JOBS AND EDUCATION
Why US teachers say Trump’s anti-DEI order is silencing them in the classroom – The Times of India
When sixth-grade teacher Sarah Inama returned to her Idaho classroom one morning, she was told that a poster she had displayed for years — reading “Everyone is welcome here” — was now considered a personal political statement. The colorful sign, with letters in varying hues and illustrated hands of different skin tones, had once gone unnoticed. But under new federal guidance issued after President Donald Trump’s return to office, the same message was flagged as potentially violating policy.
This change follows a sweeping executive order signed by President Trump titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”, which targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in US public schools. The order allows the US Department of Education to withhold federal funding from schools that continue to teach what the administration calls “equity ideology.” The implementation of an End DEI portal, where students or parents can report DEI-related content in classrooms, is further amplifying fears among educators.
Why DEI discussions are now seen as controversial in US schools
Inama, who teaches world civilization, told her story to NPR, saying the poster had always encouraged kindness and inclusivity among students. But in a shift she did not anticipate, her principal and vice principal asked her to remove it. As reported by NPR, she was told that teachers are now prohibited from displaying materials that reflect personal or political views, and her poster was classified under this restriction.
After losing sleep over the request, Inama chose to rehang the poster. The decision, according to her, was viewed as insubordination by school administrators. When she escalated her concerns to the district’s chief academic officer, she was told that political climates change, and “what might not have been controversial three or six or nine months ago can be considered controversial now,” as reported by NPR.
West Ada School District confirmed Inama’s account to NPR, stating that the issue was not with the message itself but the visual elements of the poster — specifically the multi-colored letters and diverse skin tones — which were deemed as potentially expressing viewpoints related to identity groups.
How the End DEI portal is changing classroom behavior
For another teacher, identified only as “E.” by NPR to protect her identity, the launch of the End DEI portal was a turning point. She teaches social studies in Oregon and said that hearing about the portal immediately caused anxiety. “I kept thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, what did I say in class today? What was asked in class today? What could be taken out of context in class today?'” she told NPR. From that moment forward, she began altering how she engaged with students, becoming overly cautious and often avoiding politically sensitive questions altogether.
As quoted by NPR, she explained, “There are so many times where I just have to tell them I can’t answer that question or I just change the subject.” She also described having to “cover her butt” while still trying to educate students truthfully.
E. told NPR that she feels as though free speech rights are not equally applied, stating, “It’s becoming easier and easier for certain people to have the right to free speech and for others to be having theirs shut down.” She added that what’s considered acceptable speech in schools has undergone a major shift, particularly with the risk of being reported through the federal portal.
Why some groups celebrate the DEI rollback
While many teachers report a chilling effect on classroom discussions, conservative parent advocacy groups like Moms for Liberty view the federal crackdown on DEI as a long-overdue correction. Co-founder Tina Descovich told NPR that the End DEI portal has allowed concerned parents to flag lessons that allegedly categorize students by race and present some as oppressors and others as victims.
Descovich, speaking to NPR, argued that “we can study history and the atrocities that have happened in American history, but to divide children today in 2025 by race is unacceptable.” However, NPR reported that it found no evidence of such racial division practices in US public schools. Moms for Liberty cited a 2021 incident at a Florida public arts high school where separate meetings were briefly planned for white students and students of color, but the school canceled the meetings and apologized.
How DEI restrictions are tied to wider political movements
Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic, Moms for Liberty initially rallied against mask mandates and school closures. Since then, the group has broadened its focus to include banning books on race, discrimination, sexuality, and LGBTQ rights. According to NPR, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled the group extremist in 2023, after the National School Board Association requested federal assistance due to rising threats against educators and school board members.
Moms for Liberty dismissed the extremist label, with Descovich telling NPR, “We are not anti-government, but we absolutely have the right, guaranteed in the First Amendment, to address government officials when we think they are not on the right track.” She added that watching political power shift back in their favor has been “incredible,” referring to the group’s presence at recent White House events.
