IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

A plan for a new "associate professional" model of education – based on the traditional apprenticeship system similar to one that operated successfully in Germany – has been proposed by Fast-track to IT (FIT).

It is hoped access to online educational media will allow schools to share resources, access global teaching aids, help students learn new skills, and engage students more deeply through the use of online interactive content.

The e-Governance Academy for the Caribean, a subsidiary of Estonian non-profit foundation e-Governance Academy, has established a subsidiary in Jamaica that will support digital development in the Caribbean.

The e-Governance Academy already shares Estonia's digital governance experience with the Jamaican Government and some organisations in Cuba, and advises the Dominica Government on creating an e-governance strategy.

India's first Community Skill Park today opened at Chavara with Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy all praise for the 'new-generation approach' to developing skills and increasing the employability of the youth of the state.

Speaking after inaugurating 'Kaushal Kendra', the country's first community skill park in Chavara, on the outskirts of Kollam district, about 70 km from here, Chandy said though students from Kerala excel in academics, they need a 'finishing touch' when it comes to employability.

Kaushal Kendra gives that necessary push to the youth and the government was happy to extend full support to the project, he said.

The training was attended by senior officials of various district offices of Punjab, an official spokesman said.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced to set up a Skill Development University in the state.

He said that a proposal for setting up of Skill Development University in Haryana has been sent to the Union HRD Ministry and he hoped that it would get clearance soon.

The University would help in training of teachers in improving their pedagogical skills so that they can prove to be good teachers and be fair to their profession.

On September 10, the Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani launched the national web portal for promotion of a national apprenticeship scheme. The scheme is aimed at people who have a graduate degree, hold a diploma, have cleared their 10+2 or hold vocational certificates. It aims to provide opportunities for practical training.

The Minister, in a statement, said that, "The portal will now ensure seamless connectivity with all stakeholders, including students, establishments and technical institutions across the country for transparent administration through e-governance."

In its bid to move digital, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is now in the process of digitalising its learning materials for the students, who are studying different courses in the university.

Informing this here on Saturday, IGNOU, Vice Chancellor, Professor Ravindra Kumar said that the digital learning material would be made available to students apart from the printing materials.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said that use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) would strengthen school education system.

Speaking at 'edNEXT - National Conference on ICT in School Education' here, she said education ministers of some of the states are working to reduce burden of exams on students.

Earlier, she appreciated the efforts put in by education ministers of all states in achieving hundred percent result in constructing separate toilet for boys and girls in schools during a period of one year.

While wondering the scope of education and capacity building in India, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof V N Rajasekharan Pillai said, “With the remarkable achievements of Gyan Vani, Gyan Darshan and other internet connectivity sources of the university, it is considered to be the technological university in the country connecting millions of people. With thousands of telecasters soon coming up, it is going to be the national e-governance provider.”

In 2011, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) changed the pattern and syllabus of the Civil Services Preliminary Examination following recommendations made by various committees, commissions, and study groups, such as the Alagh Committee (2000-2001), the Hota Committee (2004), and the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2005-2009).

In the old scheme, the preliminary examination consisted of Paper I general studies (compulsory) and Paper II optional subject. The syllabus of the general studies was as follows: current events; history and the National Movement; geography; Indian polity; Indian economy; mental ability; and general science.

On the prospects of online education in India:

Traditionally, only correspondence programmes have been in vogue in India, mostly in non-technical courses. This is changing with a massive infrastructure built around Infor­mation and Communication Tech­nology (ICT). However, with new interventions in ICT, AICTE is relooking at the distance paradigm in technical education. Two points of caution: the last mile problem of implementing ICT and reaching students with quality content at their place and the non-negotiable requirement of conduct of workshops, labs, etc only in a face-to-face mode of learning.

A dedicated professional with 19 years of academic experience specialising in personnel management, interpersonal and communication skills, Pande is well-known as an effective communicator with strong relationship management skills. He speaks to Rajesh Rao on how the telecom industry is changing the way education is imparted.

Additionally, uniform access to world-class content is essential. The opportunity is available now to build such an ecosystem. This could meaningfully complement infrastructure initiatives in the education sector. Here are 10 key trends that schools must look into while adopting information and communications technology (ICT) in education.

In a bid to promote technical skills among the youth and make them industry-ready, the Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Centre (APSSDC) has entered into an MoU with the Institute of Taxation and Accounting Professionals (iTAP).

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister for Skill Development Kollu Ravindra and iTAP president R Venkateswara Rao at the inaugural session of a two-day national symposium ‘Smart Cities - Challenges and Opportunities’ began here on Friday.

A three-day training programme on ‘Basics of computer applications’ commenced at ATI here on Tuesday. The training is for the ministerial staff of Capital Complex heads of offices and heads of departments as well as of the district administration, an official communiqué informed.

Altogether 37 participants – 23 from Capital Complex and 14 from district administration – are attending the programme sponsored fully by central Department of Personnel and Training. Inaugurating the programme, ATI Director Pate Marik highlighted the importance of computer application in public delivery system.

In his inaugural address Matcha asked the trainees to take the training seriously as it would stand them in good stead adding that e-governance cannot be ignored in this fast changing world. While welcoming the resource persons and the trainees, DIO, NIC Ajay Kumar Singh underscored the importance of e-governance in this IT-driven modern working environment. He said that the training was being conducted to acquaint the government departments on technicalities involved in e-governance.

Speaking as the chief guest at the golden jubilee celebration of the Central Bihar Chamber of Commerce (CBCC) on Saturday afternoon, Modi said the NDA government has taken a series of measures to address the genuine grievances of the business community and these measures include e-governance to make things easier for the businessmen and offer doorstep service delivery to them through computers so that they need not visit commercial taxes department offices.

The training was key role in implementation of e-Governance project in their Schools. This training is one of the activities under the National e-Governance Plan with clear objective to sensitize Principals about the role of e-governance, to facilitate in improving transparency, providing speedy information, dissemination, improving administrative efficiency and public services in all the aspects of education.

This training was organized by department of IT, Chandigarh Administration, to create institutional structures for leading and managing the e-governance initiatives, building capacities and skill sets for ensuring successful implementation and adoption of the e-governance initiatives.