########################################################################## # If Goanet stops reaching you, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # Want to check the archives? http://www.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
GOAN NOMINATED MEMBER OF THE
NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MINORITIES EDUCATION.
According to the information received by the Government of Goa from the H.R.D. Ministry, Prof. Newman Fernandes, Principal of St. Xavier’s College, Goa, has been appointed Member of the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education. This Committee has been constituted through Resolution No. F9-7/2002 MC(L) and published in Part I, Section 1, of the Gazette of India.
Besides monitoring the implementation of Minorities Education in the Programme of Action prepared by the Central Government in 1992 on the basis of National Policy on Education (1986), this Committee will recommend issues related to reservation, recognition and evaluation of Minority Institutions.
Prof. Newman Fernandes, was transferred to St. Xavier’s College in October, 2002 and from that day onwards he has worked persistently along with his team to raise the status of St. Xavier’s College from “one of the best colleges in Goa” to “one of the best colleges in India”. He piloted the project of “College with Potential for Excellence”, and St. Xavier’s College, was conferred this status in the month of September, 2004 and was adjudged as One of the 47 Best Colleges in India out of the entire population of 16,000 colleges. He is an institutional builder and was the Founder Principal of Rosary College, Navelim. He is the Vice-President of the All India Association for Christian Higher Education
The tenure of the members of the Committee, except the Ex-Officio Members, is 3 years. The Committee shall advise the Government of all matters pertaining to the education of minorities. In addition, it will review the functioning of the various schemes launched by the H.R.D. Ministry for the purposes of promoting Minority Education. The Committee will also work towards raising the level of educational access and quality among the Minority Communities.
The National Policy on Education (1986) and the Updated Programme of Action (1992) spelt out the concept of a National System of Education in which all students irrespective of caste, creed, location or sex, have access to education on comparable equality. The policy lays emphasis on the removal of disparities and seeks to equalise educational opportunities by attending to the specific needs of those who have remained educationally backward so far.
The first meeting of the reconstituted National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education was held recently in Delhi. The issues discussed included recommendations to the Government how best to address issues related to reservation, recognition and evaluation of Minority Institutions as well as monitor the ongoing schemes of the Ministry of H.R.D. targeted at the Minorities and to advise the Government on the contemporary approaches towards traditional methods of instruction.
The National Common Minimum Programme makes several commitments which have a direct bearing on the education of the Minorities. According to Mr. Arjun Singh, it has become even more urgent to constitute this committee in order to facilitate and guide the implementation of such commitments.
Mr. Arjun Singh in a letter addressed to Prof. Newman Fernandes, invited him to serve on this Committee and said that his association with the Committee will strengthen the Government in the resolve to redeem the commitments on the Minority education.
A detailed discussion took place on clear guidelines from the Centre for recognition of Minority institutions as well as simplification of U.G.C. and AICTEC procedure for recognition of Minority Higher Education Institutions, the system of Common Admission Test for admission in Professional and Technical Institutions, was also examined. The need for fresh statistics on Minority Education and for additional schools under SARVA SHIKSHAN ABHIYAN (S.S.A) in Minority dominated areas and more Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools in Minority dominated areas was expressed. Special emphasis was placed on education of Minority girls and hostel facilities at school level. All the members expressed the need for continuous dialogue with the Minorities and coordinated efforts to improve Minority education.
<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
