Odisha govt urges NTA to hold NEET UG 2021 exam in all its 30 districts

 

The Odisha government has urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the All- India NEET UG 2021 examinations in all the 30 districts of the state instead of selected seven cities.

Study Circle Online : The Odisha government has urged the National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct the All- India NEET UG 2021 examinations in all the 30 districts of the state instead of selected seven cities.

The request was made by Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, P K Mohapatra in view of the COVID-19 pandemic situation still prevailing in the state.

The All India NEET UG Examination is conducted by the NTA for admission to MBBS/BDS courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognized Medical/Dental and other Colleges/ Institutes in India.

In a letter to NTA Director General, Vineet Joshi on Monday, Mohapatra said the state’s plea should be taken into consideration and the NEET UG examination be conducted in all the 30 districts.

The NTA has notified to set up examination centres in seven urban pockets of Odisha namely in Angul, Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela and Sambalpur.

In view of COVID-19 pandemic, it will be highly unsafe for students to visit the few examination centres to physically appear for the NEET UG 2021 test. Further, due to frequent lockdown and shutdown imposed by different district administrations the transportation system is very often disrupted making the movement of student’s further worse, Mohapatra mentioned in the letter.

“Odisha has got vast tribal pockets having geographically inaccessible areas and far away from the urban centres of the state for which the students of this state may be deprived of appearing the NEET UG as they will have to move long distance for appearing the test,” the letter said.

BHU suspends offline classes indefinitely after surge in COVID cases, asks students to go back home for Holi

 

The university said that the COVID-19 situation will be reviewed in the first week of April after which a decision on restarting offline classes will be taken.

Study Circle : Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has suspended all offline classes till further orders in view of the sudden surge in Coronavirus cases in the hostels and across the country. Classes will, however, continue online. In an official notice released on Monday, the varsity stated that all students have been advised to return to their homes and any kind of Holi celebration on the campus has been banned.

The university further added that cases of COVID-19 are on a rise every day and if the current trend continues it is likely that cases may rise even more in the coming days. “Hence, in the interest of the safety of the students, they are encouraged to go to their homes and leave the hostels by taking their books and study materials with them so that in the event of worsening of the situation they may continue their studies through online classes to be conducted by the concerned teachers and take the examination which may be conducted in the online mode if the situation so demands,” BHU stated in their notice.

There will not be any Milan Samaroh or gathering on the campus, including in the hostels for Holi celebrations, the varsity clearly mentioned. The university said that the COVID-19 situation will be reviewed in the first week of April after which a decision on restarting offline classes will be taken. Parents and guardians will be informed beforehand about the reopening of offline classes, following which the students can make suitable plans. However, the offices and other functions of the university shall continue as per the schedule and faculty members shall perform their duties, as usual, the varsity stated.

According to government data, India detected around 40,000 new COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours. The Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday issued an order with guidelines for effective control of COVID-19 which will be effective from April 1, 2021, and remain in force until April 30, 2021. The guidelines mandate the State/UT governments to strictly enforce the Test-Track-Treat protocol in all parts of the country.

Centre sets stage as measure to attract international students to India

 

The Ministry of Education is deliberating on measures to increase the number of international students coming to India for higher studies.

Study Circle Online : In a review meeting of the Ministry’s Study in India Programme with partner institutions on Friday, Secretary Higher Education Amit Khare said that the criteria for institutions partnering under the programme will soon be revised so that more institutions that have the necessary infrastructure and academic quality can join the programme.

He also said that no distinction will be made between private and public institutions in matters of supporting internationalisation.

According to the Ministry of Education, Study in India is a programme of the Government of India that aims to attract international students to higher education institutions in India.

Select 117 institutions are partners under the programme that was launched in 2018. Admissions are merit-based and done through a common portal. Around 7500 students from over 50 countries have come to Indian institutions so far under this programme.

