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Kainat Sarfaraz

Kainat Sarfaraz covers education for Hindustan Times in Delhi. She also takes keen interest in reading and writing on the intersections of gender and other identities.

Articles by Kainat Sarfaraz

‘Will return after repeal process goes through in Parliament’

Several protesters said that the events of the past year fuelled anger and mistrust against the Centre and BJP.

Farmers at New Delhi's Singh border celebrate after Centre announced that it would repeal the three farm laws.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Nov 20, 2021 10:00 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi schools prohibit some activities, attendance drops

Attendance has begun falling amid growing concerns that the worsening air quality can impact the health of children, the administrators of several schools have said, barely a fortnight after children began in-person learning after a gap of over one-and-a-half years

PM2.5 pollutants, which are now over five times the safe limit, can penetrate deep into the lungs and lead to lasting health damage. (Raj K Raj/HT)

cities

Updated on Nov 13, 2021 06:27 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Most schools plan to reopen on November 8, after Diwali break

Most stakeholders said arranging transport and continuing with blended learning will be huge challenges for schools as well as ensuring that students from primary classes follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times

Currently, only students of classes 9 to 12 are allowed to attend school for in-person lessons. (REUTERS)

cities

Updated on Oct 27, 2021 11:30 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

Closure of educational institutes hits PG owners in DU’s north campus area hard

Since there are less than 4,000 beds available for undergraduate students in different college and university hostels, most outstation students end up staying in PGs or sharing rented accommodation with other students

Like previous years, of the around 280,000 applicants to DU this year, only 40% of the aspirants (115,000) are from Delhi-NCR areas (Representative photo/HT Archive)

cities

Published on Oct 19, 2021 11:35 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

Delhi schools gear up for two-part CBSE Board exams to start next month

The CBSE — the largest education board in the country in terms of the number of students enrolled and schools affiliated— on Thursday said the full schedule of the Term 1 exams, to be held in November and December, will be announced on October 18

Currently, only students from classes 9 to 12 are allowed to attend physical classes. (Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Oct 16, 2021 02:03 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Finding hostel room will prove a challenge for new DU students

With admissions to Delhi University colleges currently underway, finding a place in the college hostels is likely to become more difficult and financially challenging as several colleges are considering converting their rooms into single occupancy in order to adhere with Covid-19 protocols

New Delhi, India - Oct. 5, 2021: Students seen at a help desk at Delhi University's north campus on the second day of admissions for 2021-22, in New Delhi , India, on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. (Photo by Amal KS / Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times)

cities

Published on Oct 14, 2021 11:25 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

Covid, NEP created a world of blended learning in Delhi’s schools. Will it last?

Taking lessons from the pandemic, NEP policy advocated for preparing schools “with alternative modes of quality education” to prepare schools across the country for any situation similar to the pandemic

One of the major hurdles in dealing with blended learning has been student participation – particularly when half the students are studying online and the other half are studying in the classrooms (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

analysis

Updated on Oct 11, 2021 11:40 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

100% threshhold eases in 7 courses as DU releases 2nd cut-off list for admission

While three courses have closed for admissions, the remaining courses with 100% cut-off have seen a marginal drop, ranging from 0.25 to 1.50 percentage points, except for Ramjas College, which has continued with the 100% cut-off in Political Science in the second list as well

Admissions under the second cut-off will be conducted between Monday and Wednesday and students can pay their fee till 5 pm on October 15. The third cut-off list is slated to come on October 16. (Amal KS/HT)

cities

Updated on Oct 10, 2021 04:51 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

New DU V-C takes charge, says will focus on infra, recruitment

Multiple protests by several student groups broke out on the DU campus against the high cutoff marks for undergraduate courses and also against the controversial remarks made by DU’s Kirori Mal College professor Rakesh Pandey

Delhi University’s 23rd vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh assumed charge on Friday (Sourced)

cities

Updated on Oct 09, 2021 05:47 AM IST

BySadia Akhtar and Kainat Sarfaraz

With teachers out on Covid duty, Delhi’s public schools flag staff shortage

Hundreds of Delhi government school teachers are currently working with district administrations in various capacities —at the airport, in vaccination centres at hospitals, as well as cracking down on Covid-norm violations across the city

In September, the Delhi government said the enrolment figures in government schools had reached 1.76 million for the 2021-22 session — a jump from 1.62 million from the 2020-21 session and 1.50 million in the pre-Covid academic year of 2019-20 (Representative/HT Archive)

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Updated on Oct 08, 2021 03:01 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Kerala students not being admitted on flimsy grounds: SFI

“DU is bound to admit students satisfying all the eligibility criteria, it is a matter of shame that applicants are being discriminated against based on their board,” SFI said in a statement.

