The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

School no more studies alone
Monica Sharma

HARRY dreads going to the school for the simple reason that he hates sitting behind the desk and reciting alphabets, or do some other exercises he is not interested in.

Games period he likes, but that is not enough to encourage him into going to school. His neighbour Raman, on the other hand, loves school. For him, school is not boring. Certainly not a punishment. Why? The reason is simple. His school, besides teaching, also organises extra-curricular activities like magic shows.

"It’s a new trend in the world of education," says Ms Lalita Khanna, a senior teacher in a kindergarten. "Now, besides just instructing the students, we believe in entertaining them too".

Giving details, the teacher says: "Earlier, the tutors used to enter the classroom, interact with students, treat them as sitting ducks — at least in some of the schools — shoot messages at them and leave the classroom, unconcerned".

"The teachers were bothered just about the studies. It was the child’s duty to learn. They were certainly not concerned if the child was losing interest in school or was developing a repulsion for it", she explains.

The effect was there for all to see. "Even kids who used to fight with their parents to attend school were gradually developing dislike for the system. As a result, they were finding excuses for staying away from school".

Little wonder, the students were either constantly complaining of stomachache or headache. Some even complained of fever and sore throat. "Believe it or not, but kids studying even in nursery were claiming that they were suffering from viral," the teacher explains.

Now things have changed, at least in some of the city schools. The schools besides teaching, are organising special programmes for the children. Every now and then, they organises magic shows for students. The school authorities also make sure that the students enjoy a good half-an-hour antics by cute little monkeys dancing to the instructions of veteran ‘madaris.’

Explaining the trend, the Director of Strawberry Fields, Mr Atul Khanna says: "By organising different kinds of shows for children we try to make the environment lively for the kids. Otherwise routine becomes monotonous for the children".

"Through such shows, we help the children break free from the routine. Organising such shows is no wonder a part of the curricular nowadays. It brings thrill, excitement and breaks inter-class barrier. Little ones respond while viewing the visuals and get a feeling of togetherness while watching different shows", he adds.

CAMPUS DIARY
Staff-audit dept at loggerheads
Dheeraj Bhaik

Shimla
The Himachal Pradesh University here is witnessing a tussle between the audit department and the teaching faculty. Teachers claim that the university is an autonomous body and the system of pre-audit should be done away with. They say only post-audit by the Accountant-General is bonafide. Teachers claim that extensive research work is suffering due to audit objections and UGC guidelines on TA/DA are not being followed by the audit department.

The Administrative Staff College blame the audit department for their woes too. They say even taxi bills of eminent faculty members from the railway station to the campus are not cleared, merely for the sake of objection.

However, audit department officials say they are understaffed and checks and balances are a must. They say they have to go by the Auditor Manual and most of the times, formalities regarding bills are not completed.

A Lecture was organised by the Department of English on "Standard English and its cultural and socio-political implications." It was delivered by Prof Roy Harris, Prof Emeritus, Oxford University. He said the reasons for the continued acceptance of the myth of standard English were financial and commercial. Prof Harris said the myth now had become a commercial enterprise.

The MCA students have been burdened by the university with a massive fee hike. The students have to pay a computer machine fee of Rs 3,500. The students term the decision as arbitrary and say the department is already getting a lumpsum from the NRI quota seats. The students’ unions have decided to uphold the interests of MCA students. The SFI and the ABVP both are going overboard to woo the MCA students.

The Bilaspur Student’s Union organised ‘Kahluri sangam’ in the campus. Students of Bilaspur of Kahluri region danced to the tunes of the Bollywood, Mr J.P. Nadda, Health Minister, was the chief guest. He urged the students to take pride in their cultural heritage and promote the spirit of brotherhood.

Opportunity for rural children
Ramesh Kachi

IT is universally accepted that children with special talent or aptitude should be provided with opportunities by making quality education available to them, irrespective of their capacity to pay for it.

The National Policy on Education 1986 envisaged the establishment of pace-setting schools in the country. Their broad aims are excellence coupled with equity and social justice (with reservation for SCs, STs and girls), to promote national integration by providing opportunities to talented children, predominantly rural, to develop their potential, and most importantly, to become catalysts of a nationwide programme for school improvement.

