Plan for ‘Science Magnet’ schools gets IISER nod as Navodaya Schools

he proposal to set up new specialized Navodaya Vidyalayas to be termed as ‘Science Magnet’ schools, in collaboration with top R&D institutes, got the go-ahead from the Indian Institutes of Science Education & research (IISER) on Tuesday.

At a meeting with the Human Resource Development (HRD) minister Kapil Sibal, IISER directors said that such schools would allow an integrated approach to science education from school to university level. IISER Thiruvananthapuram director has also committed to helping to provide an enabling environment to students enrolled in these Science Magnet schools. The Planning Commission is also learnt to have accorded, in principal, approval for the proposal.

These specialized Navodaya schools will only cater to students from classes IX to XII and will be set up over the next three years. The idea came up in light of the huge shortage of science graduates and post-graduates in the country and the diminishing interest in core science subjects.

Institutes like IISERs, Indian Institute of Science, National Physical Laboratory, Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Council for Science & Industrial Research (CSIR) will be approached to help these schools which will be located in close proximity to these R&D institutes.

Meanwhile, the IISERs have rejected the proposal for an integrated near 7-year PhD programme, terming it as impractical in the present set up. The directors said that the suggested change “is not practical and the present pattern of 3+2+3 years for obtaining a BS-MS degree at the end of the fifth year, negotiation for a PhD at the end of the fourth year and the completion of PhD at the end of the eighth year is ideally suited”.

Journey From a Village to ORACLE via NAVODAYA

                         I dedicate my placement in ORACLE Corporation(Oracle site) to my beloved teachers and Navodaya, without which I could not have achieved it.

                                      Guys I exactly remember that day  20th July,1999 when I joined the JNV Shyampur,Sehore M.P. coming from a village-where there is no higher secondary school, with my father in KURTA-PAIZAMA ,wondering about the big buildings which i had seen first time ,joined in Nilgiri House at the age of 9 years.I filled the Navodyaya Application form without asking to my parents as my friends were filling it and its free of cost as well and for exam we have to go  to near by city which was a great chance to see the city.But when postman given my parents the selection letter they could not understand where our son is going they simply refused it we wont send our son anywhere but my teacher convinced them.

                           It was the first time i had seen tears rolling down from my fathers cheeks while he was getting in to bus from navodaya to home and I was already crying aloud.But its the navodaya friends and Teachers who  carries aways from the sweet home memories but for almost 1 year I used to  find a corner alone or in the late night when everyone slept ,to get tears out.

      

           The busy schedule  of Navodaya from morning to night put us on the great learning speed without feeling any pressure in all the perspective of Academics,Cultural,Arts and games.My teacher Mrs.N.Singh taught me the mathematics in class 7th and that was the turning point as got almost 100% marks in maths and i topped the school in 8th class and with God grace same flow I maintained in 10th ,12th ,for IIT-JEE and in colllege also,and I will try to maintain In future also

          

           When I scored 90% in my 10th class It was a miracle kind of thing as before that people of my village heard up to 70 not more than that and of-course which put me as Celebrity kind of thing of my district.Later Its the navodaya teachers and seniors from which i came  to know there is something called IIT,NIT before that I not even heard about these.Guys its very difficult for any one to get direction when no one your whole locality does not know have knowledge to direct you.I am the first Engineer from my village. 

              I scored well in 12th class but the coaching fee of KOTA was too  high any how  my parents borrowed money from relatives ,village rich people and given me.The fee as in farming you cant earn more than you eats and fullfill your basic necessaries you cant save money-Its true for all farmers of India.My hardwork+2*(my fathers,mom,sisters hardwork) given me the result and selected for both JEE -AIR 6411,AIEEE-AIR 1174 .It was the great moment for me as  It was like Gambling-if i did not go selected then i have to work in my fields for rest of life to repay the loans but Almighty God taken care of it.

          

         Lets us share some funny moment when I use to tell my friends i selected in IIT...they say what in ITI??.......as before that no one knows what is IIT and all stuff...Its not their fault but its lack of Education at the ground level.....during counselling again it was a crucial time as from whom should I take the help and now navodaya teachers also dont know much about the colleges and branches and it was online..but I filled arbitary choices (for JEE counselling Bio-Tech at first position...) and with my own knowledge and i got my best choice as CSE in NIT Warangal-top 10th Institute of India.

