PR In Educational and Research Institutions

PR In Educational and Research Institutions

Educational Development in India

n     School Education- Today we have about 5.5 lakh primary schools, 1.4 lakh middle schools and more than 50,000 secondary schools and 15,000 higher secondary schools in the country. But that is only one part of the story. Though a majority of children get enrolled in class 1 to begin with, they start dropping out from the next year onwards, accounting for a sizeable percentage of dropouts, at the end of the primary stage.

Secondary and Higher Secondary Education

n     As for enrolment of children in the school sector, it is just over one crore at the secondary stage as compared to the eight crore children at the beginning of the primary stage. When one looks at the higher secondary stage the enrolment further dwindles down to 35lakh children or so in the 15,000 and odd higher secondary schools in the country.

Higher Education

n     In direct contrast to the school education sector, the number of universities in the country went up by leaps and bounds since Independence. Currently, there are 194 universities including deemed universities and similar institutions and 7,400 colleges. The student enrolment has touched the four million mark.

Adult Education

n     National Adult Education Programme.

n     Education for all.

Important Educational Institutions:

1.) University Grants Commission (UGC)-In the field of higher education, the University Grants Commission is an important body which was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1956.

n     A more important aspect of its work is to set standards and ensure imparting of quality education at the higher education stage.

n     It encourages universities to start new programmes to keep pace with the changing needs of the society under several schemes.

2.) Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)

n     The Indira Gandhi National Open University was established by an Act of the Parliament in 1985 in order to augment opportunities for higher education.

The IGNOU makes an effort to:

1) Take education to the doorsteps of student

2) Provide education to all irrespective of age, region or formal qualifications

3) Offer need-based vocational and professional academic programmes.

4) Promote and develop distance education in India

5) Set and maintain standards in distance education in the country.

3.) Other Open Universities:

n     Four other university functioning in the country at Hyderabad, Kota , Nalanda and Nasik.

4.) National Council of Educational, Research and Training (NCERT)

n     NCERT was set up in 1961 under the societies Registration Act (1860).

Function of the NCERT:

1)    Research and development.

2)    In service and pre-service training.

3)    Extension and dissemination work- all these tuned to achieve the main objective of improving the quality of school education.

5.) National Institute of Educational, Planning and Administration (NIEPA)

n     Training of educational planners and administrators

n     Research

n     Consultancy service. Its activities concern all areas of education- both school sector and the higher education sector.

Public Relation Perspective on Education

n     Campaign Approach.

n     Public Relations Professionals in Education Field.

n     Institutionalized Public Relations.

A Public Relations Officer uses all ways of communication to build, maintain and hold a good reputation of school. Reputation arises from what you do, what you say and what others say about you.

 
- Public relation officer informs and assists board administrators with news media and public relations/community matters as maybe requested.

- Raises and implements communications plans as requested.

- Writes news releases, media advisories, newsletters, speeches and television.

- Serves as staff coordinator for public relations and special events development for the school

- Serves as spokesperson for the school division
and responses to media and public requests for information.

- Conducts and develops periodic training in communications/public relations development.

Following are the roles and responsibilities of a PRO in a school:

- planning Public relations campaigns and strategies for new students and parents:
- monitoring public and media perception of the school
- writing and editing brochures, press releases, speeches, newsletters and websites etc
- arranging events
- developing good working relationships with the media
- public speaking at presentations, conferences etc about the charter and activities of the school
- representing the school at different events.