Accordingly, the Government of India started Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). According to the scheme, one vidyalaya is to be set up in each district in a phased manner. At present there are 475 vidyalayas in 27states and seven Union Territories, including one in Darjeeling, Gorkha Hills Council. About 25 schools are being established during 2002-2003. (These schools are not functioning in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal). These are co-educational residential schools fully financed by the Government of India through an autonomous organisation, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti.

Educational in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, including board and lodging, as well as expenses on uniform, textbooks, stationery, medicines, sports facilities is free for all students.

The main objectives of the Navodaya Vidyalayas are: To provide quality modern education, including a strong component of culture, inculcation of values, awareness of environment, adventure activities and physical education to talented children, predominantly from rural areas, without regard to their family’s socio-economic condition; to ensure all students of Navodaya Vidyalayas attain a reasonable level of competence in three languages as envisaged in the three-language formula.

To serve in each district, as focal points for improvement in the quality of school education in general, through sharing of experiences and facilities; and to promote national integration among students through a policy of migration.

The role of Navodaya Vidyalayas as pace-setting institutions vis-a-vis other schools are attempted to be realised through their participation in the training staff in jointly organised activities, in the extension of new methods of teaching and in dissemination of information and providing guidance to other schools for improvement of standards, sharing of facilities such as audio-visual equipments, library, computers and laboratories.

Admissions in Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas are made through "Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Selection Test" (JNVST) at class VI. The medium of instructions in JNVs is the mothertongue or regional language up to class VIII and English thereafter for Maths and Science and Hindi for Social Science. Students of the JNVs appear for X and XII class examinations of Central Board of Secondary Education.

A maximum of 80 students are admitted in class VI in each vidyalaya, subject to availability of suitable candidates. The samiti reserves the right to reduce the seats to forty or to withhold result and/or withhold admission and/or conduct of JNVST in case adequate accommodation is not available.

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Agriculture

Nov 29:Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004

PhD Prog:

In the colleges of: 1) Agriculture; 2) Basic Sc & Hum; 3) Vet Sc; 4) Home Sc; 5) Agri Engg.

Interviews: For 1: 10 Dec; For 2: 12 Dec; For 3 & 4: 12 Dec; For 5: 13 Dec.

Appln F: Send Rs 450/- by DD favouring "Additional Director of Extension Education, (Communication Centre), Punjab Agricultural Univ, Ludhiana", payable at Ludhiana to Addl. Director, at above add.

Armed Forces

Dec 2: Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Rd, New Delhi 110011

Ph: (011) 385271/1125

www.upsc.gov.in

National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Exam (I), ’03

Elig: Unmarried males born bet 2 Jan ’85 - 1 Jul ’87.

For Army Wing: Cl 12.

For Air Force & Naval Wing and for 10+2 (Exec Br): Cl 12 (Phys & Maths).

Selectn: Written Test (6 Apr) at 40 centres.

Appln F: At HPOs/POs: Rs 20/- (cash).

Details: Employment News (2-8 Nov) or website.

Information Tech

Jan 14: Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology (SCIT), Plot 15, Pune Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, Pune 411027

Tele: (020) 2934308/09

www.scit.edu

Masters Programme in Information Technology

(1) IT Bus Mgt; 2) Network Tech; 3) S/w Devp; 4) MPIT O Level

Elig: For 1-3: BE/BTech (Comp Sc/ Appln)/ Electron + 1-yr wk ex in IT. For 4: UG Deg (50%).

Test: 18 Jan at Pune.

Appln F: Send Rs 1050/- by crossed DD favouring "Symbiosis Centre for Information Technology" payable at Pune with 2 self-add stickers.

Law

Dec 31 National University of Juridical Sciences, 10A, LA Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700098

www.nujs.edu

(1) BSc/BA LLB (H) (5-yr)

(2) LLM (2-yr)

(3) MPhil (1-yr)

Elig: For 1) Cl 12 (50%). Age: 21-yrs

Appln F: Send Rs 300/- by DD favouring "NUJS Kolkata" to above add.

