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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE | Tuesday, July 15, 2003, Chandigarh, India |
Curriculum in Punjab not revised for past 17 years Aditi Tandon THE graph of school education in Punjab may dip further if the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) does not take immediate steps to stem the rot. For the past 17 years, the Punjab School Board has not cared to revise the curriculum of its 13,076 schools. Vocational studies in the doldrums UGC
cautions against fake varsities |
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Curriculum in Punjab not revised for past 17 years THE graph of school education in Punjab may dip further if the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) does not take immediate steps to stem the rot. For the past 17 years, the Punjab School Board has not cared to revise the curriculum of its 13,076 schools. No wonder Agriculture and Gurbani Sangeet, the two most significant subjects in Punjab’s scheme of school education, have no takers. Where Agriculture, which forms the basis of state’s economy, had just 20 students appearing out of a total of 2.25 lakh who took the board’s examination last year, Gurbani Sangeet had no student at all. It’s a virtual irony that the youth of a state which is promoting agriculture through crop diversification and other projects, are not interested in agriculture, reason being the inability of the board to update the subject and make it responsive to current needs. The consequences of this laxity have been so grim that about half of the subjects in the board’s curriculum have less than 100 students appearing in the annual examination. Where the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has less than 30 subjects, Punjab has 68. Because the Punjab board never reviewed its curriculum, it could not incorporate important subjects like biotechnology, space science and information technology (IT), which the CBSEintroduced at the senior secondary level long back. Punjab does not have these courses. Over 16 subjects in the Punjab school curriculum do not attract students at all. Out of 2.25 lakh students who took the board examinations last year, not even one sat for the exam of Gurbani Sangeet. Only 20 appeared in Agriculture. The reason behind the falling popularity of these subjects is evident. Experts suggest that both these subjects have not been properly placed in the scheme of studies nor have they been linked with higher studies. A student opting for agriculture at the school level does not get weightage in BSc (Honours) at the college level. Nobody opts for Gurbani Sangeet at school because it is not an independent subject at the college or university level. Some other subjects that
draw minimum student response but continue to figure in the Punjab
school curriculum are Education (below 75 students), Defence Studies
(below 80 students), Geology (no candidate) and Elements of Electronic
Engineering (no candidate). The content of these subjects has not been
revised to suit modern needs. Most educationists feel that half of the
subjects in the Punjab school curriculum can immediately be done away
with because they attract negligible number of students and cause
unnecessary burden on the state exchequer. The Punjab board spends
about Rs 6 crore on conducting the annual examination. It can reduce
the expenditure by 25 % by deleting redundant courses (which have less
than 100 students appearing in the annual exam). |
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Vocational studies in the doldrums
THE state of vocational education in Punjab is even worse. The Vocational Education Programme was introduced as a separate stream in Punjab in 1987-88. Since then the curriculum has not been updated, whereas a lot of innovation has taken place in this field. So pathetic is the state of affairs that under the Motor Mechanic course, the students are still being taught about the components of the Lambretta scooter, which is not being produced for over a decade now. Also, while car technology has progressed tremendously, Punjab students are being taught, about the engine of the Ambassador car as a model. Even in textiles, Punjab has not introduced computer-controlled machines. It has old knitting machines, which produce six pairs of socks in an hour. The Punjab Government had appointed a committee in 1996 to recommend ways to strengthen vocational education in Punjab Schools. Formed under the chairmanship of Dr Amrik Singh, former Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala, the committee made valuable recommendations, which, as usual, were not implemented. No wonder Punjab has not been able to adhere to the NCERT guidelines, which required that 10 % of total senior secondary school students be sent to the vocational stream by 1990, 25 % by 1995 and 50 % till 2000. The percentage of vocational students in Punjab has been merely 8 % of the total senior secondary school students. The main reason, as cited by experts, is that lesser number of institutions are covered under the vocational stream of education. Private institutions have not been roped in for imparting vocational training at the school level. Punjab has only about 255 functional vocational institutions. Another drawback is
outdated curriculum which is unfit to meet the present challenges.
