News / Author / Fareeha Iftikhar

Fareeha Iftikhar

Fareeha Iftikhar is a Special Correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters.

Articles by Fareeha Iftikhar

‘Sensitise kids on sexual abuse in school assembly’: DCPCR

Analysing complaints of child sexual abuse it has received in the last two years, the commission concluded that in as many as 11% cases , the school was either where the crime took place or the offender was someone from the school.

DCPCR observed that in about 70% of the cases of child sexual abuse, the offender was known to the victim(HT File)

education

Published on Feb 12, 2019 02:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi

DU students call for end to Hindu College’s customary ‘virgin tree’ puja

The ritual is believed to bring ‘good luck’ with the students who participate in it ‘falling in love within the next six months and losing their virginity in the next one year’.

Every year on February 14, Valentine’s Day, students from Hindu College’s boys’ hostel flock around the Virgin Tree (V-shaped tree) on the college campus. They worship a Bollywood female actor as Damdami Mai (goddess), with her poster stuck to the tree. Last year actor Ranveer Singh and Jacqueline Fernandez were labelled ‘Love Guru’ and ‘Damdami Mai’ respectively.(Sourced)

education

Updated on Feb 11, 2019 04:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi Nursery Admission: Doorstep delivery of admission service to make it easy for parents

The scheme, which will be launched on a pilot-basis, will focus on students who have already been selected through the lottery system but may not be familiar with the admission procedure.

Delhi Nursery Admission: Delhi govt to start doorstep delivery of admission service(Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

education

Published on Feb 09, 2019 01:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Life at JNU: How one event changed the dynamics of campus operations

JNU Campus known for its freedom, 24X7 dhabas, hostel life, politics, protests and posters etc is all changed after the February 9, 2016 event that involved Kanhaiya Kumar and others. Security checks for outsiders, surprise checking at hostels, surveillances, and restrictions are some of the changes one can notice. Read how everything changed at the JNU campus.

Kanhaiya Kumar addresses students after his release(HT File)

education

Updated on Feb 10, 2019 03:49 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi’s first ‘Pad Yatra’ busts stigma around menstruation

Around 3,000 students from 50 government and five private schools in the city participated in the “period fest” organised by NGO Sachhi Saheli, in association with the Delhi government.

Students during ‘Pad Yatra’, a march organised by an NGO and the Delhi government, to spread awareness about menstruation, Feb 5, 2019.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Feb 06, 2019 12:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Student safety at risk in MCD schools due to lack of guards

Officials from a majority of schools under Delhi’s three civic bodies — east, north and south — complain about lack of security guards.

Officials of many schools under Delhi’s three municipal corporations complain of a lack of security at the gates which put students at risk.(Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Feb 06, 2019 12:45 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

PUBG, God of War, Fortnite among games flagged as ‘harmful for brain’

The DCPCR also listed the games that it considered “violent”. “Some violent games which are available on IOS, Android platforms and console platform are PUBG, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto series, God of War, Hitman series, Plague Inc and Pokemon.

DCPCR flagged PUBG, God of War, Fortnight among games as ‘harmful for brain’(HT File)

education

Updated on Feb 05, 2019 02:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Boards round the corner, Delhi govt schools struggling due to lack of counsellors for students

Board exams are round the corner but government schools in Delhi are struggling because of the absence of adequate number of counsellors.

education

Updated on Feb 01, 2019 01:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

DU, JNU teachers resist new quota rules, say SC/ST, OBC to be affected

The Supreme Court, last week, had upheld the Allahabad high court’s April 2017 order, which directed that the reservation in faculty positions in universities/colleges be calculated department-wise and not on the total posts in the university or college.

File photo of JNU administrative building.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Jan 31, 2019 01:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Students walking to schools in Delhi at risk amid maze of cars

There are a few things that schools themselves can do to make the areas outside their campuses walkable such as hiring some traffic marshals to manage traffic and fix a designated spot for parents who come to pick their children.

Students of a government school on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, near ITO, cross the road, dodging the traffic.(Biplov Bhuyan/HT Photo)

cities

Published on Jan 29, 2019 01:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

North Delhi civic body schools have no benches for students

Officials of the North Delhi municipal corporation school in Jahangirpuri said they have only 200 benches for around 1,100 students. The school operates in two shifts — girls in the morning and boys in the evening.

