India's most respected Day, Boarding and International Schools of 2011

EducationWorld in association with C fore conducted survey to rate India's most respected Day, Boarding and International Schools of 2011. The Shri Ram School, Delhi; Rishi Valley School, Chittoor and the Woodstock School, Mussoorie have been voted EducationWorld-C fore Schools
Survey 2011 .

The survey conducted by the Delhi-based opinion polling and market research agency C Fore (Centre for forecasting and research) polled a mix of 2,044 fees-paying parents, principals,  teachers and educationists in 16 cities across the country asking them to rate 404 of India's most well-known schools on 14 parameters including academic reputation, quality of co- curricular and sports education, infrastructure, leadership/
management, quality of alumni and faculty competence, disabled friendliness, teacher welfare and development among other attributes.

The perceptual scores awarded by sample respondents under each parameter were aggregated to arrive at a total score for 321 day schools, 50 legacy/traditional boarding schools and 33 new genre international schools. "This year's league tables of India's most respected day, boarding and international schools indicate a distinct shift in the mood of the informed public in favour of alternate-style education. All schools offering  broad-based education with special focus on environmental education and spiritual development have risen in public esteem. There's a message to all principals and educationists in this trend. The objective of publishing and  proclaiming the EW-C fore league tables annually is to encourage healthy competition and aspiration, so that India's most respected schools improve continuously and serve as benchmark institutions for 1.26 million schools countrywide not included in the survey, to strive for inclusion," says Dilip Thakore, Editor of EducationWorld .

Day Schools. The Shri Ram School, Delhi with an aggregate score of 1,293 (out of a maximum possible 1,500) has dislodged Cathedral & John Connon School, Mumbai to be ranked first in India and the north zone. It is followed by Cathedral & John Connon School (1,292) and Mallya Aditi International School, Bangalore (1,291) and Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School, Chennai jointly ranked third all-India and first in the south zone. Significantly there's a razor-thin margin of one point in the aggregate scores separating the three top- ranked schools.

Other schools included among the Top 10 day schools are Vasant Valley School, Delhi (No. 4); Springdales (Dhaula Kuan) Delhi (5); Sanskriti School, Delhi (6); DPS RK Puram, Delhi (6); The Mother's International School, Delhi (6); Vidya Niketan, Bangalore (7); Smt. Sulochana Devi Singhania School, Thane, Mumbai (8); Gitanjali School, Hyderabad (8); Campion School, Mumbai (9); Bombay Scottish (9) with Step by Step, Noida (10) and The Valley School, Bangalore, both ranked 10. The Shri Ram School was rated the best day school countrywide on the vital parameters of  ompetence of faculty; teacher welfare and development; individual attention to students and parental involvement.

As was the case last year, academics-focused day schools rated high on the parameter of academic reputation, didn't fare well in the overall league table rankings. For instance, Delhi Public School (RK Puram) Delhi, National Public School (Indiranagar) Bangalore, DAV Boys, Chennai, DPS, Bokaro and DPS, Bhilai - all ranked No.1 for academic reputation - are ranked further down in the national day schools league table.

Boarding Schools. Rishi Valley School, Chittoor has ended the four-year reign of the venerated The Doon School, Dehradun as India's most respected traditional/legacy boarding school with an aggregate score of 1,269. With a discernible shift within the SECA (socio economic category A) public in favour of new age education, RVS has been decisively ranked numero uno with The Doon School obliged to share second rank with the consistently ascending Mayo College Girls, Ajmer (No. 2).

The third slot is shared by Welham Girls, Dehradun and Bishop Cotton, Shimla while the Lawrence School, Sanawar has retained its No.4 rank.

Among other schools included in the list of Top 10 boarding schools: Daly College, Indore (5); Mayo College, Ajmer (6); Assam Valley School, Balipara (6); Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun (7); Sherwood College, Nainital (8); Orchid International School, Nashik (9); St. Paul's, Darjeeling and Lawrence School, Lovedale, both ranked 10.

International Schools. Thirty- three new genre international schools (defined as institutions offering the curriculums of offshore examination boards from primary/middle years onwards) of whom there was sufficient awareness within the respondents' base, were rated and ranked across 15 parameters of education provision. This year, the Woodstock School, Mussoorie has vaulted to the top slot in thiscategory, besting its former affiliate Kodaikanal International School (KIS) to be voted the most admired school in this category. But this year KIS has to share its second position with the new genre Indus International School, Bangalore which has seriously challenged the reign of these two vintage international schools.

