– Paromita Sengupta with bureau inputs

New Delhi, September 5. At a specially organised virtual ceremony to mark Teachers’ Day (September 5), President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the National Teachers Awards to 47 selected teachers from around the country for their unique contribution towards developing teaching innovations to enrich the lives of their students.

To select India’s best teachers, the Union ministry of education invited nominations including self-nominations, from teachers on an online portal. First-level scrutiny was done by a district selection committee (DSC) chaired by the district education officer. Based on prescribed criteria, DSC shortlisted three names per district which were forwarded to state selection committees. Subsequently, final round nominees made presentations to a high powered jury through video conferencing. For list of awardees, visit national awards to teachers. mhrd.gov.in.

Jammu & Kashmir: Tata Technologies project

Srinagar, September 3. In collaboration with Tata Technologies Ltd, the Union territory authority of Jammu and Kashmir is constructing two Centres for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Training (CIIIT) on the Jammu and Baramullah campuses of the Government Polytechnic College, Srinagar. These centres are scheduled to become operational in November.

“The centres are being built at a cost of Rs.360 crore with the objective of bringing quality improvement in technical education to facilitate creation of a ready pool of skilled manpower and increase employment opportunities in the region,” said a government official, addressing the media.

Andhra Pradesh: SRM-Northeastern concordat

Amaravati, September 11. The Amaravati-based SRM University signed a partnership agreement with Northeastern University, Boston (USA), for advancement of education and research.

“Northeastern University is among the world’s most respected universities and this collaboration will provide an opportunity for our students to visit and learn at this highly reputed American university,” said vice chancellor V.S. Rao, speaking on the occasion. Collaboration between the two universities will begin with initiatives of the computer science and mechanical engineering faculties, he added.

This partnership agreement will facilitate joint research programmes between faculty and scholars, joint teaching and cultural activities and collaboration in academic publications and development of curricula.

Uttar Pradesh: Greenfield forensics university

Lucknow, September 13. A greenfield Uttar Pradesh Police and Forensic Sciences University sited at Piparsand village on the periphery of Lucknow, has been sanctioned by the state government. A sum of Rs.20 crore has been budgeted for construction of the university, said additional chief secretary Awanish Awasthi in a media interaction.

The objective of the university, which will be built on a 3.16-acre campus, is to provide education, training and research in forensic sciences to police officers and the ranks in Uttar Pradesh. Assistance is being provided by the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, to get the project off the ground.

“We have reached out to the Gujarat Forensics University as also to an institute in Israel for technical assistance,” added Awasthi

Goa: E-learning project

Panaji, September 14. An e-learning pilot project is ready for launch in anganwadis and government pre-primaries in the Sattari and Ponda suburbs of Panaji with the support of Siemens India and ConveGenius Education Solutions Pvt. Ltd. These companies have initiated similar projects in 16 states including Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, earlier.

“Ninety percent of a child’s brain is developed in the first six years. The plan to have state-of-theart lessons, technology-enabled classrooms will help our anganwadi children to be ready for the first grade of mainstream schools,” said state health minister Vishwajit Rane, speaking on the occasion.

The educational software is written in the native Konkani and English languages and smart TVs and tablets will be available in all classrooms, added Rane.

Madhya Pradesh: IIT-Indore KV launch

Indore, September 8. A new Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) K-12 school will be set up within the campus of the premier Indian Institute of Technology-Indore, taking the country’s count of KVs to 1,242, Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal announced on Twitter.

“I am very happy to share that a new name is going to be added to the vast chain of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. The orders are being issued today to open a Central school within the IIT-Indore campus. I believe this will be a unique combination of higher and school education,” the minister tweeted.

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