Thousands of students studying in the 765 schools under the jurisdiction of the north civic body are forced to sit on the mats because of the lack of benches in their classrooms.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jan 27, 2019 09:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi University unlikely to have entrance exams for undergraduate admissions till 2020

DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi had said last December that the university might switch to the entrance-based admission process for undergraduate courses in 2019.

The university receives more than 2.5 lakh applications for 56,000 seats every year.(Hindustan Times)

education

Updated on Jan 23, 2019 08:53 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi government to introduce curriculum to sensitise school teachers about transgender related issues

Hindustan Times had reported in October last year that the Delhi government was planning to formulate guidelines to make its 1,100 schools inclusive for transgender students. This is the first step in that direction, officials at the Delhi government’s directorate of education (DoE) said.

education

Published on Jan 21, 2019 02:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi University to introduce 30 new courses, check all of them here

DU’s academic council (AC) has decided to introduce 30 new courses, at both the under graduation and the post graduation level, in around 20 colleges. The council has also approved to increase 232 seats in existing courses at two colleges.

Delhi University will introduce 30 new courses and increase number of seats in existing courses.(Saumya Khandelwal/HT PHOTO)

education

Updated on Jan 21, 2019 02:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Principals to face heat for illegal school vans in Delhi

The government has said that school principals will be held responsible in case of a mishap while ferrying children in such vans.

A view of the school van, which was involved in an accident with a tempo resulting in the death of one student, is seen parked at Timar Pur police Station in New Delhi, India(Sushil Kumar/HT PHOTO)

cities

Published on Dec 28, 2018 11:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi government to carry forward 1,145 vacant seats reserved for differently abled in private schools

On Wednesday, the draw of lots were held for these seats but only 123 were filled. The DoE cited “lack of applications” for the large number of seats going vacant.

Officials in the DoE said that they are planning to organise awareness campaigns among parents to motivate them to apply.(HT File)

education

Published on Dec 27, 2018 12:51 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi

Fearing ‘fund crunch’, Delhi University pushes for signing of central loans pact

Under the MoU — to be signed between the DU, the MHRD and the University Grants Commission (UGC) — universities have to mention methods of internal fund generation such as “fee hike” and the amount they wish to take as loan for development from the Higher Education Funds Agency.

In September, the Delhi University’s Executive Council members had refused to sign the MoU, saying it would ‘privatise’ Delhi University.(Mohd Zakir/HT File)

cities

Updated on Dec 21, 2018 04:05 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi

DUSU vice-president takes charge of top post, DU poll panel says no permission given

Shakti Singh took charge as president on Tuesday evening, hours after the Delhi high court decided against holding fresh polls to the post.

Singh took charge as president Tuesday, hours after the Delhi high court decided against holding fresh polls to the post.

cities

Updated on Dec 20, 2018 02:33 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Nursery admission rules for EWS category in Delhi likely in January first week

Sanjay Goel, Director of the DoE, said that they will wait for private schools to release their first list of general category students which is scheduled for February 4, 2019, before releasing the EWS/DG candidates’ list.

A parent looks at the nursery admission form at a school in Delhi, Saturday, December 15, 2018.(Sanchit Khanna/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 18, 2018 01:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi

Nursery admission rules for EWS category likely in Jan first week

Delhi’s directorate of education (DoE) will announce the schedule and guidelines for nursery admission to around 1,700 private unaided and recognised schools under the economy weaker sections and disadvantaged groups (EWS/DG) category in the first week of January.

Nursery admissions: Sanjay Goel, Director of the DoE, said that they will wait for private schools to release their first list of general category students which is scheduled for February 4, 2019, before releasing the EWS/DG candidates’ list.(Sanchit Khanna/HT file)

education

Published on Dec 18, 2018 01:14 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

CBSE paper leak: 1,715 students in Bawana stare at a grim future

According to the police, the two teachers had opened the sealed question papers, took photos on their mobile phones and shared them with a tutor in a private coaching centre in Bawana.