Management

National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Viha Lake, PO NITIE, Mumbai 400087

Ph: (022) 8573251

www.nitie.edu

PG Dip in:

Dec 20: (1) Indl Mgt (18-mths)

(2) Indl Safety & Environ Mgt (2-yr) 3) IT Mgt (2-yr)

Nov 16: (4) Fellow (Doctoral) Prog

Elig: For 1: BE/BTech (I Div); For 2: BE (55%); For 3: BE/BTech (55%), 5-yr wk ex in IT.

Selectn: For 1 & 2): Written test (19 Jan ’03) at 11 centres, GD, Interview. For (4): Acad qual, wk ex, seminar & Interview.

Appln F: Send Rs 900/- by DD (per course) favouring "NITIE, Mumbai" payable at SBI (Br. Code: 905 (5) with 4 self-add stickers to The Asst Registrar (Academic) at above add.

Nov 29: Punjab School of Management Studies, Punjabi University, Patiala 147002 (Punjab)

MBA (corresp, 3-yr)

Elig: Category-1: Defence Officers with 5-yr commissioned service & UG deg (50%) or NDA/ IMA/ equiv course with one spl course.

Category 2: Mgrs/Officers from PSUs/ Co-ops/; Govt Deptt/ Statutory/ Autonom Instt (Punj & Centre) & Pvt, units with regd offi/ Plant/ Op in Punjab/ Chandigarh with UG deg (50%) & 3-yr wk ex.

Appln F: Send Rs 300/- by DD favouring "Registrar Punjabi University, Patiala" with self-add (stamped Rs 50/-) env (10"x8") to above add.

Jan 15: Bharathidasan Institute of Management, PB No 12, BHEL Complex, Tiruchirappalli 620014 (TN)

www.bim.edu

MBA (2-yr, FT)

Elig: UG/PG Deg (50%).

Selectn: BIM Test (2 Feb) or XAT scores.

Appln F: Send Rs. 950/- by DD favouring "Bharathidasan Institute of Management" payable at Tiruchirappalli with 2 self-add slips (9x6 cms).

Mass comm

Jan 6: Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication, Senapati Bapat Road, Pune 411004 (Mah)

Ph: (020) 5652303, 5660972

www.simc.edu

Masters Prog in:

(1) Mass Comm (2-yr); (2) Commn Mgt (2 - yr)

Elig: UG Deg

Selectn: SIMCAT (9 Feb).

Appln F: Submit on-line.

Medicine

Nov 26: Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119 (Har)

MDS Entrance Exam ‘02

Selectn: Entrance Exam (12 Dec).

Appln F: Send Rs 1050/- by DD favouring "Registrar, KU, Kurukshetra" payable at Kurukshetra/ Thanesar to the "Manager, Printing & Publications", at above add.

Details: Prospectus.

Protective Services

Nov 29: Bureau of Police Research & Development (M/o Home Affairs), Block No. 11, 4th Flr, CGO Complex, Lodhi Rd, New Delhi 110003

Fellowships for Doctoral Work in Criminology & Police Sc

Elig: PG Deg (55%) with Ciminol/ Sociol/ SW/ Psychol/ Soc Anthro/ Public Admin/ PolSc/ Law at UG deg.

Appln F: See leading newspapers.

University

Dec 2: Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra 835215, Ranchi (Jhar) (Deemed Univ)

www.bitmesra.ac.in

(1) BE (Biotech) (4-yr)

(2) Bachelor of Hotel Mgt & Catering Tech (4-yr)

(3) MBA (2-yr) (at NOIDA)

Elig: For 1 & 2: Cl 12 (50% in PCM/B), For 3: UG Deg (50%)

Appln F: website.

Dec 15: Army Welfare Education Society (AWES)

Written Admission Test (WAT) for admission to:

1) National Institute of Management, Calcutta (NIMC), Judge Court Rd, Opp Alipore Telephone Exchange, PO Box No. 16710, Alipore, Kolkatta 700027

www.nimcal.ac.in

MBA (2-yr); MCA (3-yr)

2) The College of Materials Management, F/o Mgt Studies (FOMS), The Ridge, PB No. 3, Jabalpur 482001

www.cmmfoms1.com

MBA (2-yr, FT; 3-yr, Dist); PGDMM (1-yr)

(3) Army Centre of Education (ACE), AEC Training College & Centre, Pachmarhi (MP)-81

ace_pach@rediffmail.com

BEd (1-yr)

Elig: For MBA: UG Deg (50%), scores in WAT

For MCA: UG Deg (with maths)

For PGDMM: UG Deg

For BEd: UG Deg (45%). Age: 20 yrs (on 1 Jul ‘03)

Selectn: WAT at various centres on Feb 8 & 9.

