PUNE: Fuelled by the uncertainties during the Covid-19 pandemic and online schooling, more students have joined government schools in Maharashtra in three years since 2018. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2021, facilitated and released by NGO Pratham on Wednesday, put this rise at over 9%. The enrolment in government schools in rural India crossed 70%, even higher than pre-Covid days. Educators said since schools went online, parents have preferred to enrol their children at the entry-level in government schools closest to their homes which boosted the rise in enrolment. The increase in students turning to public education in rural India, while temporary, was driven by financial distress and migrations, the report said. The report also found that the percentage of students who took tuitions has increased from 2018 to 2021. Currently, almost 20% of enrolled students from all grades took paid tuitions. The percentage was 40% when compared to the all-India level. Opting for tuitions had increased across almost all the states, a natural response to the prolonged school closure, the report said. The study also pointed out that economic disruptions had moved children out of private schools to public schools, but parents accessed tuition classes where they had to pay fees. In three years, 9% rise in students in govt schoolsThe report explained, âThis may be due to the fact that tuition classes were a local phenomenon where payment may adjust flexibly and quickly based on demand and supply negotiated between the tutor and the family.â Former director of education Vasant Kalpande said the rise in enrolment in government schools is an effect of Covid-19 and the trend absolutely does not translate into improvement in quality of education. âI do not think this will continue. The parents who migrated back to their native places during Covid-19 have decided to take admission in the nearest possible school which the survey reflects,â he said. On the increase in private tuitions, Kalpande said that Maharashtraâs average is much lower than many other states and the all-India figures. He said the state had always followed this trend in comparison with the other states. Founder and CEO of Leadership for Equity, Madhukar Banuri said the real challenge will also be to look into the absolute numbers once schools reopen completely and account for students too. âThe effect of inter-district and inter-state migration will play a role, and there is a serious lack of tracking children once they move out of the school or village. All indicators are pointing to a greater number of children dropping out or being pushed into child marriages. Actual figures from schools will give us a better estimate of the damage caused by Covid-19, in terms of access and equity for learning and well-being of children,â Banuri said. Compared to the all-India numbers, children in tuitions could be lower in Maharashtra, but the increase is not surprising since many need support, especially those in secondary school leading to board examinations.
Pune: In three years since 2018, fuelled by the uncertainties during the Covid-19 pandemic and online schooling, more students have joined government schools in Maharashtra. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2021, facilitated and released by NGO Pratham on Wednesday, put this rise at over 9%. The enrolment in government schools in rural India crossed 70%, even higher than even pre-Covid days. Educators said since schools went online, parents have preferred to enrol their children at the entry-level in government schools closest to their homes which boosted the rise in enrolment. The increase in students turning to public education in rural India, while temporary, was driven by financial distress and migrations, the report said. The report also found that the percentage of students who took tuitions has increased from 2018 to 2021. Currently, almost 20% of enrolled students from all grades took paid tuitions. The percentage was 40% when compared to the all-India level. Opting for tuitions had increased across almost all states, a natural response to the prolonged school closure, the report said. The study also pointed out that economic disruptions had moved children out of private schools to public schools, but parents accessed tuition classes where they had to pay fees. “This may be due to the fact that tuition classes were a local phenomenon where payment may adjust flexibly and quickly based on demand and supply negotiated between the tutor and the family,” the report explained. Former director of education Vasant Kalpande said the rise in enrolment in government schools is an effect of Covid-19, and the trend absolutely does not translate into improvement in quality of education. “I do not think this will continue. The parents who migrated back to their native places during Covid-19 have decided to take admission in the nearest possible school which the survey reflects,” he said. On the increase in private tuitions, Kalpande said Maharashtra’s average is much lower than many other states and the all-India figures. Founder and CEO of Leadership for Equity, Madhukar Banuri, said the real challenge will also be to look into the absolute numbers once schools reopen completely and account for the existing students too. “The effect of inter-district and inter-state migration will play a role, and there is lack of tracking children once they move out of the school or village. All indicators are pointing to a greater number of children dropping out or being pushed into child marriages. The actual figures from schools in the next few months will give us a better estimate of the damage caused by Covid-19, in terms of access and equity for learning and well-being of children,” Banuri said.
