Will the new education policy bring positive changes in the education sector?

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July 31, 2020

Chart of our ancient academic history, achievements, misunderstandings, and chart of future education plan for 21st century India has come at the right time. Lack of professionally qualified teachers and increased deployment of teachers for non-academic purposes Has upset the education system.

India has a very rich tradition of imparting knowledge. ‘Gurukul’ was a type of education system in ancient India in which there were disciples (students) living in the same house with the Guru. Nalanda was the oldest university system of education in this world. Students from all over the world were fascinated and taken aback by Indian knowledge systems. Many branches of the modern knowledge system originated in India. In ancient India, our ancient knowledge has been paramount behind the idea of education as high quality. However, the Indian education system has failed to capitalize on its early edge due to years of financial, financial constraints, and erroneous policies of modern India colonial rule, the brunt of which India has suffered for generations.

Today Modi government has brought new education policies for restructuring the education system in India with innovations that will use the Indian demographic dividend to meet Indian needs in the future Fourth Industrial Revolution. The draft of the new education policy was finalized by presenting its report on May 31, 2019, under the chairmanship of the National Education Policy Committee, Dr. K Kasturirangan and it was proposed to implement this policy soon in the budget 2019-20. Today this education policy has been implemented across the country from next year.

Due to flaws in the current education policy, a need was felt to introduce this new form. As such the current curriculum does not meet the developmental needs of children. And the current education sector is struggling badly with a shortage of qualified and trained teachers. Currently, most of the early childhood education is imparted through Anganwadis and private-play schools. However, the educational aspects of early childhood have received less attention in this new education policy. The policy recommends developing a two-part curriculum for early childhood care and education. Guidelines for children up to three years old and educational framework for children between three and eight years old. This will be implemented by reform and expansion of the Anganwadi system and co-implementation of Anganwadis with primary schools.

The new policy talks of expanding the scope of the Right to Education Act, 2009 for all children between the ages of three to 18 years, which includes early childhood education and secondary school education. The review of recent amendments to the RTE Act on continuous and comprehensive evaluation and no-detention policy has been emphasized. For children up to class eight, schools have been given guidelines to ensure that children are attaining age-appropriate learning levels. Now based on the new policy, board examinations will be restructured to test only the original concept and not to find the topper. These board exams will be on many subjects. Students can choose their subjects and semesters according to their interests, in which they will get the opportunity to study science as well as art subjects.

The present structure of schooling has been restructured based on the development needs of the students. In which the 10 + 2 + 3 structure is to be replaced by a 5-3-3-4 design consisting of (i) a five-year foundational stage (three years of pre-primary school and classes one and two), (ii) ) The three-year stage of preparation (classes three to five), (iii) the middle stage of three years (classes six to eight), and (iv) the four-year secondary stage (classes nine to 12). The current education system focuses only on Ratta learning. Now, efforts have been made to reduce the course load to its required basic material. New ways have been found to improve school exams, current board exams force students to focus on only a few subjects, which hinders their all-round development, Indian students do not know how to study happily. In today’s method, the test of learning in a formulaic way has caused stress in students.

Although the establishment of primary schools in every colony has increased the reach of education, it has driven the development of very small schools but they complicate it. Therefore, in the new policy, many public schools should be brought together to form a school campus. A complex for this would include a secondary school (class nine to twelve) and all the public schools in its neighborhood that provide education from pre-primary to class eight. These will also include anganwadis, vocational education facilities, and an adult education center. Each school campus will be a semi-autonomous unit that will provide integrated education at all stages from the early stage to secondary education. Every effort will be made to efficiently share resources such as infrastructure and trained teachers on a school campus.

The shortage of professionally qualified teachers and the increase in the deployment of teachers for non-academic purposes have plagued our education system. For this, according to the new policy, the emphasis has been laid on new recruitment of teachers and they should be posted in special school premises for at least five to seven years. They will not be allowed to participate in any non-teaching activities during school hours. Existing B.Ed. The program will be replaced by a four-year integrated B.Ed. High-quality content, pedagogy, and practical training and an integrated continuous professional development for all disciplines will also be done. Regulation of schools will be conducted separately from aspects like policymaking, school operation, and educational development. Independent state school regulatory authorities will be established for each state that will set basic common standards for public and private schools. To strengthen the policy, the education department of the state will formulate and monitor and supervise the policy.

