winner Shantha Sinha, is the watchdog body for the implementation of the right to education all over the country. The NCPCR had been given the role with the aim to ensure and the implementation of and independently monitor the law instead of the HRD ministry.

Section 36 of the RTE Act says that the state governments are required to appoint designated local authorities who are empowered to sanction prosecution of school or government officials for conducting screening tests, corporal punishments or running unrecognized schools.

Vinod Raina, a member of the National Advisory Council on the RTE Act has informed that only 13 of the 36 states and union territories have notified about the rules accompanying the Act or notified the authorities.

source:http://indiaedunews.net/Today/NCPCR_seeks_redressal_mechanism_for_RTE_law_13787/

France: Teachers reaffirm their commitment to solidarity and social justice

French teacher unions have issued a joint statement following on the recent district elections in France, which have seen a growth in support for the far right party, the National Front, asserting that “educators oppose the policies of the extreme right.“

In the declaration, EI’s French affiliates, the SGEN-CFDT, the UNSA Education, the FSU (union federation to which the SNEP, the SNES, the SNETAP and the SNUipp belong) and the FERC-CGT, said that “education staff teach co-operation and exchange; we work towards education and empowerment for all young people. That is why we cannot remain passive when the far right’s ideas gain support within the population.”

The unions also added that “the far right promotes hatred between ethnic groups and continually and unacceptably links immigration to insecurity. It seizes opportunities given by the effects of the economic and social crises, which increase inequalities and social injustices, to resort to scapegoating and pit one group against another.”

The unions also stated that “as educators, we promote the Republic’s values daily; as unionists, our struggle is guided by the values of solidarity and social justice.”

EI joins its member organisations in their uncompromising defence of education as a public service available to all.

source:http://www.ei-ie.org/news/news_details/1759

Morocco: teachers strike after violent protests

Teacher unionists in Morocco have staged a two-day nationwide strike after recent demonstrations for better benefits ended in violence.

One of EI’s national affiliates, the Syndicat national de l'enseignement (SNE-FDT), together with the Fédération nationale des fonctionnaires de l'enseignement (UNTM) and the Fédération nationale de l'enseignement (UMT), called on members to protest in the capital Rabat, from 29-29 March, the outcome of an earlier demonstration, in which they claim 165 people were hurt, 65 seriously, including people with broken limbs or gashes from beatings by police. Unions said 50 were taken to hospital. Interior Ministry and police officials declined to comment on the violence.

In a joint statement, unions say that “to show their solidarity with the teachers and condemn the barbarous way the peaceful demonstration of teachers was suppressed, they will stage a 48-hour strike.” They also demand that an investigation be opened into the police’s violent repression against teachers, who were voicing their concern about the national education system’s reform and demanding increased status and salaries depending on diplomas for teachers.

According to SNE-FDT, the strike participation’s rate on 29 March was 95%. Thousands of teachers were expected to take part in a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Education on 30 March.

EI urges Moroccan authorities to respect teachers’ trade union rights and ensure that investigations will be undertaken into the recent clash between police forces and teachers.

source:http://www.ei-ie.org/news/news_details/1760

Sorry, Seniors: College Admission Rates Are Down This Year

NewsFeed is sure there are plenty of high school seniors already sweating over the arrival of their college acceptance letters (or lack thereof), without us adding this disappointing news: Ivy League admission rates are way down this year.
Student newspapers at Cornell, Yale, Columbia, UPenn, Dartmouth, Brown, Princeton and Harvard are all reporting that as application rates have soared, admission rates have dropped. (Do colleges discriminate against poor whites?)
While some of the school's admission rates don't seem too bad - Cornell's accepted 18% of this year's applicants - many of the Ivies have turned away more than 90% of those who applied. Harvard and Columbia have the most daunting numbers, with 6.2 and 6.4 respective admission rates.
The Atlantic Wire has rounded up what most of the school's have been saying about the acceptance rates and (unsurprisingly) school officials are putting a positive spin on what the low numbers mean: they simply received far more outstanding applications this year.
Which, of course, is an extra ego boost for those who are lucky enough to get that acceptance letter. But for those who don't make the cut, well, there's not much anyone can say to ease the disappointment of not getting into your first choice school. On that note, good luck!

source:http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20110401/us_time/httpnewsfeedtimecom20110331sorryseniorscollegeadmissionratesaredownthisyearxidrssfullnationyahoo;_
ylt=AukL9.BZfr8__lR2AQg6vbRQXs8F;_ylu=X3oDMTU4ZXU3a21tBGFzc2V0A3RpbWUvMjAxMTA0MDEvaHR0cG5ld3NmZWVkd
GltZWNvbTIwMTEwMzMxc29ycnlzZW5pb3JzY29sbGVnZWFkbWlzc2lvbnJhdGVzYXJlZG93
bnRoaXN5ZWFyeGlkcnNzZnVsbG5hdGlvbnlhaG9vBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zd
W1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA3NvcnJ5c2VuaW9ycw--

MIT gears up for its tech fest

The Electronics Engineering Association (EEA), MIT, Anna University, Chennai, is organising ELECTROFOCUS'11, its annual inter-collegiate national level technical symposium. Every year, more than 3000 students attend the fest from over 350 colleges around India. EEA is an educative association of the Department of Electronics that is committed to organising workshops and events to improve the practical understanding of students and brings out the spirit of innovation in the young engineers of this country. Web site: www.eea.mitindia.edu.

source:http://www.hindu.com/edu/2011/03/08/stories/2011030850050100.htm

Anna University Coimbatore announces UG, PG Examination Results 2011

Coimbatore: The Anna University of Technology (Coimbatore) has announced the results of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate Examinations conducted in November / December 2010 and January 2011.

The results can be accessed on the following websites:

www.ExamResults.net

source:

http://www.indiaedunews.net/Tamil_Nadu/Anna_University_Coimbatore_announces_UG,_PG_Examination_Results_2011_13562/