UK relaxes norms for PhD scholars

UK relaxes norms for PhD scholars

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

14.07.2020

Hyderabad: Even as other countries place restrictions on the entry of foreign students, the United Kingdom is taking the opportunity to extend post-study work visa for international PhD students. The move has been welcomed by students who want to pursue their higher education abroad.

“As part of the new graduate route, international students who complete a PhD from summer 2021can stay in the UK for three years after study to live and work,” the UK government said in a statement recently.

“The UK wants to attract the brightest and the best students from around the world – which is why we are extending the period of leave to PhD students under the graduate route to three years, with undergraduate and masters students getting two years,” British deputy high commissioner to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Andrew Fleming said.

“Extending the length of the graduate route for PhD students sends a global message that the UK is an open and attractive destination for international students as the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.

Students, even those hoping to pursue a masters, sounded positive about the decision. “I plan to pursue my MSc in physics in the UK,” said Kamini Rao, a resident of LB Nagar. She said that a PhD would be the next step for her and the current policy shift only made her decision to head to the UK firmer. “This will give me more time to stay and work in the UK,” she added.

Previously, PhD students were allowed four to six months like with other Tier 4 visas, a year’s extension was possible with the Doctorate Extension Scheme

‘CBSE declares results in record time in pandemic’

‘CBSE declares results in record time in pandemic’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Panaji: 14.07.2020

The CBSE Class XII results, which were declared on Monday, saw over 95% of all those who took the exam from Goa clear it. Of the 587 who answered the exam, 558 cleared it.

Eighty-five students from Navy Children’s School, Chicalim, appeared for the exam. Principal Anupama Mehra said that science stream student Sunidhi Rana emerged the school topper, with an overall percentage of 96.6%. In the commerce stream, Nandini Vengurlekar topped the school scoring 94.4%, while the humanities stream saw Siddhivi Singh topping the stream with 96.2%.

“Since CBSE had to change the marking scheme because of the pandemic and an internal assessment was taken, the pass percentage of Pune region has come down. Hats off to CBSE that they could declare the result even in this pandemic in record time,” said Mehra.

Meanwhile, principal of Vidya Vikas Academy, Margao, Joble Bijoy, said the institute is happy to achieve 100% results at the examination. “Sriya Rallabandi topped with 95.8%. Thirty students scored distinction, of which 11 are above 90%. We congratulate our students and teachers for the outstanding results,” said Bijoy. Director of Sunshine School, Old Goa, Deepak Khaitan said that all 29 students from his school, who appeared from the three streams, cleared the exam. “The highest score was 88.7% and the average marks scored were 71%,” said Khaitan.

Kendriya Vidyalaya I and II in Vasco, in Ponda and Kendriya Vidyalaya INS Mandovi, Verem, all attained 100% results.

“From KV INS Mandovi, 27 students appeared and passed in the science stream and all scored above 75%. The top scorers were Rishon Fernandes with 95.4%, followed by Sharon Rodrigues with 95.4%. In commerce stream, 15 appeared and all cleared the exam with four scoring over 75%. The top scorers were Junaid Bhati with 89.6% and Gowri S with 87.2%,” school principal Ravi Pratap Singh said.

Singh, who is also incharge of KV Ponda, said that 16 students appeared in the science stream from the school and cleared the exam. The top scorer was Bhavika Singh with 96.2% Margao’s Kings School also saw all students clear the exam. The top scorers were Aakash Kamat with 97.2% and Anisha Nadkarni with 97%.

Principal of the residential Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Canacona, Animesh Pal, said, “All 35 students from the school cleared the exam, we got a 100% result. The average score by students was 81.8%. We offer only the science stream, and Siddharth Katoch topped with 96.2%.”

State approves 3 new medical colleges, new course at PGIMS

State approves 3 new medical colleges, new course at PGIMS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chandigarh:  14.07.2020

The Haryana government has accorded approval to set up three new medical colleges in the state and to start DM (cardiology) course at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak.

An official spokesman said these three new medical colleges would come up in Sirsa, Kaithal and Yamunanagar districts.