In the new education policy, the emphasis is on research and research, the use of technology, cooperation between different disciplines, cohesion and dialogue, training of teachers, all these will bring positive changes in the education sector of the country. The latest Kasturirangan report or draft new education policy in the education sector shows the need of the hour for improvement in education. The modern Indian education system is crying out for reform. The draft New Education Policy (NEP) is the right time to take stock of its history, achievements, misunderstandings, and chart future education plans for 21st century India.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Young kids could spread COVID-19 as much as older children, adults: Study

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2020

Children, Spread Covid-19, Young, Adults, mild to moderate covid-19 — Image Courtesy: Arun SANKAR / AFP

Children younger than five years with mild to moderate COVID-19 have much higher levels of the novel coronavirus genetic material in the nose compared to older children and adults, according to a new study that raises concerns about the reopening of schools and daycare centres across the world. The findings, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, shed light on the possibility that the youngest children transmit the virus as much as other age groups. According to scientists, including those from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in the US, the ability of younger children to spread COVID-19 may have been under-recognised given the rapid and sustained closure of schools and daycare centres during the pandemic. “Our analyses suggest children younger than five years with mild to moderate COVID-19 have high amounts of the SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in their nasopharynx compared with older children and adults,” the scientists wrote in the study.

According to the study’s lead author Taylor Heald-Sargent, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, this may suggest higher transmission of the virus by children than seen in adults. He added that the findings are similar to the transmission pattern seen with the respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. “This has important public health implications, especially during discussions on the safety of reopening schools and daycare,” Heald-Sargent said. In the study, the researchers analysed 145 cases of mild to moderate COVID-19 illness within the first week of symptom onset. They compared the quantity of virus genetic material found in three age groups — children younger than five years, children five to 17 years, and adults 18-65 years.

“Our study was not designed to prove that younger children spread COVID-19 as much as adults, but it is a possibility,” Heald-Sargent said. “We need to take that into account in efforts to reduce transmission as we continue to learn more about this virus,” he added. The researchers cautioned that the study is limited to the detection of viral genetic material — its nucleic acid molecule RNA — rather than the infectious virus. But they added that earlier research on pediatric cases of COVID-19 pointed to a correlation between higher viral nucleic acid levels and the ability to culture infectious virus.

“Thus, young children can potentially be important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the general population, as has been demonstrated with the respiratory syncytial virus, where children with high viral loads are more likely to transmit,” the researchers explained in the study. They said the behavioral habits of young children, and the close quarters they occupy in school and daycare settings raise concern for amplified transmission of the virus as public health restrictions are eased. “In addition to public health implications, this population will be important for targeting immunisation efforts as SARS-CoV-2 vaccines become available,” the scientists concluded.

Women in Rajasthan can travel without ticket in state busses on Raksha Bandhan

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Afternoon Voice

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July 31, 2020

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced free travel for girls and women in the state roadways buses on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Raksha Bandhan falls on August 3 this year.

No fare will be charged from female passengers in general and express buses (except AC, Volvo, and All India Permit buses) of the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation within the state.

Similarly, women and girls will be able to get a free ride in the buses of Jaipur City Transport Services Ltd, a release said.

NO Face Mask? Be ready to pay ₹1000 fine

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

If you are Mumbai resident and residing in a co-operative society, then you should know that the housing societies can collect a fine of Rs 1000 from you if you are found not wearing the facemask inside the society premises.

In a first such directive, the office of assistant registrar of the co-operatives department (S Ward) has directed housing societies under its jurisdiction to impose a penalty on those not wearing the mask inside society premises.

The letter issued by the registrar pointed out that BMC had already made social distancing and facemask mandatory in public places. BMC has also made a provision to impose fine of Rs 1000 on those breaching facemask norms, it added.

“The management committee needs to get the approval of the general/special general meeting to take any punitive action against the concerned for negating to use the mask despite the request of the office-bearers of the organization. However, due to the articles on COVID-19, the organization is unable to convene a general meeting / special public meeting. And there is no provision in the law for holding public meetings by video conferencing. It is also not possible for the officials of the organization to complain to the police every time against the irresponsible residents concerned.”