         I learned the ABCD properly in my 6th class and ABCD of C++ in my college but Its navodaya spirit which kept me on the right track and I performed well in college.The Navodaya Environment creates an Enthusiasm,a strong aspiration to achieve something uncommon in your life.During my college life also learned at each and every step in whatever the way i can. During my Summer vacation instead of living in the village with my parents I used to teach in coaching Impetus ,MP Nagar Bhopal so that I can get my pocket money for  whole year.

            Let me tell about my Education Loan  and Scholarship- I went to almost every bank -Bank of India,Indian Bank,PNB and all which are there in my talluk as I used to say them I need Education loan ...but they  refused with some reasons-some dont know the name of college some dont know AIEEE and I was so despair from where will I get my fee again I have to sell my remaining land.Same happened with scholarship they asked for my original TC which already i had submitted to college they also dont know the college name....My college authority tried to contact Scholarship Head but they dont know English and my college authority dont know Hindi..So there was no better communication ..I could not convince DO,Sehore....He even said to  my father go to CM and compaint against me.. Iwont give you scholarship....I approached to Collector(IAS),but I am sorry to say  my collector asked  me -"why you went to NIT ,Warangal you should study in MANIT Bhopal?..now I cant help you.."..It was my last hope that also destroyed. But thanks to SBI Manager who knows the My college name and given me the loan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

     In my Oracle Interview my HR round fully on Navodaya as that lady impressed by Navodaya.My 30 minute interview was fully on Navodaya itself.She asked everything about navodaya .Thanks Navodaya.I feel happy in helping any needy person.If any service for me mail me - ballunavodaya@gmail.com

            Guys every bad time gives you a learning never-ever give up struggle.

Good Luck !!! Navodaya Cheers!!!

@Balram Parmar

05th Sept,2010

Happy Teachers Day

       On  behalf of all the Navodayans I wish a Very Happy Teachers Day to all Navodaya Teachers .We cant forget their sacrifice for  welfare of students since they work for almost 24 hours for the students from Morning Class at 04:30 AM in  the   to  the late night at 10:00PM after visiting the hostels and not on the working days but also  on the holidays also.They serves the students wholeheartedly in the form of parents ,friends,guides in the ways we need them.The day is dedicated to teachers, who play an prominent role in the life of their students. The teachers act as the guide for life, show the path towards success and enrich the personality of  students  by imparting ethical and academic knowledge. They bring out the untamed talents of students and sharpen it in order to bring out the best results.


            
           Once again I wish very happy teachers day to all the Navodaya Teachers.


@Balram Parmar
05th Sept,2010


                

Govt to open 31 more Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas

               With an aim to increase access to quality education, the Government has decided to open 31 more Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas across the country, with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi slated to inaugurate them on Wednesday.

                            Gandhi is also expected to interact with students of four such schools in the states of Kerala, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh through video conferencing mode from the capital, said sources in the HRD Ministry.
                        

                       The programme is coinciding with the Literacy Day celebrations on Wednesday.
At present, there are over 550 such schools in rural areas across the country providing free education.
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) seek to provide good quality modern education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas.

                              The establishment of the new schools come at a time when the Government is planning to introduce new programmes in the existing schools and widen their appeal.

                               While there are plans to establish ''science magnet schools'' under the ambit of JNVs, sources said deliberations are also on to set up theme based-JNVs.
                                

                              These schools could lay focus on particular disciplines like sports, art or music, they said.
Offering vocational education programmes are also being contemplated, a decision on which is likely to be announced during the inauguration of the new schools.

