Pimpri’s SSC topper Saraswati Jadhav to get Rs 1 lakh, finally
Wednesday, 12 June 2013 10:23
administrator
The Indian Express 12.06.2013 Pimpri’s SSC topper Saraswati Jadhav to get Rs 1 lakh, finally
Fifteen-year-old Saraswati Shahaji Jadhav, who secured 89.45 per cent in SSC exams and missed the Rs 1 lakh prize money awarded by Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to those who score 90 per cent or above, can now afford a big smile as the civic body has decided to give her Rs 1 lakh and not Rs 50,000, which was the laid down norm.
"It is a big moment for me and my family...I would like to thank the commissioner," said Jadhav. Newsline had taken up the issue with the Municipal Commissioner on Tuesday after PCMC administration and education officials said that she could not be awarded Rs 1 lakh as her marks were below 90 per cent.
"I discussed the issue with the education officials today. We have decided to award Rs 1 lakh prize money to Saraswati," said Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi. He said the final announcement would be made on Thursday.
Pardeshi, however, said he was stickler for the laid down rules and generally did not believe in departing from them.
The Pardeshi administration was under pressure from parents, teachers, corporators and activists to award the prize money to Jadhav, a student of PCMC-run Annasaheb Magar School in Pimple Saudagar.
Corporator Nana Kate said it would be a great gesture if the PCMC chief awards the prize money.
"Saraswati comes from a poor family. Besides, she is a student of civic-run school. If she is awarded the prize money, it will certainly uplift the image of the school and its students,"said Kate.
Activist Sachin Godambe said, "Giving Rs 50,000 extra is not a big deal for PCMC. With voices across the country being raised to protect the dignity of women, the civic body has a great opportunity to show how it values women."
Jadhav regretted changing the right answer when she appeared for the maths paper. "I had actually written the right formula. But I changed the answer thinking it was wrong. After my exam, when I checked in the book, I realised that I made the wrong decision by changing the anwer. I could have easily scored two-three marks more had I not changed the answer and would have been eligible for the prize money," she said.
The Jadhav family lives in a one-room flat in Rahatni area. "My father gets Rs 6,000 salary, of which we pay Rs 2,300 as rent. It is difficult for us to meet our daily expenses. Me and my siblings put our might into studies. My siblings have secured over 80 per cent marks in their school exams," said Jadhav.
Jadhav's mother who works as a maid said, "They should not deprive my daughter of her honour....half per cent less marks is no big deal."
Civic body plans to put corpn schools up for adoption
Tuesday, 11 June 2013 10:58
administrator
The Indian Express 11.06.2013 Civic body plans to put corpn schools up for adoption
In a move to revolutionise the education system in municipal schools, South Municipal Corporation is planning to invite foundations to adopt schools that score low on various parameters.
In a meeting held on Monday at the corporation headquarters, and attended by representatives from various foundations, the chairperson of the education committee and the corporation's commissioner reportedly agreed to give away schools performing poorly for adoption.
Satish Upadhyay, the chairman of the education committee, said the corporation had sought "in principle" approval to get started on the process.
"There is a system in other countries, where foundations floated by the rich adopt schools, as part of community service, and work on them to make the institutions on par with public schools considered 'good'. We have discussed the framework of such foundations. Our aim is to balance the demand and supply for a competitive education system," Upadhyay said.
The councillor said the system would help build up the confidence that people used to have in corporation schools and would also improve the enrolment figures, which have been going down.
"What we are aiming at is a long-term change in the education policy, which will benefit students. People from the lower middle class end up paying Rs 600 - Rs 1000 to send their children to private schools that do not even meet the standards of many government schools," the chairman said.
Foundations that are been considered for the project are Azim Premji Foundation, Bharti Foundation, Shiv Nadar Foundation, Central Square Foundation, The Akanksha Foundation and Azad Foundation. Upadhyay said a third party — NGOs working in field of education — would grade the schools. Those schools falling in category C would be put up for adoption.
"Municipal school parameters, such as underutilisation of infrastructure, hygiene facilities, standard of students, will be compared to that of other schools. We believe in inclusive education and this move will strengthen the education system of the corporations," Upadhyay said.
|
75% results in NMC schools
Friday, 31 May 2013 11:56
administrator
The Times of India 31.05.2013 75% results in NMC schools
NAGPUR: Despite facing odds like irregular teaching and lack of quality teachers, schools run by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) delivered a creditable pass percentage of 75%.
NMC education officer Mangala Chowhan told TOI that the civic body runs four schools for HSC students; Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Junior College at Untkhana, which secured pass percentage of 92%, Sane Guruji Urdu High School and Junior College which secured 100% results; MAK Azad Urdu Higher Secondary School secured 100% results in science stream, 43% in commerce and 90% in Arts; and Tajabad Urdu Higher Secondary School scored 68% results.
Tajabad too has all the three streams. Students in Science stream secured 100% results, Commerce students secured 40% results and Arts 64% results.
"In all, 349 students from NMC schools had appeared for the HSC exam, of which 275 students emerged successful. 66 students had appeared from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Junior Science College of which 60 passed," said Chowhan.
From Sane Guruji Urdu High School and Junior Arts College 47 students appeared for the examination and all passed. This school has been securing 100% results for the last four years.
Rakhi Chavan from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Junior College topped in the science stream in NMC school as she scored 72.86%, while Puja Katre (58.66%) and Abhas Ramteke (56.80) stood second and third, respectively.
Bushra Tabassum Mohammed Qalim of MAK Azad School secured 80% in commerce stream. She is followed by two students of Sane Guruji Urdu High School - Amrin Parveen Abdul Riyaz with 79.33% and Sayeda Qadri (78.33%).
While congratulating the students on their success, mayor Anil Sole said, "With four schools securing 75% results, I am happy with the results this year. I'll ensure that in future too NMC schools provide quality education and good facilities to students, who normally come from the poorer sections of society."
Educationist Deaven Dasture said that the NMC schools can do better as they have many facilities and a some good teachers too. "But many of them lack dedication," he added. "NMC teachers are also a burdened lot as they have to do other work (like census and government work) apart from teaching."
Number of students goes down in Nashik Municipal Corporation schools
Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:18
administrator
The Times of India 29.05.2013 Number of students goes down in Nashik Municipal Corporation schools
NASHIK: In the past five years, the number of students in the Marathi-medium schools run by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has declined significantly. Officials say the parents prefer to send their wards to private English medium schools.
At the end of the last academic year, the total student strength of the 129 schools operated by the civic body was 38,505. In 2008, there were 42,754 students in 125 such schools.
NMC education department official, N E Pathan, said, "Many English medium schools have come up in the past few years and parents tend to send their wards to these schools. Thus, the number of students in our schools has gone down."
Armed with a slew of awareness programmes to attract students to the corporation schools, the NMC's education department is expecting an increase in the number of students this year. Such programmes are typically organised before the academic year commences. Attractive posters and banners are in place already.
The NMC is also trying to increase the number of corporation schools by at least three this year. In 2008-09, there were 125 NMC schools, in September 2011-12 that number stood at 128, while 2012-13 saw a total of 129 schools. If increased, the number will go up to 132.
Pathan confirmed that more NMC schools will be operative this year. "At least three NMC schools should be coming up this academic year. A survey is going on to identify locations with a need for schools."
|