National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) results, the gateway to undergraduate medical seats in colleges across India, were announced late evening on Monday by the National Testing Agency (NTA).The results were delayed due to a stay by the Bombay High Court based on a petition by two students for a retest. The Supreme Court, however, lifted the stay on October 28, ending the long wait of over 16 lakh aspirants who took the exam on September 12.NEET-UG is the qualifying test for aspirants of MBBS, BDS, Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery, and BSc (Nursing) courses.NEET replaced the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and other entrances that were previously conducted at the centre and state levels, including the qualifying test that used to be held separately by the country’s most prestigious medical institution AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).A total of 8,70,074 candidates have cleared the exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses, out of 1,544,275 who took the exam, as against 1,614,777 registered candidates. Compared to 2020, 1.77 lakh more candidates took the exam this year. Also, more candidates registered this year compared to 2019 and 2020, when 1,519,375 and 1,597,435 candidates had registered respectively. The result of 15 candidates has been cancelled for adopting unfair means.Keeping with the past trend, more women candidates qualified NEET as against men. Of the total qualified candidates, women account for 56.8 per cent, up from last year’s 55.46 per cent. The share of women among successful candidates was 57.11 per cent in 2019. Among the top 20 candidates there are two women – Karthika G Nair and Vaishnavi Sarda from Maharashtra. Category-wise break-ups of the qualifying candidates show that 13.12 per cent are SCs, 45.6 per cent OBCs and 4.61 per cent STs, as against last year’s 12.8 per cent, 46.59 per cent and 4.38 per cent respectively.The NTA has not yet released the detailed state-wise break ups. However, a look at the top 20 candidates show that three each come from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, two each from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi, and one each from Kerala, West Bengal, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat. The exam was held in 13 languages across 3,858 centres, including in foreign centres Kuwait and Dubai for the first time. As many as 883 foreign candidates qualified, as against last year’s 878 and 687 in 2019.Three candidates who share the top rank — Mrinal Kutteri (Telangana), Tanmay Gupta (Delhi) and Karthika G Nair (Maharashtra) — scored perfect 720 each. The overall qualifying marks, however, showed a dip this year, compared to 2020. Cut-off scores in general category is 138 this year, compared to 147 in 2020. In ST, SC and OBC categories, the cut-off is 108, as against last year’s 113.The cut offs for general/EWS PwD has been fixed at 122 against 129 in 2020.The National Testing Agency, which comes under the Ministry of Education, clarified that its mandate is limited to conduct the examination and declare the results. The Directorate General of Health Services will now conduct the counselling for 15 per centall India quota seats, deemed Universities, central Universities, and seats of BHU and AMU among others. The details and schedule of counselling would be available on the websites of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Directorates of States.In the case of state quota seats, and other seats falling under the ambit of states, candidates will have to apply to their domicile states and merit list as per state rules. The counselling for private medical colleges will also be conducted by the concerned state counselling authorities.Newsletter | Click to get the day’s best explainers in your inbox
A total of 8,70,074 candidates have cleared NEET-UG 2021 exam for admission to undergraduate medical courses, with women making up 56.8 per cent successful candidates, the results declared Monday by the National Testing Agency (NTA) show.Three students — Mrinal Kutteri (Telangana), Tanmay Gupta (Delhi) and Karthika G Nair (Maharashtra) — secured the top rank, scoring 720 marks each.There are two women among the top 20 candidates from 11 states and one Union Territory.In a statement, NEET (UG) senior director Dr Sadhana Parashar said out of 15,44,275 candidates, 8,70,074 have cleared the exam, held on September 12. This shows an improvement over last year, when 13,66,945 candidates took the exam and 7,71,500 cleared it.Last year, 55.46 per cent qualifying candidates were women.The top-20 candidates this year include three from Uttar Pradesh, and two each from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Delhi. The examination was held in 13 languages across 3,858 centres, including in Kuwait and Dubai. As many as 883 foreign candidates qualified.The category-wise break-up of the qualifying candidates shows that 13.12 per cent are from Scheduled Caste (SC) background, 45.6 per cent from OBC, and 4.61per cent STs, as against last year’s 12.8 per cent, 46.59 per cent and 4.38 per cent, respectively.Cut-off scores in general category is 138 this year, compared to 147 in 2020. In ST, SC and OBC categories, the cut-off is 108, as against last year’s 113.The NTA statement said the DGHS will conduct counselling for 15 per cent all-India quota seats, deemed universities, central universities, and seats of BHU and AMU, among others.“The details and schedule of counselling will be available on websites of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Directorates of States,” it said.In case of state quota seats, and other seats under the ambit of states, candidates “may apply to their domicile states and merit list as per State rules…The counselling for Private Medical Colleges will also be conducted by.. State Counselling Authority,” it said.
