Germany to help improve teaching

Germany will help India improve its quality of teaching and research with the two countries signing a pact for a “long-term” partnership between their higher educational institutions, pledging to create a pool of 3.5 million euros together for implementation of various projects in first four years.

The two countries have also put to rest the recent controversy over teaching of German language in Indian schools with Germany accepting India’s decision to teach German in Kendriya Vidyalayas only as an additional foreign language.

Signing a joint declaration of intent, Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani agreed to promote teaching-learning of German as a foreign language while German Foreign Affairs Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier assured promotion of “modern Indian languages” in Germany in return.

The Max Muller Bhavan will sign a fresh agreement with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) for “operationalisation” of teaching of German as an additional language.

A nodal agency will be identified for teaching of modern Indian languages including Sanskrit in Germany and a separate memorandum of understanding will be signed between the two countries for implementation in this regard.

This comes almost a year after HRD Ministry junked teaching of German as third language in the KVs, citing three language formula prescribed under the national education policy.

Apart from English, mother tongue and any other modern Indian languages can be taught in schools under the three language formula. Under the pact signed for bilateral cooperation in the filed of higher education, the University Grants Commission and German academic exchange service will develop a road map for partnership between Indian and German higher educational institutions to implement various projects including improve the overall quality of teaching and research between 2016-2012.

Both India and Germany will provide a total of 3.5 million euros to fund these projects for their implementation in the first four years, official sources told Deccan Herald.
 
*India, Germany agree to deploy armed marshals on board some flights
*Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and his German counterpart Gunter Krings sign MoU on ‘carriage of in-flight security officers within a short time fame’
*Move aimed at keeping terrorists from hijacking aircraft
*‘MoU proposes to intensify cooperation in countering terror in all forms, like recruitment, financing, terrorist propaganda, training and terrorist movements; countering organised crime, preventing and combating unlawful production/extraction of any narcotic and psychotropic substances,’ says an official statement
*Ministers also discuss issues of mutual interest, including the threat posed by Islamic State terrorists
*Rijiju also tells Krings about presence and activities of individuals and organisations linked to extremist and terrorist elements operating in India, particularly Sikh
extremists
*‘Such extremist elements based in Germany often use their places of worship to support extremist organisations in India by propaganda and financing. Flag of Khalistan and photos of terrorists bearing weapons openly displayed in many Sikh religious places in Germany to incite hatred and anger,’ says Rijiju


Death penalty blocks criminal deal
India’s continued insistence on retaining death penalty has become an obstacle for Germany to sign an agreement on cooperation in criminal matters with New Delhi, DHNS reports from New Delhi.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju raised the issue of signing of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLTA) in criminal matters with his German counterpart Gunter Krings when the latter called on him on Monday.

“Its importance has been underscored by our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and Chancellor (Angela Merkel). The negotiations have not been progressing on account of differences on the issue of death penalty.