Education | Citizen Matters

Delhi Report Card 2: Keen focus on education, but jury still out on outcomes

February 1, 2020 Sri Krishna

It is widely acknowledged that the AAP government placed education reforms at the top of their agenda during their tenure, initiating many experiments, particularly in school education. While some of these have clearly yielded positive results, some have drawn sharp criticism.

Mumbai civic body initiative to help school kids cope with mental health issues

October 16, 2019 Jahanvi J

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Smiling School Project will train principals and teachers to identify students facing mental or emotional distress. These students will then receive free counselling. But will it be enough, given the nature and magnitude of the problem?

How a fire in Surat has shaken up the ‘coaching’ industry in Bhopal

August 28, 2019 Shuriah Niazi

Following a fire in a Surat coaching centre that claimed 24 lives, the Bhopal administration ordered an inspection of fire safety compliance at all coaching centres. Findings were alarming and notices have been issued to 200 coaching institutes and hostels.

How you can lend a helping hand to Kashmiris in your city

August 21, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

Many Kashmiris across the country, especially students away from home, are struggling to cope with the consequences of the communication blackout; they need assistance, and not just financial. Here’s how we can stand with them at this hour.

All that you must know before you sign your employment contract

August 14, 2019 Soumya Shekhar

A quick and useful explainer of all the terms, conditions and clauses that your job offer letter is most likely to contain — don’t sign before you truly grasp what you are signing up for.

As NMC bill stirs deep divide among doctors, should we worry too?

August 6, 2019 Aruna Natarajan

The National Medical Commission Bill passed by the Rajya Sabha will impact the study and practice of medicine across the country. A look at the provisions of the Bill that have angered the medical fraternity, and what they could mean for heathcare in general.

Voice of Indian youth: Where do I want my country to go from here?

April 29, 2019 Swati Amar

As India votes to elect its representatives in the 17th Lok Sabha, what changes does the youth of the country expect their leaders to usher in? What are their primary concerns? Listen to the voices of a diverse group of Indian youth, in our cities and abroad.

Urban job guarantee programme critical to strengthen small and medium towns

April 3, 2019 News Desk

The Centre for Sustainable Employment at Bangalore’s Azim Premji University has drafted a policy paper, calling for the creation of a National Urban Employment Guarantee Programme for small and medium towns that would assure residents in these a legal right to employment.

City Buzz: Cities gear up for elections | Mumbai foot over bridge collapse | PUBG ban in several cities…and more

March 16, 2019 News Desk

From Ahmedabad to Kolkata, and from Mumbai to Hyderabad, get a quick recap of the latest news and developments in our cities this week.

Round table discussions suggest alternatives to present education system

February 28, 2019 Bhamy Shenoy

A recap of deliberations at recent round table discussions in Karnataka that sought to develop a strategy for transforming our schools and higher education institutions, replacing the rote learning-driven system that they have traditionally followed.

“Politics will change for the better the day education becomes a poll issue”

February 6, 2019 Revathi Siva Kumar

Atishi Marlena, formerly advisor to the Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister in Delhi, is often credited with having created a revolution in the capital city’s government schools. In this exclusive interview, she talks of the journey and her future plans as a parliamentarian, if elected.

Safety or integration? Hostels pose tough choice for north-eastern students

February 1, 2019 Revathi Siva Kumar

Bangalore University is all set to open up an exclusive hostel facility for female students from the north-eastern states. Delhi is also likely to follow soon. These hostels will create a safe space for the students who have historically borne the brunt of casual as well as violent racial prejudice, but do they really want safety at the cost of mainstreaming?

Facts you need to know before you plunge into the reservation debate

January 18, 2019 Arjun Rajan

Parliament nod to the Constitutional amendment providing 10 percent reservation to economically weaker sections has predictably stirred a hornet’s nest. But how much do you really know about how the system of quotas works and how the latest move will change the math?

For almost 15 million migrant children, education remains a luxury

January 17, 2019 Navya P K

In a land of 453 million internal migrants, a majority among whom seek work in cities, children’s education is the greatest casualty. Government schemes notwithstanding, most migrant children never end up joining school in host cities or eventually drop out.

City Buzz: National Clean Air Programme | BEST buses on strike | Road repair in Kolkata..and more!

January 13, 2019 News Desk

National plans to tackle the urban pollution menace, global recognition for India’s fast growing cities and civic news from around the cities — catch some of the most important headlines of the week.

Backbreaking education: Centre’s directives on schoolbags fall on deaf ears

January 8, 2019 Revathi Siva Kumar

Heavy schoolbags have serious health effects. Yet, in many cities, children carry almost half their body weight on their backs. The recent central government order to reduce schoolbag weight also looks unlikely to make much difference.

Beating violence with education: How Education City in Dantewada is showing the way

November 26, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

With 18 institutions and 5,500 students at all levels, Education City in violence-stricken Dantewada is a novel and successful experiment. It is the only ray of hope for the children of a state ravaged by Naxalism.

With ‘upcycling labs,’ ‘safai banks’ and more, can environmental education save our planet?

September 18, 2018 Aditi Tandon

Right from pre-schools to online digital academies for adult practitioners, educators are coming up with many innovative programmes to promote sustainability and spread awareness about the environment. The question is whether these can really create impact in the long run.

Labelled, bullied, humiliated: What LGBT students in our schools go through

June 11, 2018 Satarupa Sen Bhattacharya

A young researcher in Mumbai asked high school students from the LGBT community to share their experience in their schools. Close to 200 people from across cities responded and their tales are alarming.

How two bored Bengaluru school boys made city schools greener

August 3, 2017 Sara Borasio

TAGE, a brainchild of Nishant Panicker and Aniruddah Vorunganti, has helped pair up schools such that students of one can help make notebooks out of unused paper for those of the other. Their vision for the future is even loftier.