Image for representation purpose.(Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Dec 16, 2018 11:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Nursery admission process in Delhi schools to start today

While most schools are selling forms online, some will also sell forms at its premises for the convenience of parents. The last date for submission of the forms is January 7, 2019.

Parents in queue for submission form of Nursery class Admission(HT File)

education

Updated on Dec 15, 2018 09:18 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Ambedkar University Delhi drops name of teacher from lecture organising panel over sexual harassment allegation

Following objections from students over accusations of sexual harassment against a teacher, Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) has dropped his name as the chairperson of the organising committee of its annual Ambedkar memorial lecture

The Ambedkar University at Kashmiri Gate in New Delhi(HT File Photo)

education

Updated on Dec 12, 2018 04:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Delhi University makes fresh push for central loans

The Delhi University’s (DU) finance committee has approved a proposal that allows the varsity to apply for loans from the Higher Education Funds Agency (HEFA) to public institutes for any infrastructure and re-developmental work

The University’s administration has been at the loggerheads with its teachers association (DUTA) and members of its executive and academic councils(HT File Photo)

education

Published on Dec 10, 2018 03:30 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

The e-way out of heavy school bags

Can digital learning help reduce the weight of schools bags? Some schools tried it and failed, while a few succeeded. HT tries to find out if technology can ease the burden on children and the challenges in implementing it

A class at Delhi Public School, Faridabad. The school has successfully implemented tablet-based learning and says it has been able to reduce the weight of bags by 70%.(Biplov Bhuyan/HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Dec 09, 2018 04:29 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByManoj Sharma and Fareeha Iftikhar

Delhi Technical University evening shift students demand ‘full-time’ status for their course

Earlier, only diploma holders and candidates having one or more year of work experience were eligible for B Tech course in the evening shift. However, in 2017, the DTU removed the clause and allowed freshers to take admission in the course.

The students of Delhi Technical University alleged that the university neither mentioned the nature of the course in its prospectus nor did it clarify the same at the time of admission(HT File Photo)

education

Published on Dec 05, 2018 03:34 PM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar, New Delhi

Withhold institute of eminence status of proposed Jio Institute - ABVP to centre

The memorandum mentioned 21 agenda points including the UGC’s decision of granting IoE tags to six higher educational institutes.

ABVP urged the University Grants Commission (UGC) to” withhold” the Institution of Eminence (IoE) status of the proposed Jio institute(HT File Photo)

education

Updated on Dec 04, 2018 10:44 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

44 K Delhi govt school students yet to receive uniform subsidy due to ‘defunct’ bank accounts

The directorate of education is unable to disburse the money to 44,191 students as their bank accounts have not been submitted/entered online on the directorate website or their accounts are non-functional

The Delhi government distributes books to the students and transfer subsidy for uniforms and stationery directly into their bank accounts once a year(HT File Photo)

education

Published on Dec 04, 2018 07:51 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

Schools face heat for not giving free uniform, books to poor students

As per the Delhi Right To Education (RTE) rules, students enrolled under the EWS/DG categories in private schools are entitled to free textbooks, writing material and uniforms, for which the government reimburses a fixed amount.

The parents’ group, meanwhile, has threatened to file a contempt case against the government and schools.(Gurminder Singh/HT Photo)

cities

Published on Dec 03, 2018 09:03 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

IIT Delhi to push research in artificial intelligence

With this centre for excellence, the IIT Delhi is planning to bring researchers from all the departments, to inculcate AI in their respective disciplines and find solutions for various problems

As per a Niti Ayog’s paper on National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, India only has 386 of a total of 22,000 PhD researchers in the technique worldwide, and is ranked 10th globally.(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

education

Updated on Nov 30, 2018 08:25 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByFareeha Iftikhar

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Fareeha Iftikhar

Fareeha Iftikhar is a Special Correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters.

Analysing complaints of child sexual abuse it has received in the last two years, the commission concluded that in as many as 11% cases , the school was either where the crime took place or the offender was someone from the school.

The ritual is believed to bring ‘good luck’ with the students who participate in it ‘falling in love within the next six months and losing their virginity in the next one year’.

The scheme, which will be launched on a pilot-basis, will focus on students who have already been selected through the lottery system but may not be familiar with the admission procedure.

