After Jio Institute, Centre extends deadline to favour Vedanta group
Institute of Eminence issue
NEW DELHI, July 12: While a controversy rages over 'Institute of Eminence' tag being granted to yet-to-start Jio Institute, it has now emerged that the government may have been generous to at least one more private company trying to foray into higher education segment in India too.
The New Indian Express has learnt that special extension of one month was granted to Vedanta group's proposed Vedanta University in Odisha to allow them to apply for the coveted tag that promises to grant complete academic and financial autonomy.
The proposed university, however, did not make the final cut even though its application, along with others, is still under consideration, authorities in the Union Human Resources Development Ministry and the University Grants Commission told this newspaper.
On being asked, HRD secretary (higher education) R Subrahmanyam confirmed that the deadline was extended on a request by the proposed Vedanta university.
"The application by the Jio Institute was on schedule, but Vedanta university had asked for an extension as they were delayed in making the application," he said.
In the 'Greenfield' category, Jio Institute competed with Airtel which had applied for Bharti University (Satya Bharti Foundation) in Delhi, and Vedanta University in Odisha.
KREA University, which has former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan as its adviser; Indian School of Business, Hyderabad; Indus Tech University in Delhi; and Acharya Institutes of Bangalore were among other applicants.
On Monday, the ministry had granted six institutes—three each in public and private sectors— 'Institute of Eminence' (IoE) status.
This kicked up a massive controversy as many questioned the government's motive behind promoting an educational institute by a private player that is set to even start its operations.
Officials in the HRD ministry, meanwhile, said the applications for the IoE tag, which was first announced in the Union Budget 2016-17, was invited beginning September 13 and applicants were given a time period of 90 days. An extension of one month was given later.
Documents seen by Express suggests that Reliance Foundation, which promises an initial investment of Rs 9,500 crore in the proposed institute, claimed "deep relationship with global top 50 universities and global network of prominent thought leaders with Reliance Board having leading academicians and even Nobel laureates".
It also said, in its presentation to an empowered expert committee headed by N Gopalaswami, which was tasked with selecting the institutes, that its promoter is the largest private sector company in India and largest corporate spender on social initiatives across education, health and rural transformation and that it has expertise in conceptualising and implementing large-scale game-changing initiatives be it textiles, refinery or digital.
The proposed institute detailed its experience in education by mentioning about Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Reliance Foundation Schools educating over 15,000 students, and deep involvement in changing education landscape through Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology.
"The Jio Institute had also said that it desires to be the youngest global top 100 universities and be a force multiplier to leapfrog India's development in private education sector," an HRD ministry official said.
Courtesy: www.newindianexpress.com
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
