Smiling Kiddies celebrates Christmas

School News Network
Zirakpur, December 25 2021

Smiling Kiddies Playway school celebrated Christmas with zest and zeal. Kiddies were dressed up as Santa Claus and sang Christmas carols. Nursery, Junior and Senior kiddies took part in games enthusiastically. 

Nursery class performed Santa's hat ring toss game. Junior & Senior kiddies played an interesting game 'Fix the reindeer's nose'. Little angels of Play Group danced on the beats of Christmas songs and were looking merrymaking. The day was filled with joy and surprises.

Celebrating International Day of Girl Child:- APPLY TO BE THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER TO INDIA FOR A DAY

School News Network
United Kingdom, September 09 2021

The British High Commission invites applications from Indian women aged 18-23 for a chance to head the diplomatic mission for a day. The pan-India competition is being organised to celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child.

 

To apply to be ‘High Commissioner for a Day’, applicants must record and upload a one-minute video on ‘how can young people best support tackling the global challenge of climate change?’ The video must be shared on either Twitter, Facebook or Instagram by tagging @UKinIndia and using the hashtags #DayoftheGirl. The deadline to apply is 22 September 2021.

 

Alex Ellis, High Commissioner to India, said: “The impact of Covid-19 on education around the world will be long term, particularly for girls. This is why at the UK-hosted G7 Summit earlier this year, leaders from around the world agreed ambitious global targets to get more girls into school. Empowering and educating girls is also one of Prime Minister Modi's central campaigns. I am delighted to note that this year nearly 60% of UK’s Chevening fellowships and 52% of the scholarships for India were awarded to women.

 

The International Day of the Girl Child is an important moment to recognise that educating all girls everywhere is not just the right thing to do, it is one of the smartest investments we can make to build a better, more equitable world. Through the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition, I want to shine a light on brilliant young women and for them to show their even younger peers in school, that anything is possible.”

 

The British High Commission has run the ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition annually since 2017. Last year’s competition was won by 18-year-old Chaitanya Venkateswaran, whose day as the High Commissioner included learning about gender representation in the media, interacting with senior police officers from Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, and launching the British Council STEM Tracer Study documenting the stories of Indian women scholars.

NOTES TO EDITORS

·       The UK and India are learning from each other and sharing expertise to ensure women and girls can reach their full potential around the world. In India, the UK is working hand-in-hand with state governments, law enforcement agencies, education authorities and British businesses to promote gender equality.

 

·       The ‘High Commissioner for a Day’ competition is open to Indian women aged 18 to 23. The deadline to apply is 22 September 2021.

 

·       Terms and Conditions:

 

·       A jury at the British High Commission (BHC) will select the winner, who will be announced on @UKinIndia social media channels by 28 September. Only one entry per participant will be accepted. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. The High Commission’s decision is final and no correspondence relating to the above will be possible.

 

·       By applying to the competition, participants transfer the copyright ownership of their videos to the BHC New Delhi. BHC may use these videos to produce content for future communication on its social media channels.

 

·       Participants are reminded not to share personal details in their video, post or tweet. The BHC is not responsible for the data that participants make public on these platforms.

 

·       The High Commissioner for a Day programme will take place in-person in Delhi (unless Covid-19 advice changes). We cannot fund travel or accommodation to Delhi as part of the competition. In case the winner is not from Delhi/NCR, it is the winner’s sole responsibility to ensure all Covid-19 protocols required for travelling to Delhi are properly followed.

 

·       Our ambition is to host in-person meetings; however, this is dependent on the Covid-19 situation. In case Covid cases increase or the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare advises against in-person meetings in October, the programme may be run virtually.

India to move from UK's Red List to Amber List on August 08

School News Network
United Kingdom, August 05 2021

The UK government has today announced an update to the ‘Red-Amber-Green’ traffic light ratings for arrivals into England. From 4am (BST) on Sunday 8 August, India will move from the red to the amber list. This means:

 

·       Visit Visas for the UK from India are open (in addition to other visa long-term visas that have remained open)

·       Travellers arriving in England can complete a 10-day quarantine at home or in the place they are staying (not mandatorily quarantine in a managed hotel)

·       Under the voluntary Test to Release scheme, they can choose to pay for a private Covid-19 test on day 5 of the quarantine. If the result is negative, they can end their quarantine

·       Full amber list rules can be found here.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIPS 2022-23

School News Network
United Kingdom, August 04 2021

The application window for the UK Government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship programme for 2022-23 is now open. Aspiring scholars who are planning to study for a one-year master’s degree in British universities can apply.

