Madhya Pradesh: Hindi MBBS textbooks

Bhopal, October 17.

Union home minister Amit Shah launched three Hindi language education textbooks for first year students at a function to mark the Madhya Pradesh state government’s ambitious project to provide the MBBS degree programme in Hindi.

“This day will be written in history in golden letters. Studying in one’s own language will enhance the abilities of students and allow them to overcome their linguistic inferiority complex,” said Shah, who added that work has begun to provide technical and medical education in eight other languages of the country.

Added Viswas Sarang, MP’s medical education minister: “The pilot project will begin at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, where medical education in anatomy, bio-chemistry and physiology will be taught in Hindi and gradually extended to 13 government medical colleges statewide.”

Assam: Motor scooter awards

Guwahati, October 19.

The state government will distribute automotive two-wheelers to 35,800 students who topped this year’s class XII school-leaving board examinations. This awards initiative which will cost the exchequer Rs.258.9 crore, was approved by the state cabinet, said education minister Ranoj Pegu after a meeting chaired by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

“A total number of 35,800 students — 29,748 girls who passed with distinction and 6,052 boys who averaged above 75 percent — will receive motor scooters. The state’s department of higher education will also provide these students financial assistance for registration and insurance of the vehicles,” added Pegu.

Jharkhand: Exam invigilator arrested

Jamshedpur, October 15.

A woman exams invigilator was arrested after a class IX girl student from the Dalit community was reportedly forced to undress to check whether she had hidden prepared notes in her uniform. Unable to bear the humiliation, the student set herself ablaze shortly after returning home from school. The girl was rushed to the hospital in a serious condition, K. Vijay Shankar, superintendent of police (city), informed the media.

The invigilator was arrested after a case was registered against her under sections of the Indian Penal Code 1860, and POCSO Act 2012.

Bihar: Exam paper bloomer

Patna, October 19.

A class VII English mid-term question paper distributed in government schools in the Araria, Kishanganj and Katihar districts of the state, described Kashmir as an independent country. The question paper was approved by the Bihar Education Project Council.

“We have ordered an investigation into the matter and strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” said Dipak Kumar Singh, additional chief secretary of the state’s education ministry, addressing a press conference in Patna.

Meanwhile in a Facebook post in Hindi, the opposition BJP’s state president Sanjay Jaiswal said: “This question paper proves that officials of the Bihar government believe the Union territory of Kashmir is an independent country.”

Delhi: Sexual assault in KV

New Delhi, October 6.

An 11-year-old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted by two male senior students in the washroom of a Central government-funded Kendriya Vidyalaya school in the national capital. A case has been registered, says a police spokesperson. The Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan’s regional office has also ordered an investigation into the incident.

Although the alleged assault was perpetrated in July, the victim reported the crime to the police recently after the assault was exposed by the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). Describing the incident as a “serious matter”, DCW issued notices to Delhi Police and the school principal, demanding investigation and action.

“This is a very serious case of gang-rape of an 11-year-old student inside a school. The girl has alleged that her class teacher tried to hush up the matter. It is very unfortunate that schools have become so unsafe for children in the national capital,” says Swati Maliwal, chairperson, DCW.

Uttar Pradesh: Fees hike protest

Prayagraj, October 5.

Undergrad and postgrad students of Allahabad University have continued a protest demonstration which began in early September, against a 300 percent increase in tuition fees. On Dusshera (October 5), they burnt effigies of prime minister Narendra Modi and Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom they hold responsible.

The executive council of the university approved the fee hike proposal on August 31. The tuition fee for undergraduate study programmes was raised to Rs.4,151 from Rs.975 per year after a hiatus of several decades.
Addressing a press conference in Prayagraj, Students’ Union vice president Akhilesh Yadav said: “The management is unmoved by protesting students who have been on a hunger strike for the past 30 days.”

-Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs