Educational Loans And The Higher Education Sector In India

In 2001 the Indian Banks Association have come up with a model frame work for educational loans in the country. With the approval of the Central Government the public sector banks in India started to give education loans. The private and cooperative banks also joined the fray. Due to growing NPAs and the intervention of the Government these norms were modified in 2011. The budget allocation for the primary and higher secondary education is on the increase in India. However, higher education has been of late relegated or left to the mercy of the private players. There has been a steady growth of educational loans disbursed, private colleges and deemed universities started and enrolments of students in higher education during the years 2001 to 2011. This paper is a humble attempt to 1) analyse the growth of the educational loans vis-à-vis other forms of personal loans at the national level, 2) showcase the disbursements of educational loans in Kerala State, 3) to assess the growth of educational institutions and enrolment of students in higher education in India from secondary data and 4) to make suggestions based on the findings

Political Education in Plural Societies: Using the Anti-Bias Approach to Challenge Oppression in Bombay and Berlin

This study addresses the effectivity of the Anti-Bias approach and training methodology as a pedagogical political strategy to challenge oppression among student groups in the cities of Bombay and Berlin. The Anti-Bias trainings conducted within the framework of this study also become the medium through which the perpetuation of oppressive structures by students within and outside the school is investigated. Empirical data from predominantly qualitative investigations in four secondary schools, two each in Bombay and Berlin, is studied and analysed on the basis of theoretical understandings of prejudice, discrimination and identity. This study builds on insights offered by previous research on prejudices and evaluations of anti-bias and diversity interventions, where the lack of sufficient research and thorough evaluations testing impact has been identified (Levy Paluck, 2006). The theoretical framework suggests that prejudices and discriminatory practices are learnt and performed by individuals over the years by way of pre-existing discourses, and that behaviour and practices can be unlearnt through a multi-step process. It proposes that the discursive practices of students contribute to the constitution of their viable selves and in the constitution of ‘others’. Drawing on this framework, the study demonstrates how student-subjects in Bombay and Berlin perpetuate oppressive discourses by performing their identities and performing identities onto ‘others’. Such performative constitution opens up the agency of the individual, disclosing the shifting and dynamic nature of identities. The Anti-Bias approach is posited as an alternative to oppressive discourses and a vehicle that encourages and assists the agency of individuals. The theoretical framework, which brings together a psychological approach to prejudice, a structural approach to discrimination and a poststructural approach to identity, facilitates the analysis of the perpetuation of dominant discourses by the students, as well as how they negotiate their way through familiar norms and discourses. Group discussions and interviews a year after the respective trainings serve to evaluate the agency of the students and the extent to which the training impacted on their perceptions, attitudes and behavioural practices. The study reveals the recurrence of the themes race, religion, gender and sexuality in the representational practices of the students groups in Berlin and Bombay. It demonstrates how students in this study not only perform, but also negotiate and resist oppressive structures. Of particular importance is the role of the school: When schools offer no spaces for discussion, debate and action on contemporary social issues, learning can neither be put into practice nor take on a positive, transformative form. In such cases, agency and resistance is limited and interventionist actions yield little. This study reports the potential of the Anti-Bias approach and training as a tool of political education and action in education. It demonstrates that a single training can initiate change but sustaining change requires long-term strategies and on-going actions. Taking a poststructural perspective, it makes concrete suggestions to adapt and alter the Anti-Bias approach and the implementation of Anti-Bias trainings.

Influence of education levels on dissemination of soil fertility management information in the central highlands of Kenya

Inadequate links between researchers and farmers has resulted in low uptake of research advances recommended to improve food security in the central highlands of Kenya. Access to timely and accurate information by extension agents and farmers is paramount in dissemination of soil fertility management practices. Hence, the study sought to investigate the effect of education levels on communication channels used to disseminate soil fertility technologies in the Central highlands of Kenya. Questionnaires were used to elicit information from 105 extension agents and 240 farmers. About 50.5% of the extension officers were certificate holders while 29.5% were diploma holders from agricultural institutes. Majority of the farmers had attained primary education (59.6%) while 25.8% and 9.2% had attained secondary and post secondary education, respectively. Research institutions were the most accessible sources of information on soil fertility management practices by extension agents while internet and scientific conferences were the least scored as accessible sources of soil fertility management information by extension agents. Education levels significantly influenced preference of individual approach methods by farmers. There was a significant positive relationship between education and accessibility of internet as a source of information on green manure. The implication of the study was that education levels influenced the mode of communication used in the transfer of soil fertility research outputs to the end users. Consequently, it is extremely important to consider education levels in selection of dissemination pathways used in agriculture.

Handbook for inspecting secondary schools : with guidance on self-evaluation.