Chevening Scholarships offer full financial support for one year to candidates applying for a master’s degree at any UK university – covering nearly 12,000 courses from more than 150 universities. The scholarship will cover: tuition fees for the selected course; travel expenses and visa fees; and a monthly stipend.

 

Alex Ellis, High Commissioner to India, said: “Chevening Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for the future leaders of India to study at some of the world’s best universities in the UK. Whatever your background, your geography, please apply for this chance to learn and experience the best of what the UK has to offer and in doing so, strengthen the living bridge between our two countries.

India is home to the largest Chevening programme in the world. Chevening has been running the scholarship and fellowship programmes in India since 1983. It has helped more than 3,300 scholars and fellows from across India – including many first-generation learners - realise their dream of pursuing a world-class education and training in the UK. Many of these scholars and fellows have gone on to make remarkable contributions towards the prosperity of India.

Candidates can apply for any course of their choice. Further details, including on how to apply, can be found here.

UK Carrier Strike Group starts Maritime Exercise with INDIAN Navy

School News Network
United Kingdom, July 22 2021

 

The joint exercises between the Carrier Strike Group and the Indian Navy are being conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 21-23 July.

 

·       As part of its maiden operational deployment, the CSG will sail over 26,000 nautical miles, engaging with 40 countries from the Mediterranean to the Indo-Pacific and back again.

 

·       The fifth generation HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier, at 65,000 tonnes, is the largest surface vessel ever constructed in the UK. Taller than Niagara Falls, her propellers generate the power of 50 high-speed trains. She leads six Royal Navy ships, a Royal Navy submarine, a US Navy destroyer and a frigate from the Netherlands in the largest concentration of maritime and air power to leave the UK in a generation. It is equipped with the fifth generation F-35B Lightning multi-role aircrafts. They are being jointly crewed by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the US Marine Corps.

 

·       From defending democratic values and tackling shared threats, to seizing new trade opportunities through engagements with Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan, India and others, the deployment marks a step-change in UK engagement in the region. The UK is already investing significantly in the region by seeking ASEAN Dialogue Partner status, kicking off negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and rapidly progressing trade talks with Australia, New Zealand and India.

HMS Queen Elizabeth (front) with an Indian Shivalik Multi-role Frigate (second from front) in the Bay of Bengal. Photo Credit- Royal Navy

 

The United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2021, led by HMS Queen Elizabeth has met up with the Indian Navy in the Bay of Bengal, for three days of complex maritime interactions.

The maritime partnership exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy will see the two navies conducting a range of multi-ship, air, sea and sub-surface maritime evolutions, as well as, close quarter manoeuvring. This enables both forces to advance their interoperability and cooperation ahead of further exercises when the CSG returns to the Indian Ocean in the autumn. The combined forces equate to 10 ships, two submarines, approximately 20 aircraft and almost 4,000 personnel.

Both the UK and India are in the midst of a carrier renaissance, with the CSG spearheading the UK’s Joint Expeditionary capability. The joint endeavour provides tangible security to our friends and a credible deterrence to those who seek to undermine global security. An Indian warship will also exercise with the Royal Navy off the coast of the UK in August.

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: “This is a month that will see the Royal Navy and Indian Navy meet and work together in two oceans – beginning in the Indian Ocean as the UK Carrier Strike Group arrives for the first of multiple UK-India exercises and events. Later this summer, both will participate in a separate exercise in the Atlantic Ocean. The deployment is proof of the strength, energy and significance of the growing relationship between our navies.”

 

Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Sir Ben Key said: “The UK and India are key defence partners and the Carrier Strike Group’s deployment is a symbol of Global Britain in action, showcasing our commitment to India, the Indo-Pacific region, and confronting threats to international order.”

 

Commodore Steve Moorhouse, Commander United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group, said: “As HMS Queen Elizabeth and her Carrier Strike Group cross the Indian Ocean, it is only natural that we should exercise with the Indian Navy.

 

“At the strategic level, the exercise is a muscular expression of the closer defence partnership that Prime Ministers Johnson and Modi envisaged when they agreed the UK-India Roadmap 2030 earlier this year.”

               

World Population Day celebrated at St Teresa School Panchkula

School News Network
Panchkula, 22 November 2021

The world population day was celebrated by the students and teachers on 11th July, 2021 at St. Teresa Convent School, with great enthusiasm. It was a campaign in order to raise awareness about global population issues. The main objective of this program was to make students understand that ‘Excess of anything is bad’. It applies to everything including population. Regarding this various activities such as poem recitation, poster-making, declamation were held during virtual classes.

The Popcorn and Milk experiment is a ton of fun!

School News Network
Panchkula, 21 November 2021

Intending to cultivate scientific temperament and attitude among the children, St. Teresa Convent school conducted Popcorn and Milk activity for them. The kids are setting a classic example of utilising their time effectively by conducting Science experiments.