The letter by Rajesh Lovekar, assistant registrar co-operative societies, S-Division, states that while explaining the reason behind issuing of the directive, they have requested instructions in this regard from the office level.

However, Jeby Patel and Vijay Patel of All India Cooperative Housing Societies Association (AICHSWA) said they had no objection to the move. Still, there was no clarity as to who will issue the receipt against the collection of fine and where to deposit money — with the society or else BMC?.”

“Had the registrar clarified on the fine collection and its use, things could have been easier for us to implement on it quickly,” they added.

Whereas many co-operative societies across Mumbai welcome these directives and some of them even circulated the same in their society social groups.

Bihar cops investigating Sushant Singh case in Mumbai did not follow protocols: State minister

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

The Bihar police team which is in Mumbai in connection with their probe into the alleged suicide by Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput did not follow established protocols, a Maharashtra minister said on Thursday. Minister of State for Home Shambhuraj Desai said what the Bihar police were doing was wrong.

A team of the Bihar police arrived here on Wednesday to probe an `abetment to suicide’ case registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty and others in Patna’s connection with the death of Rajput. “The Mumbai police have registered a case… from day one we are investigating it,” he said.

Desai said the Patna police have registered a case and a team has landed in Mumbai.

“Whenever a police team from a state visits another state for investigation, there are some protocols which are to be followed… these were not followed,” Desai told a news channel.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had on Wednesday ruled out a CBI probe into the death of Rajput (34), who was found hanging in his suburban Bandra apartment on June 14. “The Mumbai police are investigating the case and there is no question of the case being handed over to the CBI,” Deshmukh had said.

Krishna Kumar Singh (74), Rajput’s father, lodged a complaint against Chakraborty, the deceased actor’s friend, and six others in Patna on Tuesday. A four-member team of the Patna police arrived at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection-I) of the Mumbai crime branch, a police official had said on Wednesday.

The Mumbai police have already questioned several people from the film industry. But in a surprising twist, the late actor’s father, who had so far maintained silence about his son’s death, lodged an FIR against Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, for alleged abetment to suicide.

The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide).

Book Review: ‘Indicting Goliath’ by Lal Bhatia

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

Indicting Goliath, Book Review, Lal Bhatia, Book It was a 13-year agonising journey in various US prisons, which tested my integrity and physical endurance: Lal Bhatia

Imagine if you had to battle for your freedom without a support system in a foreign country, cheated by your family members, and had to face trial? It sounds tough. Well, that’s the starting point of author Lal Bhatia’s book ‘Indicting Goliath,’ a real-life story of a man who had to fight for justice without a lawyer in the US when his own ex-wife’s uncle levels fraudulent charges against him.

The book is based on unrefuted facts, evidence, and testimony established based on extensive litigation that ensued in about 21 courts of the United States of America. Lal Bhatia, the author, was tortured, victimised, falsely convicted, and imprisoned. It took Bhatia 13 years to finally see the light and return to India.

Bhatia said, “I wrote the book throughout my 13 years of incarceration. I penned out every minute detail and collected undisputed facts and evidence to support my claim while battling it in courts and attached it to the book. Notion press was the only publishing company, who agreed to publish the book as it exposes the dark side of the system.”

He also added, “It was a thirteen-year disturbing journey through the perils of incarceration, one that tested every ounce of my integrity and physical endurance. Nobody assessed that the crime thrust on an individual could be a scam and a convoluted deflection to protect the mighty and the connected.”

The book traces Bhatia’s valiant efforts to bring light to gross injustices and apparent lacunae in the US administration.

The book is released in three languages – English, Russian and Bengali. It has got great reviews from critics, including a 4.9 from Amazon and 4.72 from Goodreads. For all those who are curious to know the journey of Lal Bhatia, the book is available on Flipkart and Amazon.

ED seizes Rs 62 lakh cash, gold bars after FEMA raids in Aurangabad

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 62 lakh cash and seven kg gold bars after raiding some locations in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra in connection with an alleged illegal foreign exchange case, the agency said on Thursday.