Appln F: Send Rs 550/- by DD favouring "Director, (Name of the Instt), payable at where instt. is located.

Pervin Malhotra, Director, CARING (Career Guidance India), New Delhi.

Red Alert!!

Agriculture

Nov 15: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, School of Postgraduate Studies, Coimbatore 641003

www.tnaupg.org

PG Deg prog in F’s/o Agri, PG Educn; Horticul; Home Sc; Forestry; Agri Engg

Engineering

Nov 15: IIT - Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110 016

www.iitd.ac.in

PhD

Appl Mech/ Biochem Engg & Biotech /Chem Engg/ Chem/ Civil/ Comp Sc & Engg/Elect Engg/ Hum & Soc Sc/Mgt Studies/ Maths/ Mech/ Phy/ Text Tech & Inter-disciplinary subjs (Opto-Electro & Opti Communs, Entrepreneurship Dev Prog).

MS (Res)

Appl Mech/Bio Chem Engg & Biotech/ Chem Engg/ Civil Engg/ Comp Sc & Engg/ Elect/ Mech.

Information Tech

Nov 15: YMCA Institute of Engineering, Faridabad (Har) (Affl to MD Univ, Rohtak)

MTech (Comp Engg)

Nov 20 SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC), 14, Satsang Vihar Marg, New Delhi 110067

Ph: 011-6515837, 6863759

(1) Short Term Course on IT for Info Mgt (5-wk)

(2) Attachment Training (3-month)

Management

Nov 12: Badruka Instt of Foreign Trade*, Station Rd, Kachiguda, Hyderabad 500027

Email: biftmpib@rediffmail.com

MBA (Intnl Bus)

Nov 15 Indian Institute of Management (IIM-A), Vastrapur, Ahmedabad 380015

Website: www.iimahd.ernet.in/fpm

Fellow Programme in Mgt (FPM)

(Agri, Eco, Finance & Accounting, Info Sys, Mktg, OB, Personnel & Industrial Relations, Prodn & Quant Methods, Public Sys

Nov 15: Indian Institute of Management (IIM-L), Prabandh Nagar, Off Sitapur Rd, Lucknow 226013

Fellow Prog in Mgt

(Bus Environ; Decision Sc; Fin & Contr; HRM; IT & Sys; Mktg; Op Mgt; Strategic Mgt)

Nov 15 Symbiosis Centre for Management & Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Plot No. P-15, Pune Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, MIDC, Pune 411027

www.scmhrd.edu

PGDM

(at Pune Campus: Mktg/ Fin/ HRM/ IT & Mgt Sys; at Nashik Campus: Mfg & OP Mgt/PM & IR/ Services Mgt/ Fmly Bus Mgt)

Nov 15: All India Management Association-Centre for Management Services (AIMA-CMS), Management House, 14 Institutional Area, Lodhi Rd, New Delhi 110003

Ph: 4617354/7355/8107/8127

www.aima-ind.org

PhD (Bus Admin) (Corresp)

(Recog: Aligarh Muslim Univ)

Mass Comm

Nov 18: National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (M/o Agri, GoI), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500030

www.manage.gov.in

PG in Agri Journo & Mass Comm (PGP-AJMC; 1-yr)

Nov 20 Mudra Institute of Communications Ahmedabad, Shela, Ahmedabad 380058 (Guj)

Ph: (079) 3739946-51

Website: www.mica-india.net

Scholarships

Nov 15: D/o Science & Technology (M/o Sc & Tech), Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Rd, New Delhi 110016

www.dst.gov.in

Swarnajayanti Fellowships

University — Distance

Nov 18: University of Allahabad, Institute of Correspondence Courses & Continuing Education, Near UPTRON Crossing, Shiv Kuti (Govindpur), Allahabad-211004

BA (Gen); BCom (Gen)

— Details: www.careerguidanceindia.com