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Education Community |
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Community Update
No. 12: 24 January 2008
In this Issue
From the Resource Team | Member Postings | Network Activity | Community News
Dear Friends,
May this year bring a change for the better of everyone! We wish all our members a very happy new year and present to you the first community update in 2008.
The past month saw some very vibrant discussions in the Community. After concluding the query on establishing language labs for spoken English in rural schools, the query on testing of tribal very helpful to the query poser in addressing the issues raised on testing intelligence, growth and learning of tribal and rural children.
The Education Community can be an extremely effective platform for discussion. In a country like ours, with tremendous diversity, experiences are varied and it is interesting to see how members from different parts of the country come forward to share their first hand experiences and provide useful and effective solutions. The current query on Selection of Young Children on 'Merit cum Means' Criteria has given rise to a vibrant discussion and we thank the members for their contributions.
Several challenges still face the education system in India where a significant population is below the age of 30 years. We hope that with the beginning of a new year, we as a community are able to take our discussions to the grassroots and are able to have interesting and meaningful insights on access to schooling, drop outs, levels of learning, forms of teaching etc. We are trying to take up more queries from field situations. We welcome queries that have practical implications and would be happy to post them.
Meanwhile, please keep sending in your queries, comments and feedback; we always look forward to hearing from you.
With warm regards,
Alok Srivastava & Nupur Bahl
Resource Team, Education Community
Solution Exchange
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Member Postings
Workshops and Conferences
Release of the Citizen’s Report on the Millennium Campaign: “Measuring India’s Progress on the MDG’s- A Citizen’s Report” January 7, 2008, New Delhi (from Nupur Bahl, Research Associate) Salil Shetty (Global Director, UN Millennium Campaign) released the report and shared the efforts being undertaken by governments and civil society across the world for the achievement of the MDGs. The Release was be followed by presentations on the key challenges facing India in relation to the MDGs, and the experiences from states and marginalized groups in relation to the achievement of the MDGs. As part of this, the UN Millennium Campaign has been working closely with governments and non-state actors to review and renew efforts towards the fulfillment of the MDGs across the world. In India, Wada-Na-Todo Abhiyan, a civil society led campaign for governance accountability to End Poverty and Social Exclusion, has played an important role in popularizing and highlighting the policy agenda related to the commitments of the MDGs, NDGs and NCMP.
National Essay Competition 2007-2008 (from Anup Kumar Das, UNESCO, New Delhi) An essay competition was organised by the Ministry of HRD, Department of School Education and Literacy. The competition was open for students at colleges/universities, teachers, journalists, educationists, professors, writers, professionals, editors, columnists, correspondents, etc. The essay competition was in English and Hindi language and covered a wide range of topics such as Reading the Word and World - Literacy in the Times of Globalization, Literacy and Social Integration, Earn and Learn- Skill-based Literacy, Bridging the Digital Divide- Computer Based Literacy.
13th All India Children’s Educational Audio and Video Festival (from Anup Kumar Das, UNESCO, New Delhi) The festival will be held between last week of February, 2008 and first week of March, 2008. It is being organised by the Central Institute of Educational Technology, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. The last date for sending entries is 20 January 2008. For more information click here
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Open Queries
Distance Learning and the use of Communication Technology in Education. Experiences; Examples. Reply by 30 January 2008. Click here to send in your reply.