Around 3,000 students from 50 government and five private schools in the city participated in the “period fest” organised by NGO Sachhi Saheli, in association with the Delhi government.

Officials from a majority of schools under Delhi’s three civic bodies — east, north and south — complain about lack of security guards.

The DCPCR also listed the games that it considered “violent”. “Some violent games which are available on IOS, Android platforms and console platform are PUBG, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto series, God of War, Hitman series, Plague Inc and Pokemon.

Board exams are round the corner but government schools in Delhi are struggling because of the absence of adequate number of counsellors.

The Supreme Court, last week, had upheld the Allahabad high court’s April 2017 order, which directed that the reservation in faculty positions in universities/colleges be calculated department-wise and not on the total posts in the university or college.

There are a few things that schools themselves can do to make the areas outside their campuses walkable such as hiring some traffic marshals to manage traffic and fix a designated spot for parents who come to pick their children.

Officials of the North Delhi municipal corporation school in Jahangirpuri said they have only 200 benches for around 1,100 students. The school operates in two shifts — girls in the morning and boys in the evening.

DU vice-chancellor Yogesh Tyagi had said last December that the university might switch to the entrance-based admission process for undergraduate courses in 2019.

Hindustan Times had reported in October last year that the Delhi government was planning to formulate guidelines to make its 1,100 schools inclusive for transgender students. This is the first step in that direction, officials at the Delhi government’s directorate of education (DoE) said.

DU’s academic council (AC) has decided to introduce 30 new courses, at both the under graduation and the post graduation level, in around 20 colleges. The council has also approved to increase 232 seats in existing courses at two colleges.

The government has said that school principals will be held responsible in case of a mishap while ferrying children in such vans.

On Wednesday, the draw of lots were held for these seats but only 123 were filled. The DoE cited “lack of applications” for the large number of seats going vacant.

Under the MoU — to be signed between the DU, the MHRD and the University Grants Commission (UGC) — universities have to mention methods of internal fund generation such as “fee hike” and the amount they wish to take as loan for development from the Higher Education Funds Agency.

Shakti Singh took charge as president on Tuesday evening, hours after the Delhi high court decided against holding fresh polls to the post.

Sanjay Goel, Director of the DoE, said that they will wait for private schools to release their first list of general category students which is scheduled for February 4, 2019, before releasing the EWS/DG candidates’ list.

Delhi’s directorate of education (DoE) will announce the schedule and guidelines for nursery admission to around 1,700 private unaided and recognised schools under the economy weaker sections and disadvantaged groups (EWS/DG) category in the first week of January.

According to the police, the two teachers had opened the sealed question papers, took photos on their mobile phones and shared them with a tutor in a private coaching centre in Bawana.

While most schools are selling forms online, some will also sell forms at its premises for the convenience of parents. The last date for submission of the forms is January 7, 2019.

Following objections from students over accusations of sexual harassment against a teacher, Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) has dropped his name as the chairperson of the organising committee of its annual Ambedkar memorial lecture

The Delhi University’s (DU) finance committee has approved a proposal that allows the varsity to apply for loans from the Higher Education Funds Agency (HEFA) to public institutes for any infrastructure and re-developmental work

Can digital learning help reduce the weight of schools bags? Some schools tried it and failed, while a few succeeded. HT tries to find out if technology can ease the burden on children and the challenges in implementing it

Earlier, only diploma holders and candidates having one or more year of work experience were eligible for B Tech course in the evening shift. However, in 2017, the DTU removed the clause and allowed freshers to take admission in the course.

The memorandum mentioned 21 agenda points including the UGC’s decision of granting IoE tags to six higher educational institutes.

The directorate of education is unable to disburse the money to 44,191 students as their bank accounts have not been submitted/entered online on the directorate website or their accounts are non-functional

As per the Delhi Right To Education (RTE) rules, students enrolled under the EWS/DG categories in private schools are entitled to free textbooks, writing material and uniforms, for which the government reimburses a fixed amount.

With this centre for excellence, the IIT Delhi is planning to bring researchers from all the departments, to inculcate AI in their respective disciplines and find solutions for various problems

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