According to data shared by the university, out of over 250,000 applicants for admissions this year, only 4,824 are from the Kerala board.

cities

Published on Oct 07, 2021 04:28 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

100% cutoffs no bar: Top DU colleges stare at ‘over admissions’

According to official data shared by DU with the colleges, around 4,500 students in the humanities scored 100% in Class 12 this year

Students at the north campus of DU on Monday. (Amal KS/HT Photo)

education

Updated on Oct 05, 2021 01:50 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

100% cut-offs: DU principals say it will help cut over admissions

The Delhi University (DU) announced its first cut-off list on Friday. At least eight colleges declared 100% cut-off in eleven courses such as Political Science, Computer Science, and BCom.

tudents inside Ramjas College. The Delhi University announced its first cut-off list for admissions to undergraduate courses on Friday. Many colleges have announced 100% cut-off for honours in popular subjects such as English, Economics. (PTI Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 02, 2021 10:39 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

100% cutoffs the new normal for Delhi University?

Last year, Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College had announced 100% cut-off for three courses – political science, economics, and psychology. All three were among the most sought-after courses in DU.

In the past, colleges have set 100% cut-offs for students seeking admission to those subjects that they may not have studied in school. (ANI)

education

Updated on Oct 02, 2021 05:35 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

8 DU colleges announce 100% cut-off in 11 subjects

Eight Delhi University colleges on Friday announced 100% marks as the eligibility criteria for admission into 11 graduation programmes, a record for the number of courses that require a perfect score for a college seat

india news

Published on Oct 02, 2021 12:16 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi:

Delhi University cut-offs may go higher this year, say college principals

Around 220,000 students scored 90% and above marks in the CBSE Class 12 results this year and 70,000 of them scored around 95% or more. Miranda House principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda said the jump in cut-offs for students in the general category will be higher than for those in the reserved ones

Delhi University undergraduate cut-offs will be released on Friday. (HT Archive)

cities

Published on Sep 30, 2021 11:48 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

Delhi: Schools for junior classes may reopen, modalities to be decided after Dussehra

The National Progressive Schools Conference, which comprises top schools in Delhi, said it plans to resume in-person learning for classes 6 to 8 in November

Some schools in Delhi may have issues in reopening as they are serving as vaccination centres with multiple sites on the premises (HT PHOTO/File/Representative use)

cities

Updated on Sep 29, 2021 04:33 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

Delhi: Social, civic responsibilities in focus in deshbhakti class

Under the Deshbhakti curriculum, Delhi government school teachers will work from Wednesday on instilling a sense of patriotism among students

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and principal secretary (education) H Rajesh Prasad wave the Tricolour during the launch of Deshbhakti curriculum in Delhi government schools.

cities

Updated on Sep 29, 2021 12:08 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

Over 2k children begin classes at schools of specialised excellence in Delhi

SoSEs offer specialised education to students of classes 9 to 12 in four domains — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); humanities; performing and visual arts; and “high-end 21st-century skills”

Deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia during the induction ceremony of School of Specialised Excellence at Kalkaji in New Delhi on Monday. He interacted with parents, students, industry experts, and teachers, and said that SoSEs will focus on the development of “out-of-the-box thinking” . (HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 28, 2021 03:20 AM IST

BySadia Akhtar and Kainat Sarfaraz

Bharat Bandh: Thin crowd at farmer protest sites in Delhi

The Bharat Bandh call, given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of farmer unions, to mark the first anniversary of the enactment of the three farm laws, severely hit vehicular traffic movement in Delhi and NCR

Police barricades placed on NH-9 in Delhi during the Bharat Bandh called by farmer groups in protest against the Centre’s three farm laws. (Hindustan Times)

cities

Updated on Sep 28, 2021 12:09 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

DU cutoffs schedule for UG admissions 2021 released, first cut-off on Oct 1

DU UG admissions 2021-22: Ahead of the first cut-off for over 70,000 UG seats set to be announced on Friday, Delhi University (DU) has announced schedule for the subsequent cut-offs, which will continue till November.

