Men missing in primary schools

One in four primary schools still have no male teachers, despite rising numbers of men entering the profession, new figures show.

A quarter (25.6%) of teachers qualifying this year were men, up 2.4% since 2008, according to statistics published by the General Teaching Council for England (GTC)

But only one in eight teachers working in primary schools are male (12.4%), the figures show.

There were 26,208 men working as teachers in primary schools as of March 31 this year, compared to 185,023 women, the figures show.

In total, around 4,000 primaries in England, or one in four, have no registered male teachers, the GTC said, despite the numbers dropping by 130 schools this year.

There are only six state secondary schools in England without men in the classroom, the regulator added.

Today's figures also show that nurseries are still struggling to recruit male staff.

Just 48 men were working in state-run nurseries this year, and only three of them were under 25.

Overall, there were 578,755 teachers registered with the GTC at the end of March, up 1.9% on 2010.

But just over one in 10 (11%) were not working in the classroom.

These teachers are either working elsewhere in the education system, retired, not in education at all, or not working.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/men-missing-in-primary-schools-2348030.html

PU teachers can't be private tutors

The pre-university education department has issued a circular banning private tuitions by faculty of aided and government colleges. Lecturers are not permitted to work in private coaching centres either.
"If we find anyone violating the rules, we will take strict action, which will not be restricted to lecturers, but extend even to the institute to which the lecturer is affiliated," said Rashmi V Mahesh, director, PUE department.
"We have received complaints. We have informed the officials concerned to take serious action," she said.
Officials said offending lecturers could find salaries withheld, or even face suspension from work.

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_pu-teachers-can-t-be-private-tutors_1577750

Tuition vouchers are unconstitutional

The continuing battle over taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers, fueled by wealthy out-of-state billionaires, has become a distraction from more important political action items, including developing the commonwealth's economy, creating new jobs, and continuing the underreported academic progress made by public schools in recent years.

Taxpayer-funded tuition vouchers are unconstitutional in the commonwealth, unwanted by the public, unproven in promoting student achievement, untimely in a shrinking economy, and unaccountable to the public in governance, finance, and academic results. The only real choice is the schools, who determine whether they do or do not admit students.

Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, which is more restrictive than the U.S. Constitution and that of most states, "No money raised for the support of the public schools of the Commonwealth shall be appropriated to or used for the support of any sectarian school." The Sloan vs. Lemon case specifically adjudged a similar program as unconstitutional.

More practically, vouchers will be a controversial issue when state funds support the teaching of witchcraft (as a proposed California voucher bill permitted but was voted down). The fiscal support of taxpayers for schools developing extremist views is certainly an item that would have to be considered in the voucher system.
http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2011/08/19/opinion/srv0000013207957.txt

Distance learning: Find your answers closer to home

With pressure on university places expected to be higher than ever ahead of next year’s steep rise in tuition fees, a record numbers of applicants are likely to be disappointed at not securing a place on a traditional three-year, full-time degree course.

Among the options some of these would-be students might consider is applying for a degree programme by distance learning. This is where students receive course materials through the post or online, maintain contact with lecturers and fellow students by telephone, email and social network formats, and visit the university campus only occasionally - if at all - for face-to-face meetings with tutors.

So, if your hopes of getting away to a university this autumn are fading, perhaps the distance-learning route is worth considering? You might even discover that this method fits in with your life situation better than uprooting and living in a far-off place for three years.

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/into-university/clearing/distance-learning-find-your-answers-closer-to-home-2339075.html

Tuition fees are making law conversion courses less attractive

The recently appointed supreme court judge Jonathan Sumption QC, who was an Oxford history don before becoming a barrister, once said that studying law at university "narrows the mind and blunts curiosity".

Judging by the rise in popularity of the graduate diploma in law (GDL) – the year-long postgraduate course that enables students to convert to law after an undergraduate degree in another discipline – since its introduction in 1975, many members of the profession would appear to agree with him.

Of course, it was easier to explore new educational horizons back when university was free. Now, with tuition fees about to treble to an annual £9,000, it takes serious resources. No wonder the mood towards learning has become rather more utilitarian. Speak to A-level students these days and many will tell you that they want to get university out of the way as quickly as possible.

Still, an enthusiasm to gain a breadth of experience persists among wannabe lawyers – not least because it is perceived as a way of standing out to law firms and barristers' chambers in a tough graduate job market. Claire Watson, a student with ambitions to become a solicitor who is studying for her A-levels at Hartlepool sixth-form college, sums up the dilemma faced by her generation. "On one hand, it's important to me that I minimise the amount of time I spend at university racking up debt; on the other, I've heard law firms favour recruits with additional skills."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2011/aug/18/tuition-fees-law-conversion-courses

40 schools in Capital hike tuition fees

ABU DHABI — The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) has given the nod to 40 private schools in the emirate to hike tuition fees for the 2011-2012 academic year.

The schools have already started notifying parents of their students about the increase and some have posted the new fees on their websites.

According to the ADEC, 59 schools sought permission to increase their tuition fees ranging from five per cent to 208 per cent. However, only 40 were permitted and “requests for high increases were not approved”, said an ADEC statement.

The council did not disclose the approved range of increases but a random survey by Khaleej Times among some of the schools in the Capital showed increases of five per cent to 20 per cent in tuition fees. The schools surveyed follow the Indian, American and British curricula.

Last year, the ADEC approved a maximum increase of 20 per cent.

Khaleej Times reported last month that 60 schools had applied for approval to increase their fees under provisions like tuition, books, transportation and uniforms. Of them, 31 were from Abu Dhabi, 24 from Al Ain and five from the Western Region. They included 18 schools following the Ministry of Education curriculum, 19 following the American or British, 14 following the Asian curricula and nine schools following other international curricula, including the International Baccalaureate.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/displayarticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2011/August/theuae_August469.xml&section=theuae&col=

Panel to focus on cutting down tuition

KOLKATA: The state government wants the 19-member syllabus committee, led by Sunanda Sanyal, to focus on a more up-to-date curriculum and better evaluation system so as to reduce the dependence on private tuition. 

Learning by rote has become a practice among students in schools under the state board. And the predictable question pattern is encouraging cramming of texts and increasing the student's dependence on private tuition, say experts. The committee has to suggest ways to improve the syllabus and exam pattern so as to improve a student's understanding of the subject and reduce rote learning. 

"The panel will review the syllabi and textbooks for the entire spectrum of school education, from Class I to Class XII, and recommend changes in line with the National Curriculum Framework - 2005," an education department official said. 

The committee will also examine the process of continuous evaluation practiced by various boards, including holding unit tests, and recommend a 'scientific policy of evaluation without creating undue pressure and mental stress'.