Maharashtra
Minority schools review call
Thane, april 15. The Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) urged reform in the policy of awarding minority status to private educational institutions.
“Educational institutions cannot misuse the policy and do injustice to minority communities. The state government should determine a minimum percentage of minority students while granting licenses to such schools. Moreover, schools that have been granted minority status should be inspected regularly,” said Susieben Shah, the commission’s chairperson, addressing the state education ministry.
MSCPCR has received several complaints about schools in Mumbai city and suburbs denying admission to poor children citing exempt minority status, Shah added.
Jharkhand
Class X pass dip
Ranchi, april 19. The percentage of children who passed the class X state board examination declined this year with 90.39 percent students declared successful, compared with 95.78 percent last year.
According to the Jharkhand Academic Council, a total of 205,110 students passed in first division, 153,733 in the second and 19,555 in the third division. East Singhbhum, Hazaribag and Giridih were the top three districts in terms of pass percentage.
“The department will soon launch a scheme for children in districts that did not perform well. A detailed study of schools will be conducted and steps taken to improve learning outcomes,” said Uma Shankar Singh, school education secretary, addressing the media.
Mizoram
Misconduct charges
Aizawl, april 16. Chief Minister Lalduhoma has ordered a probe into alleged irregularities in the civil service examination conducted by the Mizoram Public Service Commission (MPSC) last October.
Former chief secretary and MPSC chairman M. Lalmanzuala has been appointed to conduct a preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities, says an order issued by the state vigilance department. “The allegations are not confined to misconduct under civil service laws, but also seem to be violations of penal laws, which necessitate a thorough preliminary inquiry to initiate timely action,” said the order.
Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), the state’s apex student body, has launched an agitation at the MPSC office demanding resignation of the commission’s chairperson J.C. Ramthanga over the alleged irregularities. H. Lalthianghlima, MZP president, alleged that marks obtained by some candidates were altered on answer papers and tabulation sheets using correcting fluid. MZP has also received many complaints from students about their marks, Lalthianghlima said.
Uttar Pradesh
AMU vice chancellor appointment row
Aligarh, april 22. Dr. Naima Khatoon was appointed Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU, estb.1875), the first woman appointed to this apex-level position. Dr. Khatoon’s appointment was approved by President Droupadi Murmu, Visitor of the university.
Khatoon’s husband, Prof. Mohammad Gulrez, was Acting (interim) Vice Chancellor of AMU last year after VC Tariq Mansoor resigned from the post following his nomination to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.
Dr. Khatoon’s nomination had triggered a controversy with some university officials alleging conflict of interest. Last October, the 27-member Executive Council (EC) shortlisted five of 20 eligible applicants. In a letter to President Murmu, Mujahid Beg, one of the applicants whose name was not shortlisted, called for “re-initiating the process afresh”.
“Surprisingly, Prof. Gulrez not only chaired the meeting of the EC but also voted for his wife. The Acting VC did not declare his partiality in respect of the candidates, so as to dispel any justifiable doubt about his independence and the impartiality of the proceedings, as his own wife was one of the candidates staking her claim for the post of vice chancellor,” says Beg.
Delhi
JNU freeloaders
New delhi, april 21. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has a problem of “freeloaders” — overstaying students and illegal guests — and the administration is now tightening the noose on them, said Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit.
Addressing a press conference, Pandit said she has issued strict instructions to the hostel administration not to allow any student to reside in JNU hostels beyond five years. Herself a JNU alumna, the VC said the issue was rampant even when she was a student but has increased substantially over the years.
“Apart from overstaying students, there are illegal guests who are not students of JNU, but come here and stay at will. They are either preparing for UPSC or other exams. It is very difficult for us to monitor students’ rooms… but we will still do it while sticking to norms. We also appeal to the good sense of students and request them to inform the authorities if they are bringing in a guest. We are now making ID cards compulsory,” she added.