Sukhbir wants to help the leh girl from Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya (JNV) Chandigarh

Punjab govt adopts 9-yr-old Skalzang Angmo; on Leh visit, Deputy Chief Minister makes announcement

File photo of nine-year-old girl Skalzang Angmo with her mother Stanzin Dolm

                         The Punjab government today adopted Skalzang Angmo, a nine-year -old girl, who lost her sister, house and entire belongings to the devastating August 6 cloudburst that left over 200 dead in Leh.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal made an announcement in this regard at the Solar Valley Relief Camp in Choglamsar after visiting the flood-ravaged areas.
The Tribune had first highlighted the plight of Angmo’s mother, Stanzin Dolma, who lost her elder daughter — Denchen Paldon — to the flash floods and had no resources left to educate the other. The Union Government has already decided to sponsor Angmo’s education.
“I have been regularly reading stories on Skalzang Angmo, who has even cleared the test for admission to Class VI at Jawahar Navodya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Chandigarh. But her mother has no funds to send her there. So, the Punjab government has decided to adopt the girl,” said Sukhbir.
                  
                 “As the Union Government has already announced free education for the girl, the Punjab government will pay all other expenses till she completes her Class XII. The family doesn’t need to worry about her now,” said Sukhbir.
                   The girl’s mother was full of gratitude. “I was really worried about my daughter’s future. But now all my troubles are over,” said Dolma, with tears rolling down her cheeks. Denchen was a topper and class VII student of JNV, Chandigarh.

Washed away in Leh floods: A bright future Chandigarh Navodaya topper among victims

                 Thirty-five years old Stanzan Dolma has only memories left of her daughter Denchen, a Class VIII topper from Chandigarh’s Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Sector 25, where she had been studying since the last two years.
               
              Denchen Paldon is no more. On summer vacations to her native Choglamsar village in Leh, she got washed away in the floods that hit Ladakh on the night of August 6. Her mother and younger sister Skalzang survived, but only to be left as good as dead.

“The children were sleeping when the waters came in gushing around 11.35 pm. I barely managed to wake them up. It was as though the sky had left open all pipes. Denchen went off in seconds. People were flying away into the water. In 20 minutes, everything was razed,” recalls Stanzan, huddled in one corner of Himank relief camp at Choglamsar, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi visited this week.
Until that fateful night, everything was going well for this family, having braved odds for years. Abandoned by her husband, Stanzan took upon herself to educate her daughters. She sent them to Chandigarh Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 29, under the Scheduled Tribe category. Soon, Denchen cracked the CBSE all-India test to enter Class VI at Chandigarh JNV. Her sister followed suit this year and was to return for admissions when the tragedy struck. Ironically, both would have been back by August 1 had their mother not extended the stay.


                           Now, she can’t stop cursing herself as memories come gushing by: “The sisters were so excited. I was also relieved as JNV has a hostel and I would have saved the money I spent on children’s rent in Chandigarh. For their sake, I sold vegetables, did all kinds of odd jobs… Everything is finished now,” Stanzan breaks down, seeking sponsorship for her younger daughter who is in trauma after losing her sibling, her soul mate. Also, she is haunted by a constant fear of the floods. “What if waters take away my mother too?” says the girl, as The Tribune offered to take her back to her school.


                            In Chandigarh, JNV principal Pawan Kumar Sharma today heard the news of Denchen’s death from this correspondent. He said, “We sent several letters on Denchen’s Leh address wondering where she was. She left in June for holidays. We are shocked to hear this. She was brilliant and very sober. It’s a huge loss to us.”


                             The school has assured that though admission deadline for entry to Class VI expired today, it would write to the CBSE to treat Skalzang’s case with the compassion it deserves. The JNV has sought from The Tribune a letter about the tragedy involving the family.


                           Stanzan is, meanwhile, hoping someone would assume the guardianship of her child till the time she pieces her life together. She can’t leave Leh until land claims are sorted out.

Business Today Coverage of Navodaya - Schools Of Hope

Visiting Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) at Patiala and Shimla, two of the 560 such residential schools run by the central government in as many district of India, one meets pupils who are hugely talented but come from distinctly disadvantaged backgrounds. For schools located in rural areas and serving such children, JNVs seem to be shining, surpassing their more privileged urban counterparts. In terms of pass percentage in CBSE exams conducted for 10th and 12 classes, JNV boys and girls have been beating students of not just other government schools but also the much more privileged children from private schools. M.S. Khanna, Joint Commissioner, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS), the government agency that manages these schools, says that thousands of JNV alumni have excelled in the hardest competitive exams and the got the best jobs. Here are first-person accounts of some of them.

And here are  Some of the Dignities  From Navodaya

1.