DU UG admissions 2021: Students can check detailed cut-offs schedule on the university's admissions portal www.admission.uod.ac.in(du.ac.in)

education

Updated on Sep 27, 2021 10:11 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

Waive exam fees for kids in classes 10, 12 : Govt to CBSE

In a letter to CBSE on Thursday, Director of Education Udit Prakash Rai requested the board to waive off the examination fee of all the students of classes 10 and 12 studying in all the government, government-aided, patrachar vidyalaya, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Cantonment Board and Department of Social Welfare schools, for the current academic session 2021-22

Schools have been asked to collect exam fee and submit the list of Class 10 and 12 candidates to the board by September 30. (Picture for representation/Sanchit Khanna/HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 26, 2021 12:38 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

At Delhi govt school principals’ meet, focus on ways to improve blended learning

The discussions have been organised as a part of the monthly cluster leadership development programme for government school principals by the State Council of Educational Research and Training.

Principals said since the pandemic has given the push towards online learning, schools are likely to continue with the practice in the post-pandemic era as well. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 25, 2021 05:36 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

UPSC: At least 5 among top 20 are DU graduates, credit varsity for their success

The toppers are from among 4.82 lakh aspirants who took the prelims this year and are among the 761 candidates who have been recommended by the commission for appointment to various administrative services.

DU graduate Ria Dabi, whose sister Tina Dabi topped the UPSC exams in 2015, secured the 15th rank this year. (Sourced)

cities

Updated on Sep 25, 2021 02:49 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

Delhi govt to implement deshbhakti curriculum in schools from September 28

There will be one Deshbhakti period every day for students in nursery to Class 8, and two classes per week -- not on consequent days -- for senior students of classes 9 to 12

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will launch the Deshbhakti curriculum on September 28 at an event in Chhatrasal Stadium. For now, the curriculum that is aimed at instilling patriotism among students, will be taught to classes 9 to 12. (PTI)

cities

Updated on Sep 24, 2021 05:38 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

DoE to hold orientation session for teachers to prepare them for Virtual School

The virtual school is one of the flagship projects of the Delhi government which aims to facilitate easy learning for students who want to benefit from the “Delhi model of education

Mentor teachers said that computer science teachers were picked for the training first due to their technical skills and the readiness to replicate the learning modules among other teachers. (Representative photo/Shutterstock)

cities

Published on Sep 22, 2021 11:06 PM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

CBSE announces board exam fee exemption for students who lost their parents during Covid pandemic

The board also asked CBSE-affiliated schools to submit the details of such students after verifying the cases. CBSE, in an order, said as a special measure for academic session 2021-22, has decided that neither the examination fees nor the registration fees will be charged by the board from the students who have lost both parents, or surviving parent due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced exemption of board examination fee for those students of Class 10 and 12 who lost their both parents due to Covid-19 pandemic. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Sep 22, 2021 12:32 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz

Govt outlines business ideas plan for students in Delhi public schools, part of Entrepreneuship Mindset Curriculum

On Thursday, the state education directorate issued directives for teachers and principals on implementing the programme in the city’s public schools for higher secondary students

Launched in 2019, EMC classes allowed students of these classes to develop business ideas and create entrepreneurial ventures. (REUTERS)

cities

Published on Sep 20, 2021 12:19 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, New Delhi

Harsimrat, Sukhbir among 14 detained as SAD marches against farm laws in Delhi

Police said nearly 1,500 protesters under SAD’s banner gathered at Rakab Ganj to begin their protest march in the morning.

Police officers said that nearly 1,500 protesters gathered at the Rakab Ganj Gurdwara to begin their protest march on Friday morning. (Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

cities

Updated on Sep 18, 2021 04:21 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Delhi University prepares for phased reopening for final-year UG and PG students

While not all DU colleges will resume in-person classes right away, many principals are expecting students to come to access library reading rooms and meet teachers.

Several DU colleges and depts will start practical and laboratory work from Wednesday as part of a phased reopening plan announced last week. (HT)

cities

Updated on Sep 15, 2021 03:21 AM IST

ByKainat Sarfaraz, Hindustan Times, New Delhi

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Kainat Sarfaraz

Kainat Sarfaraz covers education for Hindustan Times in Delhi. She also takes keen interest in reading and writing on the intersections of gender and other identities.