Since 1986, when the Punjab School Board introduced the 10+2+3 system
in schools, it has not scrutinised its curriculum even once, rendering
the educational scheme "incapable of facing the challenges of
globalisation." Whereas the National Education Policy adopted in
India in 1986 clearly emphasised the need to revise the curriculum
every two to three years to make it sensitive and responsive to
educational and societal needs, Punjab is still to wake up to this
urgency. — AT |
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UGC
cautions against fake varsities CLOSE on the heels of a controversy regarding the genuineness of a Chhattisgarh-based university the University Grants Commission (UGC) has warned teachers and students of Punjab to be cautious of about 20 fake universities all over the country. Even though educational facilities in Punjab are good, yet youths aspiring for a degree in engineering, medicine law or other vocations make a beeline for educational institutions in backward states as these offer admission on donation instead of merit. The UGC directives to all educational institutions in the state last week cautions that in violation of the UGC Act the ‘bogus’ universities are using nomenclatures like "vishwavidyalya," "vishwavidyapeeth," "vidyapeeth" or simply "university" to attract students. Some universities offer a one-year BA degree for students who fail the regular courses. Other attraction is the awarding of a law degree. Dropouts form a major chunk of students opting for these universities. Easy degree is yet another factor. The UGC has called upon academicians, students and the Teachers’ Association to spread awareness among students regarding these self-styled universities. The UGC has directed the Vice-Chancellors to paste the UGC directive on the notice-boards. One such notice has been put up on the notice boards at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Sources said the UGC is in the process of initiating action against the fake universities and is seeking help from academicians in warning students about the futility of doing courses from such educational institutions. The UGC has issued a
list of several such fake educational institutions. Some of these are
Maithli University/Vishwavidyalya, Darbhanga, Bihar. Commercial
University, Delhi Delhi Vishwavidyapeeth, Tajpur Park United Nations
University, Delhi ST Johns University, Kerala Raja Arabic University,
Maharashtra Kesarvani Vidyapeeth, Jabalpur DDB Sanskrit University,
Tamil Nadu Mahila Gram Vidyapeeth, Uttar Pradesh Vishwavidyalya,
(Women’s University) Prayaggunj, UP Varanseya Sanskrit
Vishwavidyalya, Varansai Indian Educational Council of UP Gandhi Hindi
Vidyapeeth, UP. |
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ADMISSION DEADLINE Armed Forces Jul 21 Coast Guard HQ, Director (HRD), Coast Guard Recruitment Cell, A-1, Sector-24, PB No. 127, NOIDA 201301 (UP) 10 Jan '03 Recruitment of Asst Comdts (Feb '03) for: 1) General Duty 2) General Duty Pilot 3) CPL Holders 4) Tech Branch Elig: For 1: UG Deg (Maths & Phys in Cl 12). For 2: BSc (Phys & Maths) cleared PABT. For 3: Cl 12 with valid CPL. Bachelor's, Deg prfd. For 4: BE/BTech in Naval Arch/Marine/Mech/Elect/Telecomm & Electron/Design/Prodn/ Aeronautical/Control Engg/ CoC 1st Class Engg of Motorship/College of Marine Engg (IMET, Kol)/A & B of IE in above fields or equiv. Age : 21-25-yrs as on 1 Jul '03 For 1; 19-27-yrs for 2 & 3; 21-30-yrs for 4. Selectn: Tests, Interview at Ch'ai/Del /Kol/M'bai. Appln F: Send in prescribed format. Details: Employment News (28 Jun-4 Jul). 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Appln F & Details: Send Rs 225/- by DD favouring "HPAU, Palampur", with self add env (30 x 20 cm) to the Assistant Registrar (Academic) at above add. Engineering Govt of NCT of Delhi, Directorate of Training & Technical Education, Muni Mayaram Marg, Near TV Tower, Pitampura, Delhi 110088 http://tte.delhigovt.nic.in Nomination to Engg Degree, Diploma Courses Outside Delhi Jul 16 Degree: Chem, Food Tech, Metallurgy, Mining, Polymer Tech, Tex Chem, Tex Engg/ Tech, Tex Plant Engg, Water Mgt. Jul 24 Diploma: Bldg Constr, Fabrication, Food Tech, Comp-aided Costume Design & Dress Making (for girls only), Leather Tech, Tex Tech, Polymer Processing, Textile Mfg, Polymer Tech, Water Resource. Selectn: Merit in qualifying exam & counselling. Appln F: Room No 208 at the above add: Rs 10/-(cash). Details: Web. Jul 21 Punjabi University, Patiala 147002. BTech: Comp Engg, Electron & Comm, Mech Engg. Elig: Class 12 (PCM and Eng). Selctn: Merit in CET-2003. Appln F: Send by regd post DD worth Rs 460/- favouring "Registrar, Punjabi University, Patiala" payable at Patiala, Punjabi University Branch, (Code 5009), to the Head, Publication Bureau,Punjabi Univ, Patiala, with self-add stamped (Rs 60/-) envelope (12" x 9") to above add. In cash at Counter: Rs 400/-. Jul 19 Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Ichchhanath, Surat- 395 007 www.svnit.ac.in 1) Civil: Struct, Environ, Town & Regional Plng, Water Resources, Soil Mech & Foundn. 2) Mech: Turbo Machines, Mech. Elig, Appln F: Send Rs 500/- by DD favouring "The Director, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat", payable at Surat with self-add env (23 x 11cm) to above add. Details: Web. Jul 18 Semiconductor Complex Limited (GoI, M/o Comm & Info Tech), Phase VIII Industrial Area, Mohali, Chandigarh www.vedant.net Adv PG Dip: VLSI Des (FT, 6-mnth) Elig: BE/ BTech (Electron & Commn/ Instru/ Telecom) or MSc (Electron & Phys). Selectn: Entr. 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In cash at counter: Rs. 750/-. Jul 21 Semiconductor Complex Limited (GoI, M/o Comm & Info Tech), Phase VIII Industrial Area, Mohali, Chandigarh www.sclindia.com Dip: Real time S/w & Embedded Systems Des (Core 4-Mth; Opt 2-mth) Elig: BE/ BTech/ BCA/ MSc/ MCA/ BSC (Comp. Sc/ Electron)/ PGDCA. Selectn: Entr. Test (Jul 23) Appln F: Send Rs 200/- by DD favouring "Semiconductor Complex Limited", payable at Ch'garh to above add. Management Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad: * 3-year Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) * 2-year Masters Degree in Marketing Management (MMM). * 2-year Masters Degree in Human Resource Management (MHRM). * 2-year Masters Degree in Supply Ghain Management (MSCM). Eligibility: Graduate in any stream. No entrance test for Defence Personnels and Working Managers with five years of experience. Diploma courses in * Business Administration * Marketing Management * Export Management * Personnel Management * Financial Management * Materials Management Eligibility: 10+2 with five years‘ experience or graduate. Deadline July 27 Pervin Malhotra,
Director, CARING (www.careerguidanceindia.com), New Delhi email:
http://www.careerguidanceindia.com |