Others included in the Top 10 are Mahindra United World College, Pune (3); Dhirubhai Ambani International, Mumbai (4); The International School, Bangalore (5); Good Shepherd International, Ooty (6); Ecole Mondiale, Mumbai (7); Pathways World School, Gurgaon (7); Mercedes Benz International, Pune (8); Hebron School, Ooty (9) and Indus International School, Hyderabad (10).

To felicitate India's top - Day, Boarding and International schools which have topped the EW-C fore Survey 2011, EducationWorld is hosting an  Awards Nite on September 17, 2011 at The Lalit, New Delhi.

About Education World

EducationWorld is India's - perhaps Asia's - sole education news and analysis magazine. Published monthly, its mission is to "build the pressure of public opinion to make education the No.1 item on the national agenda". Currently EducationWorld has 750,000 readers comprising teachers, parents and senior school and college students in 29 states around the country.
EducationWorld : educationworld@vsnl.net www.educationworldonline.net

Best Science Colleges in India 2011

Browse through the top 10 list of 2011 for the Best Science Colleges in India.
The annual India Today survey results for the best colleges in the country for 2011 were declared last week. More than 1500 colleges had participated in the survey which ranked institutions stream-wise offering courses in arts, science, commerce, engineering, medicine and law.
The institutions were assessed for the following parameters:

• Reputation
  
• Academic Input
  
• Student Care
  
• Infrastructure
  
• Placement
  
• Perceptual Rank
  
• Factual Rank

While colleges like St Stephens and Loyola, Chennai have maintained their top positions from last year, this year's list also sees the addition of colleges like Hindu College, Delhi; Mount Carmel College, and St. Joseph's College, Bangalore in the list. 

 Top 10 science colleges in India >>

1. St Stephen's College, Delhi

Maintaining the top spot is St. Stephen's College, Delhi.

Founded by Rev Samuel Scott Allnutt, on 1 February 1881, St. Stephen's is the oldest college in Delhi.

The College commenced its academic journey with just five student and three teachers in a small house in Chandni Chowk. Since then, it has shifted its location thrice and is currently located in the university Enclave.

The college was known as one of the premier institutions offering degrees in liberal arts and science in the country.

While its founder members were not only great academicians, they were also active participants and contributed greatly to the cause of the nation.

Today, they cater to undergraduate and post graduate students besides offering all round development by initiating activities and dedicated student societies in debating, dramatics, mountaineering, film and music appreciation, social service, photography, electronics and astronomy.

2. Loyola College, Chennai

On second spot is Loyola College, Chennai
Founded in 1925, with an aim to provide university education to the Catholic Community, the college is known for its high academic standards and quality education in the city.

Although the college continues to be affiliated to the University of Madras, it functions as an autonomous body since July 1978.

It has a 100-acre campus and is conveniently located in the heart of the city.

There are 18 departments (for Arts, Commerce and Science) and 9 special Institutes offering more than 111 programs to over 10,000 students. It has 10 departments offering M.Phil programs and 14 departments that offer Ph.D programs.

Over 114 teaching staff members out of 277, hold doctoral degree.

3. St. Xavier's College, Kolkata

Moving two places up from last year is St. Xavier's College, Kolkata.
 
Named after St. Francis Xavier, a Jesuit saint of the 16th century, who travelled to India, St. Xavier's College was founded in 1860 with just 40 students.

It is an autonomous college affiliated to the University of Calcutta.

After gaining autonomous status in July 2006, it also came to be known as the first autonomous college of West Bengal, India.

The College offers UG and PG Courses under five faculties, namely Arts, Science, Commerce, Business Administration and Education and has close to 5000 students under its roll.

The college also owns the credit for having a commemorative stamp depicting the college campus issued by the Indian Post in its name.

4. Miranda House, New Delhi

Fourth on the list is Miranda House, New Delhi which was on the eighth position last year.

A residential college for women, Miranda House is also regarded as one of the premier women's institutions of Delhi University.
It was founded in 1948 by the then Vice-Chancellor Sir Maurice Gwyer with a student strength of 33.

Today, the college offers undergraduate and post graduate courses across 16 academic departments in liberal arts and science to more than 2,500 students.

