No more semester system in undergraduate courses in HP University
What's the story
Students pursuing undergraduate courses in Himachal Pradesh University will no longer have to appear for semester examinations, as the HP government yesterday decided to revert to the annual examination system. "We had set up a review committee headed by the former vice-chancellor to review RUSA (Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan) and it recommended reverting back to annual examination system," Education Minister Suresh Bharadwaj said.
Reason and plans
Semester exams not suitable for hilly states like HP
The RUSA was introduced in the state in 2013, and the BJP had assured it would restore the annual examination system in UG as it wasn't suitable for hilly states, which have difficult topography and demographic variations, Bharadwaj added. He added that the varsity has been asked to draw up a plan to ensure that the system worked smoothly without any delay in results.
Quality improvement
3,000 schools to have nursery classes equipped with library
Emphasizing on the point that the government was focusing on qualitative improvement in education, Bharadwaj said that a decision has also been taken to start nursery classes in 3,000 schools from this year. He added that all these schools would be equipped with library. Vocational courses would be started in 23 more schools, bringing the number of schools offering vocational education to 43.
Govt funds
MHRD to grant Rs. 810 crore to the state
Concerned over students shifting from government to private schools, the government had constituted a committee to look into the matter and found that absence of primary classes in government schools was one of the reasons. Bharadwaj disclosed that HP would receive a grant of Rs. 810 crore under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan this year from the HRD Ministry.
Intriguing facilities
HP schools to get ICT, language labs, good electricity
In the first phase, 125 schools in HP would be getting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) facility, and 613 schools would be connected to ICT through satellite. The remaining 312 schools would be provided electricity, while language labs would be made functional in 26 places. Rs. 90 lakh has been allocated for infrastructure development of schools in the remote Bharari area of Mandi.