It said the searches were conducted on three premises of a “suspect” in the district under the provision of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

ED seizes under FEMA, ₹ 62 lakh in cash and 7 Kg Gold bars during the searches of 3 premises in Aurangabad, Maharashtra of a suspect in a case related to illegal dealing in foreign exchange. pic.twitter.com/UMNH157Miu

— ED (@dir_ed) July 30, 2020

“During the search proceedings, Rs 62 lakh in cash and 7 kg gold bars have been seized from the premises in a case related to illegal dealing in foreign exchange,” the central probe agency said in a statement. Further investigation is under progress, it said.

CM Thackeray, Dy CM Pawar review COVID-19 situation in Pune district

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday reviewed the COVID-19 situation in Pune district, which has recorded more than 78,000 cases so far and seen a spurt in infections in recent weeks.

He chaired a meeting of elected representatives, including MP and MLAs, and took stock of the COVID-19 situation and the local administration’s response to the pandemic so far.

This was Thackeray’s first visit to Pune since the COVID-19 outbreak more than four months ago. At the meeting, elected representatives put forth their views on the situation and suggested steps to curb the spread of the viral disease which has killed more than 1,800 people so far in the district.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, ministers Dilip Walse-Patil, Dattatray Bharne, Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, Kothrud MLA and state BJP president Chandrakant Patil and other elected members from Pune and neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad were present at the meeting.

Patil, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said elected representatives cutting across parties in one voice emphasised on the need of ramping up medical facilities in terms of arranging more oxygenated and ICU beds in city hospitals.

“It was discussed that the number of cases will go up but patients should get proper medical facilities,” he said. The former BJP minister said the local administration is thinking of setting up three jumbo hospitals for COVID-19 patients in Pune as part of mitigation measures.

“Setting up of these facilities will take some time and the number of patients is increasing every day so there is a need to ramp up medical facilities in the existing hospitals and this demand was put forth by everyone before the Chief Minister,” the BJP legislator said. However, no concrete answer was received on this demand, Patil said.

In a relief to Jaya Jaitly, Delhi HC suspends sentence in Defence graft case

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Afternoon Voice

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July 30, 2020

A few hours after being sentenced by the special court, the Delhi High Court has put on hold the 4-year jail term given to former Samata Party chief Jaya Jaitly in a corruption case related to a purported defence deal, a lawyer said.

The high court has sought CBI’s response on Jaya Jaitley’s appeal challenging her conviction and sentence in the case.

The orders were passed by a single-judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait on Thursday after he admitted the appeal filed by Jaitly through senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi seeking suspension of her conviction and the sentence awarded later.

Jaitly’s legal team moved the high court soon after the sentence was pronounced.

Also Read: Defence corruption case: Delhi court sentences 4-year jail term to Jaya Jaitly, 2 others

Earlier in the day, a Delhi court sentenced Jaitly to four years in jail in a corruption case relating to a defence deal.

Two other convicts and Jaitly’s former party colleague Gopal Pacherwal and Major General (Retd.) S.P. Murgai were also awarded a similar jail term by the court.

While Jaitly approached the High Court on Thursday, the other convicts are likely to move the court on Friday.

Earlier in the day, CBI judge Virender Bhat directed the trio to surrender before the court before 5 p.m. on Thursday. They have also been fined Rs one lakh each.

The genesis of this case lies in a sting operation conducted by a news website Tehelka in 2000-2001 termed “Operation Westend” to expose the corruption in defence procurement deals in India. Tehelka had made the operation public in mid-March 2001.

On July 20, twenty years after a sting operation was done to expose alleged corruption in a defence deal, the court had convicted Jaya Jaitly, Major General S.P. Murgai and Gopal K. Pacherwal in the case.

On the basis of the sting, an FIR was registered against the four persons – Jaya, Major General S.P. Murgai, Gopal K. Pacherwal and Surender Kumar Surekha but the latter turned approver for the CBI. The CBI filed the charge sheet against Jaitly and others in 2006.

Father, family, fraternity, and friends all need to be probed in Sushant Singh’s death case

By

Vaidehi Taman

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July 30, 2020

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s father has accused his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, also an actor, of driving him to suicide after cheating him, taking money from him, and abandoning him. After he filed an FIR in Bihar’s Patna yesterday, a police team has traveled to Mumbai. The Mumbai Police, which started an investigation days after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death on June 14, has already questioned over 40 people, including Rhea Chakraborty, his co-stars, filmmakers, and also doctors. FIR by Sushant Singh Rajput’s family, surprised many people because his father and family knew what he was going through all this while, they were also aware of the fact that he had a mental illness. Still, neither his father nor his family tried to address this in the given time. Just because he committed suicide, and some things went missing from his home, father came forward and filed a complaint.