Arjun Singh (29) Vice President, GTS Technology, Citibank, N.A., Jersey City "A lot goes to the JNV for shaping me to what I'm today" I was born in a small village called Amarpur in Meerut district of UP. My father was earning as little as Rs 800 per month from his daily labour." My family was very happy when I joined JNV at Sardhana in Meerut district in 1988 as education was free there. They were confident that the school would give me a much better environment than the village, which was hardly conducive to any worthwhile education. After passing out of JNV in 1995, I got admission in BITS-Pilani from where I was selected by Citicorp Overseas Software Ltd (COSL) as part of campus placement. Located in US, now, I'm the Vice President of global IT projects, Citigroup. A lot goes to the JNV for shaping me to what I'm today.

2.

Nirmal Prakash(29) Join MD, Smarftech "I'd not have broken free from my circumstances without JNV" "I was born in Barheta village of Darbhanga district in Bihar. It was a life of struggle. In retrospect, making it to JNV was the biggest moment of my life. A couple of other boys who were at JNV with me came from one of the poorest families in our village. These boys were so poor that they didn't have a rupee to spend in all the years of their stay at JNV beyond what they were provided free at the school. We were absolutely astonished to see the facilities at the JNV - well furnished classrooms, labs, mess, and hostels. More importantly, the cross-cultural environment at JNV helped us gain confidence. Our teachers came from various states. Our school merged all caste divisions that characterise our society. In 1998, I cleared IIT. From there I got selected for Muehlbauer, a German RFID technology provider. In 2007, I joined Smarftech as joint MD. I'd not have broken free from my circumstances without JNV.

3.

Rajendra Meena (32) IRS Officer, Central Excise "The turning pointing in my life was my admission to JNV" I was born in a desert hamlet called Thikariya Bajana in Nagore district of Rajasthan. There were no schools in the vicinity. So I went to live with one of my uncles in Jaipur. The JNVs were considered quality schools as they were run by the central government on CBSE curriculum. More importantly, however, they provided free education. That was a big thing for poor families. So my family rejoiced when I got admission into JNV-Jaipur in 1986. For them it was like a scholarship-free and good education. In those days the amenities and infrastructure at JNV-Jaipur was still in the making. Some old buildings were taken up. Power supply was erratic and even food grants were scanty. Despite these problems, JNV was a great school for us poor rural kids. My school sheltered me from the discriminations and divisions of our society. In 2000, I cleared the UPSC exam for the Railways where I worked for some years. In 2004, I got selected in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The turning pointing my life was my admission to JNV. So I credit most of my success to JNV.

4.

Flight Lieutenant Rajani Boyapati (27) Project Manager, Goldstone Tech "JNV turned me into a smarter, more self-confident person" I was born in Ghanatasala village of Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district in a lower middle class family. My father was a farmer and mother a housewife. I have one sibling. When I was in fifth class, one of my teachers told me about JNV, which were considered quality schools. One of their merits was the CBSE curriculum, which was regarded as more rigorous than the state board curriculum. The greatest advantage of these schools was that they provided free education, boarding and lodging. My father could never have been able to afford the kind of education I got at JNV. So my parents were happy when I got selected. It was indeed a process of continuous improvement at JNV. I was at 3rd position in the 12th class. I secured a great academic foundation for higher education. I later did BTech (Electronics & Communication Engineering) from S.V. Hindu College of Engineering at Machilipatnam ( Krishna district). By the time I completed my BTech, I got selected in Short Service Commission and joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) as an engineer and was designated as a flight lieutenant. I worked at IAF from July 2001 to July 2007 and then joined the Hyderabad-based Goldstone Technologies as a project manager. JNV turned me into a smarter, more self-confident person. That was the turning point.

5.

Rahul Mehta (12) 7th grade student, JNV Patiala "Rural kids shine at Navodaya Vidayalayas" Rahul Mehta (12) looks like a normal school kid except that his family background will make a sociologist very interested. This seventh-class student of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Patiala (Punjab), who comes across as intelligent and sincere, belongs to a family that most Indians never associate with the ones whose boys go on to become IAS officers. (That's what Rahul wants to become.) Rahul's father runs a fruit juice stall and mother is a housewife. One of his two brothers studies in a government-run local school and the other works as 'compounder' in a doctor's clinic in a semi-urban area in Zirakpur (Punjab). Rahul, however, has the heart and mind to remain focussed on his studies. In sixth class - his first year at JNV-Patiala - he secured 95.3 per cent marks in aggregate. His scores in both science and maths: 100 per cent.

and this count yet to go...to read more..