Kids of Pre Primary treated themselves to popcorn by popping up their favourite popcorn and milk experiment with their teachers. The students are so amazed that how the popcorn are being so full of air that once it is placed in the milk, the milk pushes all the air out of the air pockets filling up all the empty space which then turns the popcorn soggy.

Teachers apprised kids – Why does popcorn dissolve in milk? Through this experiment they learnt about the volume of mixtures and solutions. When particles dissolve, the total volume of a mixture is less than the volume of its parts. 

Little ones explored that how Popcorn and milk are the only two things that will go into the same place. This fun filled activity helped them to gain a better understanding of how the milk and popcorn separately have a larger volume and had a wonderful learning experience.

UK and India announce New Era in Bilateral Relationship

School News Network
United Kingdom, May 04 2021

 

· Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed ambitious plans for the next decade of the UK-India relationship

· The ‘2030 roadmap’ includes commitments to deepen cooperation on health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence.

 

The British and Indian Prime Ministers have made an historic commitment to strengthen work between the UK and India over the next decade, bringing our countries, economies and people closer together and boosting cooperation in areas that matter to both countries.

 

During a virtual meeting today, the two leaders agreed a ‘2030 Roadmap’ which will provide a framework for UK-India relations across health, climate, trade, education, science and technology, and defence. The Roadmap includes commitments to:

 

• Expand the UK-India health partnership to enhance global health security and pandemic resilience. This includes firming up international supply chains to ensure critical medicines, vaccines and other medical products reach those who need them most.

 

• Work together to ensure an ambitious outcome at COP26 and expand the UK-India partnership on tackling climate change, including by accelerating the development of clean energy and transport and new technology, protecting nature and biodiversity and helping developing countries adapt to the impact of climate change.

 

• Deepen the economic relationship between the UK and India through an Enhanced Trade Partnership and confirming our intent to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement with a view to doubling UK-India trade over the next decade.

 

• Increase cooperation between British and Indian universities on crucial research in areas like health, emerging technologies, and climate science – and bringing enterprises together to propel ground-breaking innovations to communities that need them most.  This includes the launch of a UK-India Global Innovation Partnership, which will co-invest in climate and health innovations from India to transform the lives of people across Africa, Asia and the Indian Ocean.  It also includes extension of the UK-India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) to conclude its important work in bringing higher education and research sectors, and the people who work in them, closer together.

 

• Cooperate closely to tackle threats to our shared security in all their forms. The UK’s Carrier Strike Group will visit India later this year to boost this work with our navies and air forces undertaking joint training exercises to enable future cooperation on operations in the Western Indian Ocean.

 

• Enhance our migration relationship, to make it easier for British and Indian nationals to live and work in each other’s countries.

 

The two countries also agreed to elevate the status of the relationship to a ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’.

 

The breadth and depth of India’s relationship with the UK is underpinned by the living bridge between our people – with more Indian companies in the UK than in the rest of Europe combined and a vibrant Indian diaspora of 1.6 million Brits sharing deep connections between our countries.

 

During their meeting, the Prime Ministers undertook to work closely together in support of those values, including at next month’s G7 in Cornwall, which India is invited to as a guest nation.

 

Over the last week British business, civil society and the wider public have demonstrated the strength of the relationship between the UK and India by donating much-needed medical supplies to the country. During their call the Prime Minister and Prime Minister Modi agreed to continue to work together on our shared fight against coronavirus. They pointed to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, currently being produced by India’s Serum Institute, as an example of the power of UK-India cooperation.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The UK and India share many fundamental values. The UK is one of the oldest democracies, and India is the world’s largest. We are both committed members of the Commonwealth. And there is a living bridge uniting the people of our countries.

 

“In the last week the British people have stepped up in their thousands to support our Indian friends during this terrible time in a demonstration of the deep connection between the UK and India.

 

“This connection will only grow over the next decade as we do more together to tackle the world’s biggest problems and make life better for our people. The agreements we have made today mark the beginning of a new era in the UK-India relationship.”  

 

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis said: “The scope of the 2030 Roadmap makes absolutely clear how much the UK and India can and must do together.

 

This is a defining moment in the UK-India partnership, as we look to rebuild from the economic and health impacts of Covid-19, and lay the foundations for a secure and prosperous decade”

IBEForuM Hosts QATAR DIGITAL LEARNING SUMMIT (Virtual) to Focus on the Key challenges of the Education Sector

School News Network
Qatar, May 03 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has just accelerated the growth of e-learning. This virtual conference is designed to bring together the digital learning solution providers from all over the globe that will cater to Qatar’s National Vision 2030 of modernizing and digitalizing the education sector and solve the challenges of digital learning.

