Noida, April 27. Learning outcomes of government school students in the state’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district are better than of private government-aided school students, according to a National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) survey. The survey found the average environment studies score of class III students in government and aided schools last year was 65.59 percent and 65.53 percent respectively. For the same subject, class V government school students averaged 25 percent more than aided school children. In language, the average score of classes III, V and VIII government school children was also higher. “The higher scores attainment of government school students is the outcome of the concerted efforts we’ve been making to improve the learning outcomes of children in government schools. Regular parent-teacher meetings have also contributed,” says Bal Mukund Prasad, the district’s primary education officer. Assam Defalcation suspensions Guwahati, April 29. The state’s Hailakandi district administration has suspended three head teachers of government-run lower primary schools for misappropriation of funds. These funds had been allocated for purchase of uniforms for the schools’ children. The suspension order was issued after completion of an inquiry by block accountant Arpita Dey, and endorsed by the block elementary education officer, on April 27. The suspension order prohibits the teachers from leaving their headquarters without prior permission, says a media release of the district adminstration. Haryana Daycare centres drive Chandigarh, April 20. The state government has resolved to increase the number of daycare centres for children of construction workers from 22 to 88 statewide, says labour and employment minister Nayab Singh Saini. These daycare centres will provide education, nutrition and healthcare services to children of construction workers. The minister added that government will soon initiate a campaign to register migrant labour to provide vocational programmes for construction workers to upgrade their skills. Tripura New IIIT sanctioned Agartala, April 12. The newly-elected BJP state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs.50.67 crore for establishing an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Bodhjungnagar in Mohanpur block, under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. According to education minister Ratan Lal Nath, the proposal to construct the institute was stalled for six years by the predecessor CPM-led Left Front government. The institute will be built on a 52-acre campus at a project cost of Rs.128 crore. Of this aggregate amount, the Central government will contribute Rs.73.60 crore, state government Rs.44.80 crore and private partners Rs.9.60 crore. Public sector companies such as North Eastern Electric Power Corp and ONGC have offered financial cooperation, added Nath. Gujarat Successful grading programme Ahmedabad, April 6. Chief minister Vijay Rupani launched the state government’s Gunotsav programme in Govindi village of Panchmahal district. Under this annual programme, ministers and bureaucrats visit Gujarat’s 32,780 government primary schools, 863 grant-in-aid schools and 804 ashram shalas, and rate and rank them from A+ to D. “The annual drive for qualitative improvement in school education which began 15 years ago has resulted in the rise in the number of A+ grade schools from…