The Government has also recognized the importance of creating a conducive, on-campus ecosystem for international students, where they not only get quality academic inputs but can also feel safe, welcome, happy and hassle-free.

Odisha set to stop physical classes as COVID cases rise. What are the other states doing?

 

Meanwhile, the higher educational institutions in the Capital have also been asked to intensify their safety enforcement in campuses and hostels after the cluster outbreak of the virus in XIMB.

Study Circle : After educational institutions in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack reporting the cluster outbreak of COVID-19, the Odisha government is contemplating stopping physical classes from April 1 and ask students to only attend remedial sessions in schools.

Currently, classes are being conducted in schools for the secondary (Class IX and X) and higher secondary (Class XI and XII) students in physical mode.

School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash said courses of the students will be completed in schools by April 1 after which revision will start and the department is mulling to focus more on online classes during this period. Only those having doubts will be asked to visit the school campus to attend doubt clearing sessions.

The spread of infection in two private higher education institutes in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar has raised concern over the safety of students on campuses across the State. The Minister, however, said Covid SOP is being implemented with all seriousness in schools for which the department has managed to check the spread of the infections in campuses effectively.

He added that instructions have also been issued to the district authorities for proper enforcement of the safety guidelines in school hostels.

Meanwhile, the higher educational institutions in the Capital have also been asked to intensify their safety enforcement in campuses and hostels after the cluster outbreak of the virus in XIMB on Monday. The Higher Education department has asked the University and College authorities to focus on regular screening and compulsory use of masks apart from social distancing.

2,61,406 Indians went abroad for studies last year: Government

 

As many as 2,61,406 Indians went abroad for studies last year as compared to 5,88,931 in 2019, according to government data.

Study Circle Online : As many as 2,61,406 Indians went abroad for studies last year as compared to 5,88,931 in 2019, according to government data.

In written response to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that according to data provided by the Bureau of Immigration, 3,71,506 people went abroad for studies in 2016; 4,56,823 in 2017; 5,20,342 in 2018; 5,88,931 in 2019; and 2,61,406 in 2020.

Citing the data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Muraleedharan also informed the House that 1,37,26,945 Indians have travelled overseas in the last five years (January 1, 2016 to March 18, 2021), on an employment visa.

He also informed that as on March 22, around 52 lakh people have been repatriated to India under the Vande Bharat Mission.

In addition, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has facilitated international travel of people, including those returning to their country of work or residence abroad, taking the total number of people facilitated under the Vande Bharat flights to 67.9 lakh, he said.

The mission was launched last year to evacuate people stranded abroad due to the coronavirus pandemic.

CBSE launches English, Maths and Science assessment framework for Classes 6 to 10

 

The framework is a part of the CBSE Competency-Based Education Project that aims to replace the existing rote learning model as directed in the new National Education Policy (NEP).

Study Circle : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Wednesday launched a competency-based assessment framework for classes 6-10 for three subjects — English (reading), Science, and Maths.

The framework is a part of the CBSE Competency-Based Education Project that aims to replace the existing rote learning model as directed in the new National Education Policy (NEP) over the next two to three years.

“The new National Education policy 2020 envisages a significant shift in the education ecosystem in India. It aims at preparing students for the 21st century and lays emphasis on competency-based education rather than education that tests rote learning. The CBSE has had a collaboration with the British Council and three UK agencies — Cambridge, NARIC and Alphaplus — who are helping CBSE in attaining this objective. The work has already started, and significant progress has been made and we do look forward to this co-operation and working with British Council in the future,” CBSE Chairman Manoj Ahuja said.

The framework is the basis for a larger project exercise currently underway where 40 assessment designers, 180 test item writers and 360 master trainer mentors are being trained in using this framework to create a model question bank and collection of ideal lesson plans.

In the first phase selected Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, UT Chandigarh and private schools across the country will participate in the programme which will be rolled out to all 25,000 CBSE schools in India by 2024.