The Union ministry of social justice and empowerment has established an autonomous Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC) under the auspices of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi. IGNOU is already offering programmes in sign language including a bachelor’s degree in applied sign language sponsored by the UK-India Education Research Initiative (UKIERI) for the past three years, the first-of-its-type countrywide.
In India, most sign language tutors are untrained, with the great majority of teachers in schools for the deaf teaching without formal qualifications. In this context, the Staff Training and Research Institute in Distance Education at IGNOU and the University of Central Lancashire, UK, have collaborated to develop new distance education programmes in sign language. “One of the major achievements of UKIERI was the launch of IGNOU’s BA programme in applied sign language. We started this programme in 2009. Now there are three batches with learners from India, Africa, China, Nepal and Malaysia. For the first time, hearing impaired students in India are able to access university education through the medium of sign language and gain academic qualifications with a dual award from the UK and India,” says Dr. V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, vice chancellor of IGNOU.
National Knowledge Olympiad ready to roll
The 12th Knowledge Olympiad GK IQ Test — a general knowledge test for class I-XII students staged annually by the Hyderabad-based The Knowledge Olympiad Society — is scheduled to begin with its first elimination round on August 30. Entries from 30,000 students of 500 schools countrywide have already been received. The second elimination round is scheduled for October 3. Thereafter, 200 students will be shortlisted from the two preliminary rounds for the Knowledge Olympiad GK IQ Test 2011 finals, to be staged in Delhi on a date to be specified later. Winners will be awarded 210 prizes including ten laptop computers, ten gold medals, 90 silver medals and 100 special consolation prizes.
Registered in 1999 under the Societies Act, 1976, The Knowledge Olympiad Society has been conducting national general knowledge quiz competitions for class I-XII students for the past 11 years. “Our general knowledge competitions not only provide an opportunity for students to win fabulous prizes but also encourage them to develop their general knowledge and co-curricular activities. This is necessary for children to develop self-confidence and acquire the skills and competencies needed to face the challenges of the future,” says M.A. Hameed, national co-ordinator of The Knowledge Olympiad GK IQ Test.
Kidville’s Indian debut
In association with the New York-based Kidville Inc (estb.2005), Kwakids Learning Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai, will inaugurate the first Kidville play-cum-development centre in Mumbai in early October. Kidville has been named ‘best of’ by New York magazine and awarded five-star “extraordinary” customer rating in The Lila Guide: New Parent Survival Guide.
This first-of-its-kind ‘destination’ for children between 0-6 years is an early childhood enrichment facility, which offers a range of classes and services for children and their families. The destinations include a wide range of exciting titles in preschool, gym, art, music, dance and enrichment for children. Likewise Kidville, Mumbai will also feature a large indoor playground, a retail boutique for kids, a salon, children’s birthday party and other family events venues.
Promoted in 2010 by Rosenyn Kapur and Mallika Timblo of the GMS and Timblo business groups, Kwakid Learning has drawn up plans to establish 100 Kidville destinations countrywide over the next decade. “By combining our extensive knowledge of the Indian market-place, our deep passion to serve families with young children and Kidville’s world-class concepts, we intend to become the dominant brand in early childhood education and care,” says Rosenyn Kapur, managing director and chief executive, Kwakids Learning.
Andy Stenzler, chief executive of Kidville Inc is equally enthused about planting the New York-based company’s flag on Indian soil. “We are very excited about establishing our presence in India. Mallika and Rosenyn’s diverse backgrounds, combined with the vast resources of the GMS and Timblo Group business conglomerates make Kwakids Learning the perfect partner to shepherd the Kidville brand in India,” he says.
The Language Company essay winners
The Hyderabad-based All Languages Company Pvt. Ltd, (aka The Language Company), which provides computer-based foreign language learning solutions, announced awards for the best essays on the subject ‘Why are foreign languages important for my future?’ The essay competition was open to all class V-XII students in Hyderabad and closed on June 22. Three essays of students from class V-VIII; and three submitted by class IX-XII students were shortlisted from 400 essays sent from over 20 schools across the city.
Chamarti Saket, a class VIII student of Niraj Public School, bagged the first prize in the class V-VIII category. Pranav Nuti, a class X student of Jubilee Hills Public School, was awarded first prize in the class IX-XII category. Each prize is valued at Rs.10 lakh in the form of language learning software valid for one year.
The essays were evaluated by several academics and professionals including Sailaja Suman, director of Doordarshan; S. Nagesh Kumar, chief of bureau of The Hindu; Dr. Priya Hosali, professor at the University of Hyderabad and communications consultant; Nirupama Rastogi, professor of English at The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and Adam Hopewell, chief executive of The Language Company.
Repro-Macmillan concordat
The Mumbai-based Repro India Ltd (estb.1984), an end-to-end education content delivery and solutions provider in print and digital media for domestic and international customers, has acquired the India printing business of Macmillan Publishers India Ltd, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the renowned UK-based books publishing and printing company. Under the acquisition agreement inked by the two entities on July 14, Repro will fulfil the printing requirements of Macmillan India.
Since commencing business operations in 1892, Macmillan has grown into one of the largest education and textbooks publishers in India. In the UK, its parent Macmillan Ltd is among the biggest and best reputed publishers. “Printing is not our core activity and we would like to focus on publishing growth. Therefore we are delighted to have Repro who we believe shares our culture, as a partner. We are confident that under Repro our printing operations will get the required attention, investment, and focus on workers welfare it deserves,” said Rajiv Beri, managing director of Macmillan India speaking on the occasion.
Added Pramod Khera, executive director of Repro: “With this alliance the relationship between Repro and Macmillan will be further strengthened and will position Repro as a crucial global partner for Macmillan. This should also open up opportunities for Repro to partner with Macmillan globally.”
LeapStart’s basketball camps
The Bangalore-based Fitkids Education & Training Pvt. Ltd has initiated an intensive basketball training programme for K-12 children in Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi. Basketball camps were conducted last month (July) by Brian McCormick. A celebrated coach, author and founder of the Youth Basketball Coaching Association — a US-based development league established in 2009 — McCormick has conducted player camps and coaches’ clinics in Canada, China, Greece, Macedonia, Morocco, South Africa and Trinidad & Tobago.
McCormick’s basketball training camps were launched in India under the aegis of Fitkids Education’s “age-appropriate, research-based sport and social recreational” programme branded LeapStart. “We work to keep children healthy and fit and provide all our partner schools with the best resources to ensure sports and fitness activities are fun,” says Dominic Vijay, operations director of LeapStart.
New WeCare Learning centre
Wecare Learning Pvt. Ltd, Bangalore’s largest professionally run on-site early childcare and learning company, announced the launch of a new centre in the Embassy Golf Links (EGL) Business Park, Koramangala (Bangalore) on July 6. The newly launched WeCare™ centre spans an area of 3,500 sq. ft and is the first-of-its-kind in the EGL Business Park. It can accommodate up to 75 children of various age groups.
“We offer stimulating infrastructure, caring and qualified teachers, a stellar international curriculum, and well-balanced, nutritious meals giving a whole new meaning to the daycare experience of infants. With the launch of our newest centre, we are working towards attaining our long-term goal of providing international quality daycare to working parents across the fastest growing city in India,” says Reshma Shrinivas, founder-director, WeCare Learning, which caters to children in the age group 0-6 years.