The college building which was designed by renowned architect Walter Sykes George was recently declared as a heritage building.

5. Fergusson College, Pune

Sharing the fifth spot this year is Fergusson College, Pune
 
The college got its name on January 2, 1885, to acknowledge the efforts of Sir James Fergusson, the first patron of the Deccan Education Society who strived towards the formation of the college. The college was inaugurated by William Wordsworth, the grandson of the famous English poet.

Starting with Arts in its inception days, in 1892, it commenced offering courses in Science and since then has maintained high standards of education.

The college is located in the heart of the city, has a sprawling campus and caters to the many needs of the 5,500-odd student community from sports, games and cultural facilities.

6. Christ University, Bangalore

Improving its position by one rank from last year is Christ University, Bangalore.
Also known popularly as Christ College, the Christ University was established in July 1969.

It has the rare distinction to be the first institution in Karnataka to be accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) UGC for quality education.

Spread over a 25 acre campus, the Christ University was granted the deemed university status in 2008.

Today, the college has over 2000 students enrolled in its science stream and offers integrated programmes in physics, maths, chemistry, biology and electronics.


Besides, it also offers courses in Law, Business Administration, Commerce, Management, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Among the professional ones, it offers courses in Business Management, Computer Application, Hotel Management, Mass Communication, Social Work, Engineering and Tourism.

7. Hindu College, Delhi

Appraising its position from thirteenth spot last year is Hindu College, Delhi.
Established in 1899, the Hindu College, Delhi is one of the oldest and profound colleges of the country.

An active participant of the freedom struggle movement, the college is known for its academic excellence across science, arts and commerce.

Spread over 25 acres of land, the college has over 15 departments offering undergraduate and graduate courses to over 2000 students annually.

It is ably supported by a strong academic and non-teaching staff.

 8. Mount Carmel College, Bangalore

It's a commendable achievement for Mount Carmel College, Bangalore which featured on the sixteenth position last year.

Since it was established on July 7, 1948, roughly a year after independence with just 50 students on its rolls, which dwindled to 32, by the end of the year owing to lack of proper infrastructure, the college has certainly come a long way.

Today it has a beautiful campus, large buildings and caters to over 4,000 students in the country.

It is the first woman's college in Karnataka and also the first all women college to start courses in PGDBA.

It has five departments, namely arts, science, home science, commerce and post graduate studies which specifically look into the academic and social needs of students.

9. St. Joseph's College, Bangalore

Also moving up the ladder from its 12th spot last year is St. Joseph's College, Bangalore.

Founded in 1882, St St. Joseph's College, Bangalore is one of the oldest colleges in Karnataka, India.

After it was declared an autonomous college in 2005, it started offering integrated courses in science, commerce and arts to students.

It has student strength of over 5000 students ably attended by a faculty of about 150 members.

 10. Hansraj College, Delhi

Sliding down from its ninth position last year is Hansraj College, Delhi.
 
The college came into being on July 1948, with student strength of 313 members.

Hansraj College is known for its large classrooms and extensive playfields, and boasts of a sports complex, an air conditioned electronic shooting range, well-equipped laboratories, a spacious library and hostel facilities among others.
It has nearly 15 academic departments and faculty of 85 members

13,000 students to benefit from new eligibility criteria for technical courses

At least 13,000 students in the state will benefit from the new relaxed eligibility criteria for admission to technical courses. Last week, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) reduced the Class 12 eligibility criteria from 50% to 45% in the open category and from 45% to 40% in
the reserved category.

The state government issued a resolution to this effect on Tuesday. The eligibility criteria will be applicable for all graduate technical courses - engineering, hotel management and pharmacy.

"About 13,000 students who have good scores in the MH-CET entrance test were not eligible to apply for admissions because of their Class 12 marks. The new criteria will allow them to enter the system," said SK Mahajan, director, Directorate of Technical Education, which is incharge of the admission process.

Students who qualify under the new eligibility criteria can apply between July 6 and July 8. Already 9,000 engineering aspirants and 1,100 pharmacy aspirants who qualify under the new criteria have applied.

Although the provisional merit list for engineering colleges has been put up on the website, students who are eligible as per the new rule will be accommodated in the final merit list.

Officials are expecting another 2,000 aspirants to apply.