Our extensive research with authoritative input from the key industry figures will provide an up-to-the-minute overview of the crucial issues faced by the various educational institutions and organizations on how to maximize e-learning for a sustainable future. This virtual Summit will bring together the key stakeholders and innovators of the digital learning industry for the betterment of the education sector. You can network with other e-learning professionals and gain the latest insights from the industry leaders featuring high-profile case studies and have an interactive discussions.

The decision-makers in this strategic virtual Summit are the Deputy Minister, Ministers, Chairmans, CEO, Director General, Deputy Director General Professor, Teacher, Lecturer, Principal/Dean, Education Technology Heads, etc. from Schools, Colleges, Universities, Higher Education Academies, Government and Semi-Government Entities.

We also have on board speakers from –

• Qatar Foundation

• Ministry of Education, Qatar

• Qatar Academy

• Qatar University

• Qatar Medical Students Association

• edX

Some of our Key Sponsors are -

• Microsoft (Gold Sponsor)

• Ensof (Gold Sponsor)

• KaiT (Gold Sponsor)

• Lexima (Gold Sponsor)

• Intelliboard (Silver Sponsor)

• Kestone – (Virtual Event Sponsor)

For more details, please visit https://www.qatarsummits.com/

Please Note: The virtual event will be held on the KESTONE platform. 

Here's the link : https://kestoneglobal.com/

UT Administrator imposed new restrictions to fight COVID-19 in Chandigarh

School News Network
Chandigarh, May 03 2021

Governor of Punjab and Administrator, UT Chandigarh reviewed the covid situation in the city in a Special War Room held on 03/05/2021.  The meeting was attended by Manoj Parida, Adviser to the Administrator, Arun Kumar Gupta, Principal Secretary Home & Sanjay Beniwal, Director General of Police at Punjab Raj Bhawan. 

There was detailed discussion in the War Room regarding restrictive steps taken by the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana including lockdown measures to prevent spread of infection.  Keeping in view the fact that Chandigarh being the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, total sealing of borders will not be possible.  It was also felt that a total lockdown for long period will adversely affect the economy and may also lead to migration of labourers from the city, thereby causing massive disruption.  Hence, a considered decision was taken to have limited restrictive measures as follows :-

(i)      Night curfew will continue from 06:00 PM to 05:00 AM every day.

(ii)      There will be day time restrictions w.e.f. 05:00 PM on 04/05/2021 (Tuesday), till 05:00 AM on 11/05/2021 (Tuesday).  During these 07 days period, the following restrictions will be imposed :-

(a)     All shops selling non-essential items will remain closed.

(b)    All government offices and banks will work with 50% capacity.  As far  as possible, all private offices will ensure that their staff work from home.

(c)     Public Transport will run with 50% capacity.

(d)     The ban on Cinema Halls, Gyms, Spa, Bar, Swimming Pool, Coaching Centres will continue.

(e)    Sports Complexes will remain closed.  Special permission can be given by Secretary (Sports) to athletes preparing for Olympics etc.

(f)    Restaurants including hotels, Café, Coffee Shops, Eating Places will be allowed to function only for take away.  No seating arrangements will be allowed inside their premises.  Home delivery can be done upto 09:00 PM.

(g)    There shall be a complete ban on all social, cultural, sports and political gatherings.

(h)    Recruitment exams will be postponed excepting those like UPSC etc., especially permitted by Chandigarh Administration.

(i)    While there will be no restriction on inter-state movement, yet those entering Chandigarh without negative covid reports or vaccine certificates will be subject to random testing.

(j)    All Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Health related facilities like testing laboratories etc. will function normally.

(k)    Visitors entering government offices may be required to produce vaccination certificates or negative covid reports.

(l)    The gathering for the occasions like marriages will be restricted to 50 and for cremation/funeral, it will be 20 persons.

(m)    Crowded places like Sukhna Lake, Museums, Libraries, Rock Garden etc. will remain closed.

(n)    School, Colleges, Coaching Centres will remain closed.  However, teaching staff will be required to come as per detailed instructions to be issued by Education Department.

(o)    While movement of vehicles have been allowed during day time, the residents are requested to stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel.

(p)    The shops selling essential items like milk, bread, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, eggs, meat, mobile repair will remain opened.

(q)    It is clarified that total weekend curfew on Saturday and Sunday will continue.

Administrator appealed to the residents to strictly follow the covid protocol like wearing of masks and maintain social distance, so that the infection could be contained.

Keeping in view the nature of work being done by the mediamen, the Administrator decided that all accredited journalists will be included in the official list of frontline workers in UT, Chandigarh