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Monday, June 8, 2026

NEWS TODAY 08.06.2026

Karnataka sanctions Rs 1,464.67 for salaries

TIMES NEWS NETWORK BENGALURU 08.06.2026

The Karnataka Department of School Education and Literacy has sanctioned Rs 1,464.67 crore to pay salaries of teaching and nonteaching staff in government schools and other educational institutions for six months, from July to December 2026. Issued through a government order on June 4, the funds will cover salary expenses in primary and secondary schools, administrative offices, training centres, academic support units, and other institutions under the department.

The department said the allocation is based on the approved 2026-27 budget and directed drawing and disbursing officers to release salaries in accordance with prescribed financial rules. Officials have also been instructed to maintain proper records and submit utilisation details within the stipulated timeline.

The order states that future instalments will be released only after authorities submit detailed expenditure reports, utilisation certificates, and fresh fund requests. The department emphasised that the funds must be used solely for the approved purpose and in compliance with all financial regulations.

Maths remains a killer subject as learning gaps widen across grades

Vishal.Katoch@timesofindia.com 08.06.2026 EDUCATION TIMES

As students transition from primary to secondary grades, their mathematical competency declines, collapsing from 60% in grade III to just 37% in grade IX. It is being blamed on traditional teaching methods, which make Math intimidating due to abstract rules, rigid formulas, and tedious pen-and-paper calculations.

To increase interest, teachers need to foster curiosity, logical reasoning in classrooms instead of strict procedural consistency. The recently released NITI Aayog policy report, School ‘Education System in India: Temporal Analysis and Policy Roadmap for Quality Enhancement,’ shows that this drop is due to gaps in basic learning.

As per PARAKH dashboard, only 50% of class III students could perform simple money transactions up to Rs 100 or identify basic geometric shapes, while just 61% could manage simple measurements of time such as minutes, hours, and days. By class IX, this lack of conceptual clarity worsens drastically: only 28% of students can apply percentage formula to solve problems; just 31% can use fractions and ratios in daily life, and a mere 37% understand the basic properties of shapes like triangles and polygons. Consequently, secondary school students not only face major challenges with advanced concepts such as algebra and geometry theorems, but also struggle with practical, everyday arithmetic.

While Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, and Rajasthan consistently rank as top performers, showing robust systems that maintain learning levels over time, Jharkhand, Meghalaya, Lakshadweep, Gujarat, and J&K lag national average with lowest outcomes, with fewer than 55% of children demonstrating basic skills.

Prof Anita Rampal, former dean, Faculty of Education, University of Delhi and former chairperson, NCERT Primary Textbook Development Team, says, “Math has been known as a ‘killer subject’ for decades, and this is a global perception. Children develop a natural interest when they learn while playing games or working, by integrating math into their life. The true understanding of mathematics is lost the moment it is reduced to just solvingproblems.

“When we look at patterns, notice symmetries, or take measurements, we find that math is everywhere,” Prof Rampal adds. Conceptual Gaps Babita, TGT Maths, CM SHRI School, New Delhi, says that the subject requires absolute, uninterrupted continuity, meaning that if a child gets confused early on, their problems quickly multiply as the lessons get harder.

“Maths is a subject that demands consistency; if there is a gap in understanding or a student does not grasp the basics, the distance between what they know and what is being taught keeps widening. Because the curriculum moves forward at a fixed pace to meet exam deadlines, there is rarely time to help them catch up,” says Babita.

“This missing link quickly shatters a child's morale, turning what should be a normal learning journey into total confusion and a severe drop in confidence. This problem usually occurs when a student reaches grade IX,” she adds. Curiosity Over Fear Turning this fear into confidence will require a completely different approach in the classroom.

Ruby Kumari, (exclusive teacher), UMS Sarouni, Bounsi Banka, Bihar, says, “With tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Math Solver, students may turn passive and become totally dependent on technology. To counter this and help them understand Math better, we must move beyond mere pen-and-paper calculations and connect the subject to the world around them.”