Este manual ha sido publicado para marcar las directrices que han de seguir tanto las inspecciones escolares, como los inspectores en sus visitas a las escuelas de secundaria, aunque, también es de utilidad para la autoevaluación escolar.Con él,se garantiza que el proceso de inspección es de la más alta calidad y que las decisiones sobre una escuela son a la vez justas y rigurosas. Incorpora los requisitos del sistema de control diferenciado, por el que se establecen dos tipos de inspecciones. Una inspección corta para las escuelas más eficaces, y una inspección completa o intensiva para el resto; ambas llevan un resumen de los informes para los padres, escritos en el mismo formato estándar. Este nuevo sistema de inspección se aplica desde enero de 2000.

Teaching secondary Chemistry.

Esta guía práctica tiene como objetivo facilitar recursos a los docentes de la etapa de secundaria en su objetivo de enseñar a los alumnos las bases para el estudio y comprensión de la química. Está escrito en colaboración con la Association for Science Education (ASE) con la finalidad de difundir las buenas prácticas y nuevas ideas entre los profesores de ciencias y contribuir, así, a la mejora de la enseñanza.

Teaching secondary Physics.

Esta guía práctica tiene como objetivo facilitar recursos a los docentes de la etapa de secundaria en su objetivo de enseñar a los alumnos las bases para el estudio y comprensión de la física. Está escrito en colaboración con la Association for Science Education (ASE)con la finalidad de difundir las buenas prácticas y nuevas ideas entre los profesores de ciencias y contribuir, asi, a mejorar la enseñanza.

Teaching secondary Biology.

Esta guía práctica tiene como objetivo facilitar recursos a los docentes de la etapa de secundaria en su objetivo de enseñar a los alumnos las bases para el estudio y comprensión de la biología. Está escrito en colaboración con la Association for Science Education (ASE)con la finalidad de difundir las buenas prácticas y nuevas ideas entre los profesores de ciencias y contribuir, asi, a mejorar la enseñanza.

Teaching secondary science using ICT.

El nivel alcanzado por las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación en el mundo actual, en el que van a vivir y trabajar nuestros estudiantes, justifica su utilización en las aulas. Las TIC han transformado la enseñanza de las ciencias en las escuelas, pues aportan nuevas posibilidades a los profesores y ofrecen una mayor independencia en su trabajo y en su forma de pensar a los estudiantes.

Safe and exciting science : a pack of training activities on health and safety for science departments in secondary schools and colleges and for initial teacher training.

Es un recurso formativo elaborado en respuesta a diversas solicitudes de escuelas para ayudar a éstas en los servicios de salud y actividades de formación en seguridad. Este material puede ser utilizado por los profesores en las prácticas realizadas en los laboratorios escolares con un riesgo mínimo. Va dirigido a asesores científicos, profesores, consultores y formadores de docentes.

Teaching secondary how science works.

El propósito de este libro es ayudar a los profesores a cumplir con los enunciados incluidos en la última versión del curriculo nacional en ciencias. Para ello, pone de relieve varios elementos que forman parte de cómo trabajar con la ciencia y que los maestros deben entender y enseñar: datos, pruebas, teorías y explicaciones, habilidades para la comunicación y aplicaciones e implicaciones de la ciencia. Cumple con los requisitos para la enseñanza de la ciencia en secundaria. Se acompaña de un CD-ROM con hojas de trabajo para los alumnos.

Creative activities for the secondary classroom.

Recurso con más de cien actividades para estimular la creatividad y la motivación en la escuela secundaria. Éstas ayudarán a los estudiantes en el trabajo en equipo, a ser competentes en la negociación, a tener una conciencia de sí mismos y de los otros, a ser flexibles en su pensamiento, espontáneos en la generación de ideas imaginativas y creativas a la hora de buscar soluciones a problemas cotidianos. Las actividades pueden adaptarse fácilmente a diferentes lecciones y grupos de edad.

GCSE Physical education.

Guía de bolsillo para la revisión de los temas clave en el área de la educación física para el examen GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) con trescientas cincuenta preguntas rápidas y sus respuestas, organizadas en secciones temáticas y con consejos de examen. Los temas cubiertos son: estilos de vida saludables y activos, influencias en tu estilo de vida, ejercicio, condición física y rendimiento, la actividad física como parte de tu estilo de vida, dieta, salud y bienestar, mente y cuerpo sanos, estilo de vida activo y saludable y tu anatomía.

Autoconcepto académico y toma de decisiones en el alumnado de bachillerato. 'Academic self-concept and decision making of secondary school students'.

Resumen tomado de la publicación. Con el apoyo económico del departamento MIDE de la UNED. Contiene anexo de preguntas

Historical perspectives of bilingual Education in the United States. 'Una perspectiva histórica de la educación bilingüe en Estados Unidos'.

Monográfico con el título: 'Sociedad de la Información, lenguas minoritarias y educación en bilingüismo'. Resumen basado en el de la publicación

Deliberation as a core part of teacher education and civics classrooms

Resumen basado en el de la publicación