Former Deputy Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, Lt Gen (retd) Madhuri Kanitkar on Monday took charge as the Vice-Chancellor of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik. She succeeds Dr Deelip Mhaisekar, whose term ended in February this year. “I feel extremely proud to have been given this responsibility. It is a mission that I have been working on to align medical education and research for patient care and bring in technology to keep student at the centre of activity and this is the best canvas I have got,” Lt Gen Kanitkar told The Indian Express. She retired as the deputy chief of Integrated Defence Staff on October 31.The Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) Dr Nitin Karmalkar had held additional charge as acting V-C of MUHS.Lt GenKanitkar said work would be different in terms of heading a civilian institution as opposed to a defence-oriented one. “However, the aims and objectives are similar. I have taken pride in being a doctor, soldier and teacher. A vice-chancellor is a doctor and a teacher so both those roles are the same. As a soldier, it would help me bring values like discipline and putting the nation and organisation first,” said Lt Gen Kanitkar, who was also the former Dean of Armed Forces Medical College in Pune.In an interview to The Indian Express, she said a university’s soul lies in post-graduation and post-doctoral research. “In spite of Covid and nearly 75,000 students, the Controller of Examination at MUHS under the guidance of Dr Karmalkar conducted all examinations on time and in a transparent manner. MUHS already has a strong foundation as an affiliating university. “There is a strong management committee and senate that guides functioning of the university,” said the MUHS V-C, who believes in a multi-disciplinary approach.“With a little bit of automation, we can declare results at the earliest after exams are over. However, what we need to do is push post-graduation and research, while the second thrust is on integrating different systems of medicines. Holistic care requires an integrated approach,” she said, while stating that they would try to develop new courses and encourage research that would bring out the strength of different streams of medicine.The MUHS V-C held several meetings with officials and is in the process of finalising a vision document. This vision roadmap, however, will require inputs from the state on what it needs to improve in the health sector. “I am very excited about this vision roadmap as we have listed several deliverables within a time period. Covid-19 brought out a lot of general things, so we want to understand which are the lacunae that are felt and how better training programmes can be planned for future preparedness,” Lt Gen Kanitkar said.She said an important aspect would be to increase skill-based modules for MBBS students and healthcare workers so as to focus on what society needs. This will be done through the six regional centres of MUHS located in Pune, Mumbai, Latur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad and Nagpur. For instance, at Nagpur the aim will be to look at tribal health and focus on some community health programme, at Mumbai short courses in dentistry and infectious diseases can be introduced. At Kolhapur, emphasis would be laid on setting up outreach programmes on non-communicable diseases.“Doctors of tomorrow have to use digital technology. We learned several things online and so we can consolidate those gains made during Covid and make education equitable…This could eventually also help a student in a remote college get updated by enrolling for short online modules,” she said. For Lt Gen Kanitkar, though, the need is to focus on post-graduate training at district hospitals so that each patient bed becomes a teaching bed. “Doctors are learning and patients are benefiting with more doctors there,” she added.Meets Chemistry teacher after 44 yearsLt Gen (retd) Kanitkar was elated as she met her chemistry teacher, Dr Ajay Gon, after 44 years on Monday. At a function in which she took charge as the V-C, Lt Gen Kanitkar recalled that Gon had distributed laddoos when she was declared national topper in chemistry in Class XI. “It was a small Kendriya Vidyalaya in Lucknow where I studied Class IX, X and XI. It was not a proper school building and classes were held across small rooms. I still remember Dr Gon was so thrilled that I was declared a national topper in chemistry that he distributed laddoos,” she recalled. Gon now lives in Nashik and Lt Gen Kanitkar personally requested him to attend the function when she took charge as V-C so that she could take his blessings.
