Kapil Sibal's 100 day Action Plan

The education minister, Kapil Sibal's 100 day Action Plan has been published on the Education Ministry site. The hundredth day would be around October 10th - the clock is ticking. The Action Plan lists the following goals:

Legislative Initiatives

1. An autonomous overarching authority for Higher Education and Research based on the recommendations of Yashpal Committee and National Knowledge Commission;
2. A law to prevent, prohibit and punish educational malpractices;
3. A law for mandatory assessment and accreditation in higher education through an independent regulatory authority;
4. A law to regulate entry and operation of Foreign Educational Providers;
5. A law to establish a Tribunal to fast-track adjudication of disputes concerning stake holders (teachers, students, employees and management) in higher education;
6. A law to amend the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, to strengthen the Commission;
7. A law to amend the Copyright Act, 1957 to address the concerns relating to copyrights and related rights of the various stake holders

Policy Initiatives

1. Formulation of a 'Brain-Gain' policy to attract talent fiom across the world to the existing and new institutions;
2. Launching of a new Scheme of interest subsidy on educational loans taken for professional courses by the Economically Weaker Students;
3. Strengthening and expansion of the Scheme for Remedial Coaching for students from SC/ST/minority communities, in higher education;
4. 'Equal Opportunity Offices' to be created in all universities for effective implementation of schemes for disadvanaged sections of the society;
5. A new policy on Distance Learning would be formulated

While a draft of The Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of entry and operation, maintenance of quality and prevention of commercialisation) Bill, 2007 already exists, the other bills on the agenda will need to be drafted. The Law ministry had mooted special educational tribunals to adjudicate on educational malpractice complaints about an year ago.

This 100 day Action Plan is quite ambitious, especially the legislative agenda. The lawyer that he is, Kapil Sibal may well be able to put up drafts of each of the bills for debate by October 10th. Apparently he has the support and backing of the Prime Minister for his agenda.

Comments

[A student from Tamil Nadu]

SIr
I'm a student from Tamil Nadu.I kindly request you to look into this matter which is stressing out the non-tamilians school children in Chennai.Here it is compulsary to take up the Tamil subject which is highly difficult for the non-tamilians.Earlier Tamil was not compulsary in state board schools but during the CM Karunanidhi's rule the subject Tamil has made compulsary.I brought this issue to your notice so that we helpless students agony should be solved and our mental stress should come down.
Thank you!
A helpless student!

[Owen]

Sir,
Do consider inclusion of SPORTS as part of the academic calendar, with accreditation given for participation and excellence in sports thereof. This could be a critical step in encouraging a sports culture in India. Sports as a subject will be taken more seriously by both student and parent. Education institutions will also perform their duties in this area more diligently. All it take is a few marks added to your score for participation in sport, and a few more for excellence. This simple process is good enough to stir a giant wacve of sports in our country.

[pravin]

I really like the idea of a common curriculumn for Maths and Science and strongly agree with Hindi to be one of the languages along with English and one regional language to ensure unity within our country. However Sports and holidays need to be introduced in our schools from early childhood to ensure we have a spirit of team and cooperation that is desired to be together for success and/or meet a defeat with pride to persue higher goals. I also believe holidays in our country particularly summer should be shifted to winter becuase of the hash weather conditions this will not only promote tourism but also give a break to students whom its really meant for to enjoy the time away from School.I hope you consider these points during your tenure. Thank You!

[pooja singh]

hello sir
this is to bring to uor notice about the degrading treatment given to optometry profession in our country.
abroad it is the fourth gud profession and in india it is soon to be kept in allied sciences with technicians.
you are a learned person .no need to explain you abut the optometry but sir just go through the work done by optometrist which is equivalent to ophrthal except surgery
in US n UK optometry is so renowed and in india still the status of opticians is given to us
just go thr the syllabus of optometry n then u'll know what actually optometrist can do.
in institute like aiims they r running such course but with such poor standards with no faculty n teachers n staff .these things r only on papers.if u go by vision 2020 of WHO india needs so many optomerist but still poor treatment of us.
major hindrances
1. no recoginition of us status of opticians is given to us n why?
2. AIIMS gives bsc degree in optometry which holds no value n recognition anywhere and suffers who students why??
3.private college give proper FOUR YEAR DEGREE n they r given value even abroad why?
4. in india we r suffering at the hands of opthalmologist n why??

i think i have made all my points very clear..
looking forward for uor reply

[CHAKRADHARPUR]

sir,we are students of class x of kendriya vidyalaya,chakradharpur,jharkhand.
IT IS GIVEN IN OUR SCHOOL DIARY THAT THERE IS NO HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION FOR CLASS X .BUT TODAY ON 8TH OCTOBER 2009 WE ARE INFORMED THAT OUR HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION IS GOING TO BE HELD ON 19TH OCTOBER 2009.WE ARE INFORMED THAT THIS EXAMINATION WILL COVER THE COURCE UPTO SEPTEMBER WHICH IS NOT AN EASY TASK IN LESS HAN 10 DAYS...
SIR PLEASE MAKE US FREE FROM THIS BURDEN OF EXAM WITHOUT INFORMATION AND ITS INSTANT DOSE .

KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA
CHAKRADHARPUR(BHUBANESWAR REGION)
W.SINGHBHUM,JHARKHAND.
PIN-833102

[pralhad deotale]

Respected sir
this is pralhad deotale from nagpur(maharashtra). i have a close eye on the new policies framed in education system . especially for std xth cbse exam is made optional ,that is realy good move but what about the students taking exams in different state boards

so what we in need is uniformity in 1.curriculum 2.process
till that move will not be effective

regarding iit-jee entrance minimum eligible marks should be 70% around this will give equal importance to board exam

what mostly important is that system should be uniform throught the nation if not possible at astrech make it gradually so that after 5-10 we get educational uniformity in nation

that to same for entrance examinations only one test should be conducted and as per state rank and cental rank in canbe admitted in respective state/centre colleges

[Net life science]

Tamil was not compulsary in state board schools but during the CM Karunanidhi's rule the subject Tamil has made compulsary.I brought this issue to your notice so that we helpless students agony should be solved and our mental stress should come down.

[Net life science]

19TH OCTOBER 2009.WE ARE INFORMED THAT THIS EXAMINATION WILL COVER THE COURCE UPTO SEPTEMBER WHICH IS NOT AN EASY TASK IN LESS HAN 10 DAYS...Net life science