He said the medical college in Sirsa would be set up on the land of Haryana Agricultural University whereas the college would be established at Sarpankheri village in Kaithal. In Yamunanagar, the medical college would be set up on a panchayat land, he added.

The spokesman said DM (cardiology) course at PGIMS, Rohtak would run under the Medical Council of India (MCI). He said PGIMS already has all the requisite infrastructure, equipment and fulltime faculty as per the requirement of MCI to start separate course in DM (cardiology).

PGIMS is the apex teaching medical institute of Haryana affiliated to Pandit Bhagwat Dyal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak. The institute is running undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various disciplines and super-specialty courses like DM/MCh.

The government has also accorded approval to start DM (cardiology) course at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak. It will be run under the Medical Council of India

PU to push for cancellation of exams

PU to push for cancellation of exams

Aarti.Kapur@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:  14.07.2020

Panjab University (PU) officials will write to the University Grants Commission (UGC), requesting cancellation of the final-year examination in view of the pandemic. A decision was taken during the syndicate meeting on Monday.

The syndicate also constituted a committee to decide on holding the examination and the next academic session. The committee will submit a report in two weeks. After an over fourhour discussion, syndicate members agreed on constitution of a committee to draft a proposal on whether to conduct the exams or not and when would it be possible to do so.

The committee comprising Anu Chatrath, D P S Randhawa, Harpreet Singh Dua, Iqbal Singh and senior officials will be headed by Navdeep Goyal. It will also take a call on promotion of intermediate classes and next date of admission in colleges.

Although the university did not table the agenda about academic session and exam in the meeting, members sought a discussion on the issue. On July 6, the UGC issued guidelines to conduct examination in September but PU is yet to take a decision on it.

A memorandum was submitted to syndicate members from Students for Society, All India Students Association (AISA), Ambedkar Students Association, Punjab Students Union (Lalkar) and Youth For Swaraj parties in which they requested resolution to the issue of final semester examinations at the earliest.

Since the announcement of final exams, students and their families have been left facing fear and uncertainty. Students will also face severe residential and transportation problems in case of direct offline exams.

A student holds protest against the UGC decision to hold exams in PU

No. of students getting 95%+ in CBSE Class 12 surges 119%

No. of students getting 95%+ in CBSE Class 12 surges 119%

90%+ Tally Up By 63k Due To New Marking Plan

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  14.07.2020

The Class XII CBSE results, declared under the shadow of the unprecedented pandemic of our times, has thrown up some unprecedented numbers as well. The pass percentage has touched an all-time high of 88.8% and a student has for the first time been awarded 100 in all six subjects.

A unique marking scheme was adopted because of the lockdown due to Covid-19. Exams in 12 subjects could not be held. It was decided to take the average of the best three scores from the papers that a student could appear for and award that to each of the other papers. This was the reason why a list of toppers wasn’t brought out.

The number of students scoring 90% and above for the first time not only breached the one lakh mark but also increased the tally of such high scorers by 63,000 — from 94,299 last year to 1,57,934 this year. The number of students scoring 95% and above has also more than doubled to 38,686 from last year’s 17,693.

Lucknow’s Divyanshi Jain scored 100% in humanities stream. She got a perfect 100 in five papers & was, according to the new marking plan, awarded 100 in geography, her 6th paper, which couldn’t be held P 5

‘Essential repeat’ replaces ‘fail’

The board has replaced the term ‘fail’ with ‘essential repeat’. So, the word ‘fail’ won’t figure in the documents issued to candidates.

At 98.7, JNVs record highest pass %age

The government-run Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas recorded the highest pass percentage of 98.7, with KVs second at 98.62.

Higher cutoffs in DU colleges likely

With many more students scoring 90% and above compared with 2019, cutoffs in DU colleges are likely to be on the higher side.

No list of CBSE toppers this year

As is evident from this marking scheme, those who scored well in the papers that they had appeared for were at a distinct advantage. Those who did poorly also got marked accordingly in the other papers with the possibility that had they appeared for these papers, they could have scored better.

This was the reason why the board did not bring out a list of toppers this year.

Divyanshi Jain, a student at Navyug Radiance Senior Secondary School, Lucknow, scored a perfect 600/600 by appearing in five subjects only. She was assessed for geography, for which she did not appear, according to the marking scheme. Jain, a humanities student, said: “The results are unbelievable. I had thought of being a topper but 100% marks are surprising,” she said.

The board has announced that for the papers for which examinations could not be held in July, it will hold optional examinations. In a statement, the board said that as soon as conditions are conducive, as assessed and decided by the central government, the exams will be held. “The candidates whose results have been declared based on the assessment scheme will be allowed to appear in these optional examinations to improve their performance, if they wish to," said the statement. TNN

FULL COVERAGE: P 2

PRE-LOCKDOWN RUSH

PRE-LOCKDOWN RUSH

Crowded toll booths allow free passage

RETURN TO INDOORS Many Exit City Fearing They’d Be Trapped Without Cash Again, Others Gear Up To Work From & For Home

Rajiv.Kalkod@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  14.07.2020

All roads led out of Bengaluru or so it appeared on Monday, as most thoroughfares witnessed huge outbound vehicular movement. With the city slated to go under lockdown from Tuesday evening, hundreds of Bengalureans set out for their towns and villages in other districts.

Tumakuru Road connecting to several districts of north and coastal Karnataka and Hosur Road leading to Tamil Nadu witnessed the maximum traffic flow. Owing to the heavy pileup of vehicles, staffers at two toll plazas on Nelamangala expressway of Tumakuru Road allowed for free passage of vehicles.

Traffic police sources said that between 5am and 6pm, 65,000 vehicles crossed their gates as against the usual 15,000-20,000 on other days.

“At one stage, the vehicles that had to move through Parle G toll plaza queued up for up to 5km till Goraguntepalya. Things eased a bit after 11am when the gates were opened for free passage. Still there was a bumperto-bumper crawl on the elevated highway. It took more than an hour to travel between Goraguntepalya and the toll gate, a distance of around 5km,” Peenya traffic police said.

“Two reasons led to heavy outbound traffic. First, because there was a curfew on Sunday and second, because Tuesday will see the beginning of another lockdown. Those looking to move out of the city opted for Monday. We expect the same rush on Tuesday too,” a senior traffic police officer told TOI. Toll plazas on Electronics City elevated expressway along Hosur Road also reported huge rush of exiting vehicles.

Pooja Girish, a software engineer, said she was heading to Thirthahalli, her hometown. “I think the lockdown will continue even after July 22. My company has permitted me to work from home. So, my three friends and I have decided to travel to Thirthahalli and stay with my parents,” she said. Panduranga Shetty, a coconut merchant from Yeshwantpur, said he will return to the city only after it’s free from Covid-19. Shetty was travelling to Tiptur in a goods truck with his wife and two daughters. “I have temporarily closed down my business and returning to my hometown. I will work in agricultural fields until the city becomes virus-free,” he said.

GOODBYE FOR NOW: Toll plazas on Nelamangala expressway saw massive traffic on Monday as many left the city lock, stock, and barrel

T’gana hospital employee quits over Covid deaths

T’gana hospital employee quits over Covid deaths

Hyderabad:  14.07.2020

A hospital superintendent in Telangana’s Nizamabad district resigned on Monday, owning moral responsibility for the recent deaths of three Covid-19 patients.

Government General Hospital superintendent Dr M Nageshwara Rao on Monday resigned days after the hospital was embroiled in a controversy when one of the bodies was taken in an auto after hospital staff failed to follow due protocol.

Dr Rao sent his resignation to the director of medical education (DME). Though he did not take calls, he said ‘yes’ in response to a message if he had put in his papers.

Asked why he quit, Dr Rao, whose several family members were Covid-19 positive but he continued to work in office, responded saying: “Due to personal reasons.”

Those working closely with the doctor said he was hurt over the criticism in the wake of three Covid-19 deaths and a body being transported in an auto. TNN