NMC proposes to reinstate 10-year rule in MBBS without diluting rigour

The proposed relaxation is likely to benefit students facing academic losses, and health concerns, offering them more flexibility

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesofindia.com 08.06.2026 EDUCATION TIMES

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a key amendment to the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which could give MBBS students an additional year to complete their undergraduate medical education, taking the total duration to 10 years. The draft notification, titled ‘Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026’, has been placed in the public domain for feedback and objections.

Under the existing regulations, students are required to complete the MBBS programme within nine years from the date of admission. The proposed amendment seeks to extend this limit to 10 years, including the compulsory rotating medical internship, offering students greater flexibility to manage academic, personal, or unforeseen challenges during the programme.

Speaking to Education Times , NMC officials say, “The proposed amendment seeks to provide limited additional flexibility to students for completion of the MBBS programme in exceptional circumstances, while fully preserving the academic standards and competency requirements prescribed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER) 2023. The amendment does not reduce, dilute or waive any academic requirement. Students will continue to be required to successfully complete all professional examinations, mandatory competencies and the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship before being awarded the MBBS degree.

The proposal merely extends the maximum permissible period for completion of the course from nine years to 10 years.” Medical education being a long-duration programme, students may occasionally face genuine academic, personal, health-related or other unforeseen circumstances that interrupt the normal progression of their studies. “The proposed amendment is intended to address such situations in a humane and pragmatic manner without compromising educational standards,” the officials add.

A former NMC official on condition of anonymity, points out that the proposed amendment will be beneficial for students from rural Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, who have entered medical education through NEET but struggle to follow lessons in English. “The additional year can be a critical buffer, reducing the risk of students dropping out early due to language barriers,” he adds.

Cap on Attempts

Under the proposed changes, no student will be allowed more than four attempts to clear the first professional MBBS examination, a provision that remains unchanged. However, students would be allowed to continue the undergraduate medical course for up to 10 years from the date of admission, including the internship period.

This is in alignment with the NMC’s Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) regulations, 2021. “A cap of four attempts in the first professional exam is unjustified, more so if students are in their first year and are still new to the system. If all MBBS students are given one year’s additional time, then why restrict them at a crucial stage?

Further, the proposal will give private players an opportunity to blackmail students if they have faltered on fee payment. The cap could be used as a tool to instil fear among them with threats of imminent failure if they do not pay up,” the source adds.

The proposed relaxation which seeks to bring back the 10-year rule, is likely to benefit students facing academic losses, health concerns, personal emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances, offering them more flexibility to complete their medical education without losing eligibility

Ebola: All int’l arrivals to fill declaration form in India

TRAVELADVISORY

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 08.06.2026

New Delhi : All international arrivals in India, both passengers and airline crew members, will now have to fill a self declaration form in the wake of the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. Passengers who had direct contact with a person suspected/confirmed to have Ebola infection must immediately report to the airport health officer/health desk before immigration clearance. “Are you India-bound? In light of the reported outbreaks of Ebola Disease, all travellers and airline crew coming into India are to follow guidelines strictly.

Your cooperation is essential in helping safeguard public health and ensuring safe travel for all,” the Bureau of Immigration stated in an Ebola travel advisory on X. “All travellers arriving in India are to fill their self-declaration form completely and accurately. Passengers who had direct contact with a person suspected/confirmed to have Ebola infection must immediately report to the airport health officer/health desk before immigration clearance,” the guidelines stated.

Passengers are required to tell the airline or medical staff if they have experienced symptoms like “fever, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhoea, headache, unexplained bleeding, muscle pain, sore throat post travel. Monitor your health for 21 days after arrival. If symptoms develop, seek medical care instantly and share your travel history,” the bureau stated. This travel advisory expands the scope of the protocol issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for airlines flying passengers to India who have visited Ebola hot zones in Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. They were required to fill self declaration forms and undergo thermal screening.