Education Law and Policy News

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY
Common tongue? How mother tongue instruction influences education

Tarun Jain and Revathy Suryanarayana explore the link between vernacular language use in schools and educational achievement using data from large-scale historical events in South India.

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RTE IN TN

Non-compliance and violations of RTE Act in TN schools

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s report on Tamil Nadu (General and Social Sector) for the year ending on March 31, 2014 got tabled in the state assembly last month. Himanshu Upadhyaya analyses the report and asks question on the non-responsiveness of the state government to CAG’s performance review.

Education

MP SURVEY

Can educated MPs do more for education?

Basic education and subsequent employment opportunities are issues that India has continued to grapple with even during periods of reasonable growth. Could highly educated parliamentarians necessarily drive these forward? Tanvi Bhatikar analyses findings of a recent voters’ survey in search of an answer.

Livelihood Government

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

A school for me too

The Nanagu Shaale programme of a Karnataka-based NGO shows why the national Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan's provision of home-based education for children with special needs may in practice defeat the ideological objective of inclusion. Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya reports.

Disability Education KARNATAKA

THE RTE ACT

The Reservation syndrome

There has been a needless focus on the Right to Education Act's provision of aspirational seats in private schools. Only a small fraction of public schools students can benefit from this, writes E S Ramamurthy.

Education

PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND RTE ACT

Imperiling public education

Most private schools are not elite at all, contrary to public perception, and the Right to Education Act will let them run amok at the expense of the public education system, writes E S Ramamurthy.

Education

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Plugging the skills gap

There is a great shortage of people with employable skills. But vocational training is neither popular nor seen to be offering good job options. The challenge is to overcome this perception, writes Megha Aggarwal.

Labour Issues Economy

EDUCATION FUNDING

Tripura focuses on education for tribals

A wide range of programmes and strong financial support have helped Tripura raise access to education for its tribal population. Ratna Bharali Talukdar on the many incentives that anchor the state's efforts to bridge the learning gap between tribals and non-tribals.

Education Adivasis

MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

Tripura promotes Kok-Borok in tribal schools

In 2005, the Education department of Tripura decided to give a push to Kok-Borok as a medium of instruction at the Junior Basic level to help tribal students learn in their mother tongue. Ratna Bharali Talukdar reports on the challenges as well as the gains from a strong focus on education in recent years in the state.

Education Adivasis

EDUCATION OF GIRL CHILDREN

Wanting to study, daring to dream

In U.P., the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme - instituted under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan in 2005 to ensure access and quality elementary education (Class 6-8) for disadvantaged girls - has opened new doors hitherto closed because of discrimination and poverty. Swapna Majumdar has more.

Education U.P.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Funded, controlled, and run aground

Meghalaya's vocational training system, despite being funded by New Delhi as well as the state government, has two problems. One, there is dearth of adequate number of Industrial Training Institutes (ITI). Two, the placement record is poor and does not generate demand. Ratna Bharali Talukdar finds out what went wrong.

Labour Issues Education

MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION

Goa wrestles with language in schools

The abrupt transition from Konkani and Marathi in primary schools to English in Standard V puts tremendous pressure on children from rural communities in Goa. By the time these learners reach the crucial higher grades, nearly half of them drop out of school. Rupa Chinai reports.

Curricula Education

EDUCATION/LEGISLATION

An entitlement with no law

With the Central government lobbing the ball into the states' court, the right to education bill has practically lost its very essence. Without a central legislation to support it, a constitutional guarantee will have little meaning, say most experts. Deepa A concludes the 'Lens on Education' series.

Education Laws Human Rights