His father states in FIR that before 2019 his son had no mental health issues, but after coming into contact with Rhea, Sushant developed these issues. Well, this also means, since 2019 almost a year the father was aware that the son is going through depression and stress, maybe whatever is the reason, isn’t it the vast time to protect his son or seek help to guard his son’s interest? Why did he wait for so long? If a girlfriend can make his life stressful and family is aware of it, why they did not approach their son and took him in confidence? Isn’t it the family’s responsibility too? Compassion is critical in helping someone to recover from any illness. Whether it is encouraging them to do something that might help them cope with their illness, like seeking out appropriate treatment, or offering to do something they are struggling with – even if just being by the side of a person. They could have encouraged him gently to talk about his feelings and reassure that his situation is going to get better and let them know they are there to support him no matter what. Till now, I was under the impression that the family is not aware of the fact that he had mental illness issues. After reading the FIR, I am feeling even worst because it’s the family that waited so long until he finished himself?

Well, was the family not consulted, or their written or verbal consent was taken for his treatment? But a grown-up adult was very much alive, and in your contact, his one of the sister resides in Mumbai. She frequently visited him, why this objection did not raise at the right time, why now? How will this recover the damage done to a life? The next point they stated in FIR is that even they believe the doctors who treated Sushant on Rhea’s recommendation are a part of the conspiracy. One long year what has prevented the family from meeting that doctor or having an exchange of words? How many times the father or his sister called or met that doctor to check who he was, inquire about his recommendation? Well, Rhea Chakraborty might have malice in her motive, but why the family became mute spectators? What has forced them to keep quiet when their son needed them the most?

Sushant’s father states in FIR, “Rhea knew my son had mental health issues she did not stand by him, she took away all the papers and left my son alone which pushed him to suicide”. For a moment, let me believe what all mentioned in the FIR, is true. Even you as father and his sisters, you all knew he was having depression and mental health issues, what did you do for your son? What made you depend on Rhea? Many people in his house from domestic help to cooks and friends surrounded Sushant, you never felt keeping in touch and be vigilant about your son’s life? How can you do justice to him? More I read the FIR added the agony, what kind of family is this, now they all are shedding tears, but no one bothered to stand by Sushant in his crucial days of mental struggle?

He further states in FIR, “My son’s bank account transaction history shows he had Rs 17 crore in one account, of which Rs 15 crore are transferred to an account that had nothing to do with him, should be investigated. Is this the reason that prompted the father to register FIR? One thing is prominent; Sushant never took his family too in confidence when he was dealing with his money or life. If there had been a strong bond, today’s situation would have been different.

His father requested an investigation into why Sushant Singh Rajput stopped getting films after his association with Rhea. In FIR he mentions Sushant is suffering from mental health issues since 2019, but he overlooked Dil Bechara. He did movies, but the depression, tantrums, and adversities might have allowed him to go after opportunities.

Well! Sushant wanted to get into organic farming in Coorg with his friend Mahesh. Father alleges that Rhea protested this and threatened to release his treatment papers to the media and destroy his career. That means he silently agrees, that the patient of mental illness gets no work in the industry? As far as the protest is concerned, Sushant should have equally resisted. Why did he fear or if the family knew that this girl is threatening him, why they did not interfere? Which means family had no control over the son. Suppose Rhea left Sushant by taking away his treatment papers, laptop, credit cards, jewellery, and cash. Rhea should go through the investigation, and as we say everything is fair in love and war, that time even Sushant might have allowed her to do so in the hope that she will return to him one day.

What Sushant Singh Rajput’s father accuses Rhea Chakraborty is very shattering; this whole episode needs throw investigations including family members should be probed for their silence all this while. How come they let anything happen to their son? We as a society, they as family and fraternity, we all had done wrong by not addressing or voicing the issues when he was alive. What he needed was an assurance to live fearless; he needed support, love compassion, and above all his family by his side. Everyone has a share of blame on his head for Sushant’s death.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)