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Navodayas on Culture Course

Navodaya Vidyalayas, the chain of Centre-run residential schools, will diversify from regular courses and start cultural schools to help students develop and nurture their skills in music, dance and drama. Four such schools focusing on the performing arts will be set up. The training will enhance the aesthetic sensibilities of students and make them self-sufficient. After the courses, they can take up jobs or pursue further studies.              The Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti’s executive body, headed by Union HRD minister Kapil Sibal, has approved the plan and has asked the organisation to submit a detailed proposal, ministry sources told. Under the proposal drawn up so far, there will be four years of schooling starting from Class IX. Students will study parts of general courses such as math, science and literature in Classes IX and X. But in Classes XI and XII, they will focus on culture.                 The students will organise exhibitions and programmes. Another key objective behind such schools is that they will help strengthen the cultural roots and preserve national heritage.                     The schools will encourage children to develop a taste in classical music, dance, folk forms, theatre and art. Students who are good in music will be given admission through a talent search.                     The diversification does not end with culture. The Navodaya Samiti has also decided to start what are now being described as “10 science magnet schools” which will be dedicated to science subjects.                These will be located near the scientific institutions and research laboratories. Students passing out from these schools will pursue advanced scientific research. This proposal is set to go to the Union cabinet soon.               The 594 Navodaya schools, which mainly target the rural poor, are regarded as islands of excellence. About 97 per cent students of these schools pass the board exam every year. About 74 per cent are from families with an annual income less than Rs 48,000.                           The Navodaya samiti has argued that about 4 to 5 per cent children in every community are gifted students who need to be identified and provided with quality education.

IAS Exam Success: This Guys from NAVODAYA did it - so can you

                Ten days after making the grade, Vinod's eyes still well up every time his illiterate father talks to visitors or telephone callers about his son's hard won success in clearing the Indian civil services exam.

                 Every time the retired unskilled labourer Janardan praises his son - an MBBS doctor who will now be an IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officer - for his perseverance and toil, the grateful son says his success is nothing compared to the backbreaking labour his father put in all his life to educate his sons. 

With his parents in their thatched house in village Visapur near Chandrapur, 160 km from here, Vinod Bahade recalls all his yesteryears - in the Zilla Parishad school in his village, then the Navoday Vidyalaya in Talodhi Balapur nearby, and then the junior college in the bigger colliery township of Ballarpur .

"As I pored over my books in dim lantern light every night, my father would say he would do anything to see me become a doctor or an engineer. I wondered where he was going to bring the money from for my education," Vinod reminisced.

"When I actually passed my school exam with marks enough to secure admission to a medical college, my father, who was a labourer in BILT (Ballarpur Industries Ltd) sought voluntary retirement and reserved his Provident Fund for my education," Vinod told IANS with an unmistakable lump in his throat.

Even while studying medicine, Vinod did not entirely give up the idea of becoming an IAS officer (that he had toyed with while in junior college) though he thought he could serve the society as a doctor as well.

"But the stark poverty and backwardness I saw as an intern in the rural hospital in Narkhed (in Nagpur district) and as a medical officer in Jimalgatta, an inaccessible tribal village in Gadchiroli district, firmed up my resolve to operate on a larger canvass. I started preparing for the civil services exam," he said.

Vinod passed the prelims and mains in the very first attempt in 2004 but lost out by a whisker in the personal interview.

In the second attempt, which he could take only after another stint as an medical officer, he failed again but persevering still, he had yet another go at it - and was through this time.

Gratefully acknowledging the valuable guidance he received from the P.N. Rajbhoj Institute for IAS Coaching, run by a retired bureaucrat Mumshilal Gautam in Nagpur, and the government IAS coaching centre in Mumbai, both meant for poor and backward class students, Vinod says the time has come to repay the debt.

                         They have stars in their eyes, compassion in heart