Several protesters said that the events of the past year fuelled anger and mistrust against the Centre and BJP.

Attendance has begun falling amid growing concerns that the worsening air quality can impact the health of children, the administrators of several schools have said, barely a fortnight after children began in-person learning after a gap of over one-and-a-half years

Most stakeholders said arranging transport and continuing with blended learning will be huge challenges for schools as well as ensuring that students from primary classes follow Covid appropriate behaviour at all times

Since there are less than 4,000 beds available for undergraduate students in different college and university hostels, most outstation students end up staying in PGs or sharing rented accommodation with other students

The CBSE — the largest education board in the country in terms of the number of students enrolled and schools affiliated— on Thursday said the full schedule of the Term 1 exams, to be held in November and December, will be announced on October 18

With admissions to Delhi University colleges currently underway, finding a place in the college hostels is likely to become more difficult and financially challenging as several colleges are considering converting their rooms into single occupancy in order to adhere with Covid-19 protocols

Taking lessons from the pandemic, NEP policy advocated for preparing schools “with alternative modes of quality education” to prepare schools across the country for any situation similar to the pandemic

While three courses have closed for admissions, the remaining courses with 100% cut-off have seen a marginal drop, ranging from 0.25 to 1.50 percentage points, except for Ramjas College, which has continued with the 100% cut-off in Political Science in the second list as well

Multiple protests by several student groups broke out on the DU campus against the high cutoff marks for undergraduate courses and also against the controversial remarks made by DU’s Kirori Mal College professor Rakesh Pandey

Hundreds of Delhi government school teachers are currently working with district administrations in various capacities —at the airport, in vaccination centres at hospitals, as well as cracking down on Covid-norm violations across the city

“DU is bound to admit students satisfying all the eligibility criteria, it is a matter of shame that applicants are being discriminated against based on their board,” SFI said in a statement.

According to official data shared by DU with the colleges, around 4,500 students in the humanities scored 100% in Class 12 this year

The Delhi University (DU) announced its first cut-off list on Friday. At least eight colleges declared 100% cut-off in eleven courses such as Political Science, Computer Science, and BCom.

Last year, Lady Shri Ram (LSR) College had announced 100% cut-off for three courses – political science, economics, and psychology. All three were among the most sought-after courses in DU.

Eight Delhi University colleges on Friday announced 100% marks as the eligibility criteria for admission into 11 graduation programmes, a record for the number of courses that require a perfect score for a college seat

Around 220,000 students scored 90% and above marks in the CBSE Class 12 results this year and 70,000 of them scored around 95% or more. Miranda House principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda said the jump in cut-offs for students in the general category will be higher than for those in the reserved ones

The National Progressive Schools Conference, which comprises top schools in Delhi, said it plans to resume in-person learning for classes 6 to 8 in November

Under the Deshbhakti curriculum, Delhi government school teachers will work from Wednesday on instilling a sense of patriotism among students

SoSEs offer specialised education to students of classes 9 to 12 in four domains — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); humanities; performing and visual arts; and “high-end 21st-century skills”

The Bharat Bandh call, given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a collective of farmer unions, to mark the first anniversary of the enactment of the three farm laws, severely hit vehicular traffic movement in Delhi and NCR

DU UG admissions 2021-22: Ahead of the first cut-off for over 70,000 UG seats set to be announced on Friday, Delhi University (DU) has announced schedule for the subsequent cut-offs, which will continue till November.

The discussions have been organised as a part of the monthly cluster leadership development programme for government school principals by the State Council of Educational Research and Training.

The toppers are from among 4.82 lakh aspirants who took the prelims this year and are among the 761 candidates who have been recommended by the commission for appointment to various administrative services.

There will be one Deshbhakti period every day for students in nursery to Class 8, and two classes per week -- not on consequent days -- for senior students of classes 9 to 12

The virtual school is one of the flagship projects of the Delhi government which aims to facilitate easy learning for students who want to benefit from the “Delhi model of education

On Thursday, the state education directorate issued directives for teachers and principals on implementing the programme in the city’s public schools for higher secondary students

Police said nearly 1,500 protesters under SAD’s banner gathered at Rakab Ganj to begin their protest march in the morning.

While not all DU colleges will resume in-person classes right away, many principals are expecting students to come to access library reading rooms and meet teachers.

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