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From our Partners
UNESCO
Education for All: Priorities for 2008 Reaching excluded groups, improving education quality and increasing the financing of basic education were among the actions for 2008 agreed on at the 7th Meeting of the Education for All High-Level Group Midway to the 2015 target date for achieving the Education for All goals, High-Level Group participants recognized that “we are now in a position to know better what works in basic education, but the current pace of progress is not sufficient to meet the 2015 target.” For more details click here (Size: 140.23 KB)
UNICEF
The State of the World’s Children 2007 Reports on lives of women around the world pointing out that gender equality and well-being of children go hand in hand. Click here for report (Size: 2 MB) |
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Upcoming Projects
Memory of the World (from Anup Kumar Das, UNESCO, New Delhi) UNESCO invites the submission of new nomination proposals for inscription on its Memory of the World International Register. These new proposals will be examined during the 2008/2009 session of the Committee. Nominations should be in English or French only. Submit them to the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, (c/o, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi 110001; Phone: +91-11- 23382698/ 23386451, Fax: +91-11- 23385807/ 23381355, Email: shalendra@hub.nic.in). For more detailed information about submission procedures, Guidelines and Nomination Form please visit http://www.unesco.org/webworld/mow/
Recommended Readings
From Nupur Bahl, Research Associate
The Gender Achievements and Prospects in Education (GAP) Report UNICEF; 2005 It is designed to assess progress towards gender parity in education by 2005 and universal primary education by 2015. The report highlights innovations, identify obstacles, generate discussion and give guidance. It focuses on the challenge to get all children – girls as well as boys – into school, or to know why they are now. To read the report click here (Size: 1.2 MB)
Reaching the Girls in South Asia: Differentiated Needs and Responses in Emergencies Kathmandu: UNICEF ROSA, UNGEI; 2006 This series includes debates, exchange of ideas and aims to capture the momentum and extol good practices to all engaged in educational policy and implementation. It focuses on the education of girls and social inclusion in South Asia. To read the series click here (Size: 490.7 KB)
The Guidebook for Planning Education in Emergencies and Reconstruction IIEP, Paris The guidebook is addressed primarily to the staff of ministries of education; national, provincial and district level planners and managers in countries affected by conflict or natural disasters. It provides a detailed guidance on education in emergencies. For a chapter wise classification of the guidebook click here
Job Openings
Various Positions, Akanksha Foundation, Mumbai and Pune (from K. Sriram, Akanksha Foundation, Mumbai) The Akanksha Foundation has been working in urban clusters with children for over 16 years. They are currently designing the Akanksha National - Education Leadership project. They are looking to recruit graduates in any discipline with Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, analytical skills and organizing capabilities. They also provide necessary training to then go out to lead the expansion in different locations. Interested candidates may visit http://www.akanksha.org/careersandvolunteering.html The QUEST Alliance brings together public, private and NGO partners to create, pilot and institutionalize technology tools for improving the quality of education at all levels in both formal and non formal settings to better reach disadvantaged youth populations. As a dynamic network of educators, corporate and NGO leaders, QUEST is committed to identifying new and innovative technology-mediated solutions for education and workforce development. The ideal candidate should have 2-5 years of experience in educational research organization. Should be a graduate (Master’s or PhD) in education or Social Sciences. Please send a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to: jobs.iyf@gmail.com.Please state “Research Associate, QUEST Alliance” in the email title.
Completed Queries from 1 October 2007 to 24 January 2008
Structural Mitigation for Schools Buildings, from A.S. Arya, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi (Advice; Experiences) Cross posted with Disaster Management Community. Issued 16 October 2007 http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/drm/cr-public/cr-se-drm-ed-21090701-public.pdf (Size: 168 KB) Seeks advice on various issues that need to be factored in for reducing risks arising out of unsafe school buildings and experiences of effective structural mitigation in schools
Implementing Inclusive Education in Government Schools, from Radhika Alkazi and Niraj Seth, Astha and ActionAid International, New Delhi (Experiences). Issued 18 October 2007 http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/education/cr-public/cr-se-ed-18100701-public.pdf (Size: 88.22 KB) Discussed experiences of making educational transactions in an effective way for differently abled and disadvantaged children in the context of inadequate teachers
Including Tribal and Nomadic Children in Mainstream Schools, from Harinesh Pandya, Janpath, Ahmedabad (Experiences). Issued 2 November 2007 http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/education/cr-public/cr-se-ed-18080701-public.pdf (Size: 75.1 KB) Shared experiences of integrating tribal and nomadic children in mainstream schools and ensuring retention of such children after enrolment
Developing Indicators of Financial Efficiency for Elementary Education Budgets, from Mini Shrinivasan, Centre for Learning Resources, Pune (Advice). Issued 31 December 2007 http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/education/cr-public/cr-se-ed-12100701-public.pdf (Size: 71 KB) Discussed the indicators of financial efficiency in Schools run by Municipal Corporations; also compared them to private schools
In October, the Decentralization Community posted a query on the methodology PAHELI, for rapid assessment of human development indicators and preparation of District Level Human Development Report Cards, and invited responses from members of other Solution Exchange communities. Decentralization Community recently issued the Consolidated Reply, and we are sharing it with the members of the Education Community….
Human Development Report Cards for Development Planning, from Seeta Prabhu and Rukmini Banerji, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pratham, New York, USA and New Delhi (For Comments) Decentralization Community. Issued 7 December 2007 http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/decn/cr-public/cr-se-decn-05100701-public.pdf (Size: 118.63 KB) Seeks comments from the members on the proposed methodology and tools adopted, called PAHELI, for the preparation of Human Development Report Cards, to aid District Planning
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Many thanks to all who contributed to this issue!
If you have items to feature in this News Update, please send it to Solution Exchange for the Education Community in India at se-ed@solutionexchange-un.net.in.
Disclaimer: In posting messages or incorporating this information, the UN accepts no responsibility for its veracity or authenticity. Members intending to use or transmit the information contained in these messages should be aware that they are relying on their own judgment. Solution Exchange is a UN initiative for development practitioners in India. For more information, please visit www.solutionexchange-un.net.in