In the months following Trump’s return to office, representatives of Moms for Liberty attended the signing of executive orders dismantling the Department of Education and banning transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports. These events, as NPR noted, signal the group’s growing influence and renewed access to federal policymaking spaces.
Why teachers are left uncertain about what they can say
Despite continuing to teach, Sarah Inama admitted to NPR that the poster incident left her feeling demoralized. She questioned the new norms being established in US public education, saying, “There are only two opinions of that poster: You either believe that everyone is welcome here or you don’t.”
With the End DEI portal and accompanying executive orders now in effect, many teachers like Inama and E. say they feel they are being forced to choose between doing their jobs truthfully and protecting their employment. As reported by NPR, the US Department of Education has not responded to repeated requests for details on how the complaint and penalty process for reported teachers will function.
While supporters of the order see it as a necessary measure to reclaim education from ideological bias, many educators see it as a growing threat to free speech, professional integrity, and the safe exchange of ideas in the classroom.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
NEET UG 2025 exam city intimation slip released on neet.nta.nic.in, admit card expected by May 1: Check direct link here – The Times of India
NEET UG city intimation slip 2025 out: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the Advance City Intimation Slip for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, a crucial step for over 23 lakh medical aspirants preparing for the undergraduate medical entrance exam. The slip, available as of April 23, 2025, informs candidates of their allotted exam city, enabling them to plan travel and accommodation logistics. The NEET UG 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, 2025, and the admit card is expected to be released by May 1, 2025. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest updates, exam details, and more.
The NEET UG 2025 City Intimation Slip was made available on the official NTA website, neet.nta.nic.in, on April 23, 2025, earlier than the anticipated date of April 26. Candidates can download the slip by logging in with their application number and date of birth. The slip specifies the exam city but does not include the exact exam center address, which will be detailed in the admit card. This advance notification helps candidates, especially those assigned centers far from home, arrange travel plans well in advance. The exam will be conducted across 552 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, totaling 566 exam cities, with approximately 5,000 exam centers.
Admit Card Release Date
The NEET UG 2025 admit card is slated for release on or before May 1, 2025, as confirmed by the NTA. Candidates can download it from neet.nta.nic.in using their application number and date of birth or password. The admit card is a mandatory document for exam entry, containing critical details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, exam center address, reporting time, and exam day guidelines. Aspirants are advised to verify all details on the admit card and contact the NTA helpline immediately if discrepancies are found. The admit card will also be emailed to candidates’ registered IDs.
Exam Timings, Shifts, and Mode
NEET UG 2025 will be conducted on May 4, 2025, in a single shift from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST, with a duration of 3 hours. Candidates must report to their exam centers by 1:30 PM, as late entries will not be permitted. The exam will be held in pen-and-paper (offline) mode, featuring 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions (MCQs) across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). Unlike previous years, the 2025 exam reverts to the pre-Covid format, eliminating optional questions. The test will be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, and Assamese.
Direct link to download the NEET UG city intimation slip 2025
Approximate Participation
NEET UG remains India’s largest undergraduate medical entrance exam, with an estimated 23 lakh candidates expected to participate in 2025. This number is slightly lower than the 24 lakh registrations in 2024, though the NTA has not released official figures. The exam facilitates admission to over 1 lakh MBBS seats, 27,618 BDS seats, 52,720 AYUSH seats, and other medical courses across 612 medical and 315 dental colleges in India, including 1,899 AIIMS and 249 JIPMER seats.
Key Instructions for Candidates
Candidates must carry a printed admit card, a valid photo ID (e.g., Aadhaar, PAN card), and a passport-sized photograph matching the one uploaded during registration. The city intimation slip is not a substitute for the admit card and cannot be used for exam entry. Aspirants are advised to visit their exam center a day prior to familiarize themselves with the location and avoid last-minute hassles. Prohibited items include electronic devices, and candidates must adhere to the NTA’s dress code and exam day guidelines.
Next Steps
Following the exam, the NTA will release provisional answer keys in the fourth week of May 2025, with results expected by June 14, 2025. Counseling for All India Quota and state quota seats will commence in July 2025, managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) and state authorities, respectively. Candidates are urged to stay updated via neet.nta.nic.in and prepare diligently for the exam, which remains a gateway to prestigious medical institutions across India.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
Tennessee legislature adjourns after passing DEI restrictions – The Times of India
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model. Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.
From representation to “qualification”
Lawmakers also gave final approval to a companion bill barring public agencies, including higher education institutions, from making hiring decisions based on an individual’s race, ethnicity, sex, or age. Instead, agencies must rely solely on “merit,” “qualifications,” veteran status, or lawful eligibility. The law repositions Tennessee firmly within a growing conservative ideology that views demographic consideration as antithetical to fairness.
A policy echo of Trump-era ideology
The Tennessee legislation is not occurring in a vacuum. It mirrors initiatives launched under President Donald Trump, whose administration sought to link the distribution of federal funds to the exclusion of DEI policies. That precedent laid the groundwork for state-level action—Tennessee now becomes a key player in actualizing that agenda.
Boards to lose identity-based representation
Beyond hiring practices, the new laws strike directly at identity-based governance structures. Requirements that certain public boards maintain racial, gender, or age representation have been deleted. Critics argue this strips underrepresented communities of vital political visibility; proponents counter that appointments should be blind to personal characteristics and based on perceived competence alone.
Opposition raises alarm bells
Civil rights advocates and education leaders have condemned the bills, warning they will reverse decades of effort to correct systemic inequalities. Others fear the chilling effect these moves could have on recruitment, retention, and morale within public service sectors.
Higher education in the crosshairs
Public universities—long champions of diversity offices and equity initiatives—are now under pressure to restructure or eliminate these arms. The University of Tennessee system and others will be forced to reexamine staff positions, student programs, and scholarship criteria that once relied on DEI frameworks.
A new conservative doctrine emerges
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature closed its session Tuesday by pushing through a decisive set of bills targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a crescendo of conservative policymaking, lawmakers dismantled long-standing frameworks meant to bolster representation in government and higher education, replacing them with a strict meritocratic model.
DEI programs dismantled statewide
Central to the legislative finale was a bill that directly targets the infrastructure of DEI. The measure orders the dissolution of state and local offices tasked with promoting diversity, mandates the elimination of identity-based criteria for board appointments, and instructs the removal of demographic benchmarks in employment policies across public institutions.
JOBS AND EDUCATION
AIIMS INI SS July 2025 registration underway, window closes on May 6: Check direct link to apply and important details here – The Times of India
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi has opened the online application window for the Institute of National Importance Super-Speciality Test (INI SS) July 2025 session. Interested and eligible candidates can submit their applications through the official website, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in, on or before May 6, 2025.
The entrance examination will be conducted on May 24 for admission into Doctorate of Medicine (DM)/Master of Chirurgiae (M.Ch.) courses at leading medical institutions including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), and Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).
AIIMS INI SS 2025: Eligibility criteria and age limits
To apply for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025, candidates must fulfill the following eligibility conditions:
- Must possess MD/MS or DNB in a relevant specialty.
- Must complete the qualifying degree by July 31, 2025.
Upper age limit as on July 1, 2025:
Age relaxations:
- OBC: 3 years
- SC/ST: 5 years
- Ex-Servicemen/ECOs: 5 years
AIIMS INI SS 2025: How to apply
Candidates can follow the steps given here to complete the application process:
Step 1. Visit the official portal, iniss.aiimsexams.ac.in
Step 2. Click on ‘New Registration’ for fresh applicants.
Step 3. Fill in the registration form and personal details carefully as guided by the portal.
Step 4. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
Alternatively, candidates can click here to submit their applications for AIIMS INI SS 2025.
AIIMS INI SS 2025: Important dates
Candidates must adhere to the official schedule to avoid missing any deadlines. Key dates for the AIIMS INI SS July 2025 session are:
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