Puducherry, September 4. Puducherry chief minister V. Narayanasamy lauded the efforts of teachers and non-teaching staff of a government primary school at Koonichampet for bagging the all-India #1 rank under the Swachch Vidyalaya Puraskar (clean schools programme) of the Central government. He presented a cheque of Rs.1 lakh to the school’s principal Sasikumar.

Of the 52 schools shortlisted countrywide for the award by the Union human resource development ministry, seven are sited in Puducherry. The Government Primary School, Koonichampet with an enrolment of 500 students was top rated on all parameters of cleanliness.

Nagaland
Teachers’ Day awards

Kohima, September 5. Fifteen teachers, including five women, were conferred awards on Teachers Day (September 5) celebrations in Nagaland. The teachers, five of whom are in private schools, were awarded at a function organised by the state government’s ministry of school education.

“Our lives have been greatly influenced by teachers who helped us mould various aspects of our lives… You (teachers) need to reorient and change your teaching methods in the fast changing world to inspire students to learn and perform well in their studies,” said K.T. Sukhalu, MLA, and advisor (school education) of the state government.

Delhi
Madrasa teachers protest

New Delhi, September 5. Hundreds of madrasa teachers from Uttar Pradesh staged a protest over non-payment of pending dues including salaries, for the past 30 months at the national capital’s Parliament Street. At least 25,000 teachers in UP haven’t been paid their dues by the Central government, they alleged.

The protesting teachers from UP are among 50,000 teachers in 16 states registered under the Centre’s Scheme for Providing Quality Education in Madrasas (SPQEM), introduced by the Union HRD ministry in 2008.

In a memorandum addressed to prime minister Narendra Modi, the school teachers said they haven’t been paid because they are teaching in madrasas. “This is the discrimination of the BJP government,” said Azaz Ahmad, head of Islamic Madrassa Modernisation Teachers’ Association of India (IMMTAI).

Meghalaya
Age limit extension

Shillong, September 7. The state government approved a proposal to increase the upper age limit for appointment of duly qualified teachers in schools and colleges from 27 to 32 years. This information was conveyed to the media by L. Rymbui, education minister of the state government. Moreover, scheduled tribe category candidates will get an additional five years’ relaxation, he added. “The more qualified teachers we have, better the quality of education we can provide to our children,” he said.

The government also approved a proposal to hike merit scholarships for lower primary and upper primary school students from Rs.100 per month to Rs.600 and Rs.40 per month to Rs.600 respectively.

Rajasthan
Joyful Saturdays initiative

Jaipur, September 9. The state government has introduced a ‘Joyful Saturday’ initiative under which various recreational and extra-curricular activities will be staged for government school students on the second and fourth Saturday every month.

Activities such as debate, poetry recitation, storytelling, puzzle solving, display of scientific magic tricks, toy making, arts and crafts, communicating with police, doctors, nurses, bank staffers, plantation works, road safety, child rights club activities, display of motivational videos, gender-based videos (good touch, bad touch) and games will be covered under six segments of expression or communication skills — creativity, critical thinking and logic, community skills, social sensitivity and physical skills.

A provision of Rs.1,000 per school has been made for the purchase of items needed to organise joyful activities, says Shivangi Swarnkar, state project director of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (Holistic Education Programme).

Manipur
Vice chancellor suspended

Imphal, September 18. The Central government-funded Manipur University’s vice chancellor Prof. A.P. Pandey has been suspended until the completion of an inquiry into charges of financial and administrative irregularities against him. Pandey was placed under suspension by President Ram Nath Kovind in his capacity as visitor of the university.

“Taking into account the volatile law and order situation on the campus, Pandey has been placed under suspension till the completion of the inquiry and action to be taken thereon,” says an order of the Union HRD ministry.

Pandey’s suspension follows an 85-day protest by the Manipur University Teachers’ Association, Manipur University Staff Association and Manipur University Students’ Union demanding the removal of Pandey from the office of vice chancellor.

Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs