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Will pupils’ appraisal of teachers do?
Kulwinder Sandhu

THE controversial question whether students should carry out the appraisal of teachers has two distinct answers, ‘yes’ from students and ‘no’ from the teachers. It has generated a lot of heat in Punjabi University, the first university seriously thinking of implementing the system of appraisal of teachers by the students, with the teachers have threatened to boycott teaching. Let us understand the rational behind the system.

While accepting that they are the backbone of the education system, the teachers are not prepared to either carry out self-appraisal or let students appraise their work. It is well-known that the student shows indifference to his responsibilities and duties but should the teacher do the same.

The teachers’ quality of teaching must be evaluated, not for punishing him but for giving him an opportunity to improve. All promotions must be directly related to this evaluation. This puts a lot of responsibility on the appraisal system which should be transparent and made completely honest and truthful in approach and application.

The teacher obviously knows more than the average students and, hence, tends to believe that he knows all there is to know in a particular subject, forgetting that rapid changes in the field of information and knowledge demand updating at a very fast pace.

Since it is unlikely that the teacher will carry out a self-appraisal exercise, it is imperative that a system is evolved where the superior assessing authority takes into account the evaluation by the ones who are most affected, the students. The teachers doubt the capability of the students in assessing teaching quality and fear subjectivity and a witch-hunt. No evaluation/appraisal system can ever be foolproof and subjectivity cannot be ruled out.

It may also encourage the teacher to initiate measures only to remain popular with the students. The system may further deteriorate rather than improve.

Principals in schools and colleges should closely monitor teaching and correlate this with half yearly self appraisal of the teachers. Every teacher must go through a counselling session at least once a month. These sessions should be treated as opportunities for improvement and growth by the teacher. A good and confident teacher should be looking forward to these sessions which should be transparent and honest attempt by the principal and the teachers to analyse the feedback from the students.

A major flaw in the system is the time any principal has to spend on ‘non-teaching’ activities. Every principal is so engaged in administration that he or she cannot devote much time to monitoring, assessing and taking remedial measures for improving the quality of education being imparted in his institution. It would be a good idea to create the post of a vice-principal who should be made responsible and accountable for all academic and training activities.

A simple appraisal tool for day-to-day monitoring of quality teaching could be developed. Students can be asked to give their opinion on a scale of 1-10 or point rating system of excellent (5), very good (4), good (3), satisfactory (2), and poor (1). Teachers may be evaluated for two major components — content of the lesson and quality.

Content is an important component and includes the particular lesson out of the subject of study (say economics). The student should rate the teacher on the subject relevance to the syllabus, reference material used from books/magazines/journals. The second component of quality should include all that is needed to become a good teacher and should be rated by students in terms of communication, clarity of thought, skills, style, temperament, relevance, vocabulary, simplicity, explanation and presentation.

It should also include the use of illustrations and examples used to explain a point of view. In fact, all efforts of the teacher in ensuring that the student understands the fundamentals of the subject and is able to make the best use of it in its application should be suitably included in the appraisal form used by the students and should get due weightage. This component, if suitably used, can become the most useful feedback information.

A suitable appraisal is a systematic evaluation of teachers by students, by their superiors and by themselves with a view to take stock of their potential and performance.

It is for the government and the principals to work overtime to involve the teachers by all means at their disposal, including fear motivation for its public good. Let the teachers accept responsibility and be accountable for their part in the declining standards of education and cooperate to contribute positively in a constructive manner. This will also make intra as well as inter-individual difference in performance, adequately visible to help in promotions and transfers for making full use of the potential of teachers.

Career queries hotline
Pervin Malhotra, Tribune’s career expert answers all your career queries.

A As yet, there are not too many courses available either in nuclear or aviation medicine.
A MD course in nuclear medicine is offered at:

* All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029.

* Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Post Box No. 375, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226014. Eligibility: Those who have completed their one-year internship after passing MBBS and who possess a permanent registration are eligible for this course.

Aviation/Aerospace Medicine (MD) can be studied at:

* Institute of Aerospace Medicine (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences), Vimanapura Post, Bangalore 560017.

A Merchant navy comprises vessels of various types such as tankers, cargo carriers, passenger ships and other types of sea vessels that are operated by public and private sector shipping companies. Trained navigators, marine engineers and crew man the ships.

There are two main institutes that offer training programmes for entry into the Merchant Navy: the Training Ship Chanakya (T.S. Chanakya) for the navigation branch and the Marine Engineering Research Institute (MERI) for the engineering branch.

T.S. Chanakya is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and conducts a 3-year degree course in Nautical Sciences. MERI, with its headquarters at Calcutta and a branch at Mumbai, offers a 4-year Marine Engineering course. Entrance to both institutes is through the IIT-JEE. Eligibility is a 10+2 with PCM, and admission is open to unmarried girls and boys below the age of 20 years as on Sept. 1 of the year of entry. Physical fitness and good vision are essential. For engineering, glasses up to power 2.5 are allowed but defective colour vision is a disqualification in both fields.

After completion of training in both fields, you have to pass the Certificate of Competency Examination conducted by the Ministry of Surface Transport through the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai. Graduates in mechanical/electrical engineering and BSc graduates are also eligible for this exam in engineering and navigation respectively. Sea training is a prerequisite for both categories. Those who have qualified from T.S. Chanakya or MERI are exempted from some aspects of the examination.

T.S. Chanakya and MERI do not guarantee placement but provide assistance and graduates have no problem in finding employment as campus interviews are held regularly.

For further information regarding T.S. Chanakya and MERI, you may contact:

Directorate General of Shipping, Jahaz Bhavan, Walchand Hirachand Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400038.

Besides the above-mentioned selection procedure, merchant navy vessels, owned both by domestic operators as well as by multinational companies, also recruit mechanical or electrical engineers directly.

Merchant Navy also provides openings as Deck Cadets for students who have passed Class XII in the Science stream (preferably PCM). Students can sign up as cadets with any shipping company. However, promotions to officer-grade are determined by the cadet’s ability to qualify the various examinations conducted by the Marine Board.

A All is not lost if you could not secure a seat in an engineering college. If you have done your BSc with Physics and Maths, you could follow this up with a Post-BSc Tech programme (3-yrs) in Electronics & Communication or Electronics or Computers offered by some engineering colleges like the following:

JK Institute of Applied Physics & Technology, University of Allahabad,

University College of Science & Technology, Kolkata.

Jawaharlal Nehru University, College of Military Engineering CME, PO: Pune 411031.

Faculty of Technology & Engg, MS Univ of Baroda, Kala Bhavan, Vadodara 330001

Watumall Instt of Electronics Engg & Computer Tech, 47, Dr. R. G. Thadani Marg, Worli, Mumbai 400019

Anna Univ, Chennai 600025

Selection to these courses is typically on the basis of merit in the qualifying exam.

If you would like to specialise in applications software, you could opt for a Master of Computer Applications course (MCA) which is also considered equivalent to a BE/BTech in Computers.

A Some Reputed PG Diploma Courses in Journalism:

The Indian Institute of Mass Communications, JNU Campus, New Delhi 110067, is highly reputed and offers a one-year postgraduate diploma course in Journalism and in Radio & TV Journalism. Selection is through an entrance test followed by interview. Your language, comprehension, awareness of current events and command over English language will be tested.

Asian College of Journalism, Express Building, Bangalore 560001 (9-mth). Accommodation for outstation candidates available.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, KG Marg, New Delhi 110001

School of Communication & Management Studies, S Kalamassery, Cochin 682033

Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai

Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411004. Course: 1-year PG Dip for PG’s and working media persons.

Eenadu Journalism School, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500482.

However, there are several institutes and universities offering postgraduate diploma courses in Mass Communication. Lucknow will soon have an Institute of Mass Communication, which will offer a diploma in Journalism. Among the other popular ones is the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.

The ICE (information, communication and entertainment) sector and the proliferation of satellite and broadcast channels, media networks and websites has generated a fresh demand for savvy communication experts. Here are some places you can look for work:

Newspapers & Magazines

News agencies/ regional bureaus of international papers/ networks

Television, Radio, FM

Internet Websites

PR departments of public and private sector corporations

Freelancer/stringer, art, fashion or theatre critic, book reviewer, web content developer, etc.

A Given below are a few universities that offer MA (Social Work):

Agra University, Agra, U.P. 282004.

Kashi Vidyapith, Varanasi, U.P. 221002.

University of Lucknow, Badshah Bagh, Lucknow 226007.

University of Delhi, Delhi 110007.

Jamia Millia Islamia, Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025.

Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana 132119.

Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur, Rajasthan 313001.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Post Box No. 8313, Sion-Trombay Road Deonar, Mumbai 400088.

Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, A.P. 530003.

Nagarjuna University, Nagarjuna Nagar, Distt. Guntur, A.P. 522510..

Karnatak University, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad, Karnataka 580003..

University of Chennai, Centenary Buildings, Chepauk, Triplicane PO, Chennai 600005.

Madurai-Kamaraj University, Palkalai Nagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625021.

Pondicherry University, R Venkataraman Nagar, Kalapet, Pondicherry 605014.

The Government of India conducts examinations both at central and state levels for the positions of Welfare Officers. These examinations which are conducted by the State Public Service Commissions and the UPSC at the Centre are for positions of gazetted officers in the areas of family welfare, education, social welfare, tribal development programmes, etc. Openings also exist in national-level bodies like Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) and National Institute of Public Cooperation & Child Development (NIPCD).

Most Social Workers work in NGOs, many of which are non-profit voluntary organisations. This sector offers diverse and of late, fairly well paying career options. You could even opt for agencies, many of them international, which support the active NGOs with functions in specific areas such as health and family planning, child welfare, old age care and housing for the destitute.

After gaining relevant experience in an NGO, you could either work for a UN agency or secure an international placement. Big international organisations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Work Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Norwegian funding Organisation for Rural Development (NORAD), International Labour Organisation (ILO), etc. offer high profile jobs. These are mostly contractual in nature and the work involves liaising and policy planning.

Social work offers tremendous scope for individual effort. After gaining sufficient experience, you could either set up your own NGO or even work as a consultant.

Admission deadline

Agriculture

Apr 28 Post Graduate School, Indian Agricultural Research Instt. (IARI), New Delhi 110012.

Ph: 5782817. E-mail: nam@iari.ernet.in

PhD (in various disciplines of Agri Sc)

Elig: MSc Agri/Plant Sc 60% agg or equiv OGPA (55% agg or equiv OGPA for SC/ST).

Test: 10 June.

Appln F: Send DD Rs. 350/- (Rs. 200/- for SC/ST) favouring "Registrar (Academic), Post Graduate School, IARI" payable at Delhi, to Registrar (Academic) or Rs. 300/- (Rs. 150/- for SC/ST) in cash (+ Rs. 10/-Bank charges) from Syndicate Bank, IARI Campus, New Delhi 110012.

Jun 30 Indian Army, ADG Recruiting, 10+2 (PCM) Entry, West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066.

10+2 Technical Entry Scheme (Engg degree will be awarded at the end of the course, course commences Jan ‘02)

Elig: Unmarried males with 10+2 PCM (70% agg).

Selection Procedure: SSB interview Psychological tests, group tests and medical test at Bhopal, Bangalore & Allahabad.

Phy Std & Appln F: See Employment News 24-30 March.

May 21 Northern Indian Institute of Fashion Technology, C-115, Industrial Area, Phase vii, Mohali 160055.

Website: www.nifftindia.com

(i) Fashion Design

(ii) Garment Manufacturing Technology

(iii) Knitwear Design & Technology

Elig: For (i): 10+2 (50% agg), For (ii) & (iii): Graduation (50% agg).

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 200/- favouring "NIIFT, Mohali", at the above address. NIFT Campus, Hauz Khas, Nr Gulmohar Park, New Delhi 110018 (DD Rs. 150/- at counter).

May 7 Centre for Electronics Design & Technology of India, CEDTI Complex, Univ Campus, Aurangabad 431004.

Website:www.cedti.com

(i) MTech Electronics Design & Technology (18 mths)

(ii) Dip in Electronics Production & Mantainence (3 yrs)

Elig: (i) BE/BTech (55%) in relevant disc.

(ii) x passed (50%) below 18 yrs.

Selection Test: 2 June, interview July.

Appln F: Send DD Rs. 200/- (Rs. 100/- for SC/ST) favouring "Director CEDTI, Aurangabad along with self-addressed slip (15 x 23 cm), stamped (Rs. 33/-) at above address.

May 15 National Power Training Institute, NPTI Complex, Sector-33, Faridabad 121003, Haryana. M/o Power (GoI).

PG Dip in Thermal Power Plant Engg (1-yr)

Elig: BE/BTech/Mech/Elect/Electron

Admission: Merit (% of marks).

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 300/- favouring "NPTI" payable at Faridabad to the above address.

May 25 National Sugar Instt., Kalianpur, Kanpur-208017, UP. (M/o Food & Consumer Affairs).

PG Dip of Associateship of NSI In Sugar Tech (21/2 yrs)

PG Dip of Associateship of NSI In Sugar Engg (11/2 yrs)

PG Dip in Industrl Fermentation & Alcohol Tech (1 yr + 4 mth trng)

Cert in Sugar Engg (2 off-seasons)

Cert in Sugar Boiling (1 off-season)

Cert in Pre-harvest Cane Maturity Survey (11/2 mth)

Fellowship of NSI by Research in

Sugar Tech/ Sugar Chem/ Sugar Engg (3 off seasons plus trng)

Fermentation Tech (1-yr).

Test: June last week at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata & Kanpur.

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 133/- (Rs. 145/- for Regd Po) favouring "Director, National Sugar Instt, Kalianpur, Kanpur 208017" to "Office of the Director" at above address. At counter Rs. 100/- (cash).

May 4 Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Vivek Vihar, Delhi 110095.

Website: www.cbsdu.org

Bachelors Degree (3 yr F/T):

(i) Business Studies

(ii) Financial & Investment Analysis

Elig: 10+2 (60% agg). Age: 17 yrs.

Test: June 3 at Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Mumbai & Kanpur.

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 460/- (Rs. 260/- for SC/ST) issued by SBI, favouring "Principal, Sukhdev College of Business Studies, Delhi" payable at above address with self address envelope (23 x 30 cm) stamped Rs. 40/-. For both courses: Rs. 660/- (Rs. 360/- for SC/ST).

Apr 30 AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi 110025.

MA (Mass Comm) (2 yrs).

Elig: Bachelors Degree (50% agg). Age:below 30 yrs.

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 130/- favouring "AJK, Mass Communication Research Centre", payable at New Delhi with a self-addressed envelope

(7" x 10")to the above add.At counter: Rs. 100/- (cash).

May 9 Central Instt. of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi-834006 (Jharkhand).

* Diploma in

* PG Courses:

(i) MD (Psy) (3-yrs)

(ii) Dip in Psy Med (2-yrs)

(iii) PhD in Clinical Psy (3/2-yrs)

(iv) MPhil in Med & Soc Psy

(v) MPhil in Psy Soc Wk

Selection: Written test & interview at the Instt (25-28 May).

Appln F: See leading newspapers or contact Director, at the above address.

May 14 University of Delhi, DR Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research, Delhi Univ, Delhi 110007.

(i) MSc Biomedical Sciences (2 yr F/T)

(ii) PhD Biomedical Sciences

(iii) MSc PhD Combined Degree in Biomedical Sciences (4 yr F/T)

Elig: For (i) & (iii): Bachelor’s degree (55% agg)

For (ii): Master’s degree (SCIR-NET must) 55% agg.

Test: June 2.

Appln F: Send DD Rs. 630/- (Rs. 185-/- for SC/ST) favouring "Director, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Centres for Biomedical Research drawn on SBI, service branch (code 7687) to the above address or at counter DD Rs. 600/-

(Rs. 150/- SC/ST).

May 18 Jawaharlal Instt. of PG Medical Education & Research, (JIPMER), Pondicherry-605006.

BSc Medical Laboratory Technology (3 yrs)

Elig: 10+2 (PCB)/Voc-stream with Med Lab Asstt or equiv.

Test: July 8 at Pondicherry.

Appln F: Send DD of Rs. 100/- favouring "Accounts Officer, JIPMER, Pondicherry 605006" obtained from SBI, payable at SBI, Pondicherry, JIPMER Branch, (code 2238) along with stamped (Rs. 29/-), self-addressed envelope (30 x 22 cm). At counter: Rs. 100/- (cash).

Apr 30 Bhartendu Natya Akademi, Bhartendu Bhawan, Vikas Khand-I, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow 226010. (D/o Culture, GoUP).

Dip in Dramatic Arts (2 yr)

Elig: Bachelor’s degree (Kn of Hindi & Eng, 2-yr wk ex in Theatre, acting in 10 plays, Direction of 2 plays, Back stage wk in 5 plays, Study of 10 Ind/Westn plays.

Appln F: Send DD Rs. 250/- favouring "Director, Bhartendu Natya Kala Akademi, Lucknow" to the above address.

Apr 16 M/o HRD, D/o Secondary Educn & Hr Educn, ES-1 Section, A-1/W-3, Curzon Road Barracks, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001.

Irish Govt. Fellowship - 2001

(i) Higher Diploma in Compensatory & Remedial Education

(ii) Master’s Degree in Development studies

(iii) MSc (Agri) Environmental Resource Mgt/Community Health

Elig: (i) BSc Agri or equiv (1st Div).

(ii) Bachelor’s degree in rel subj (1st Div) with 2-yr wk ex.

(iii) Bachelor’s degree (hons) in rel subj (1st Div).

(iv) Bed (1st Div) with 2-yr teaching exp.

Appln F: See leading Newspapers or contact Section Officer at above address.

May 31 Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund, Teen Murti House,

New Delhi-110 011.

Scholarships for Doctoral Studies-2001 (2 yrs)

1) Indian Nationals for PhD Studies in India

2) Indian Nationals to visit another Asian country for collection of material for PhD studies in India

3) Nationals of other Asian countries for PhD studies in India

Elig: PG Degree (1st Div); Age: Below 35 yrs on 1 Oct ‘01, PhD Scholars due to complete studies after Dec 2001.

Appln F: Send self-addressed envelope (10 x 25 cm) to the Administrative Officer at above address.

Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms.

CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi

Fortnightly Quiz-128

Name the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in the 30-year history of one-day international cricket.

— Tarun Sharma

An Achilles heel is a small but fatal weakness, the one that killed the legendary hero of Greek mythology.