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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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The cost of providing quality to the masses
Educators who have much to teach
Campus scene:
Himachal Pradesh University |
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The cost of providing quality to the masses
ONE of the most beautiful things in life is that good sometimes results even from actions performed with purely ulterior motives. The government with its eye firmly on the vote bank has brought in two draconian measures: private schools in Delhi will have to admit at least 20 per cent children from economically weaker sections of society and provide them with free education; and government officials will have the right to regulate the fee structure of private schools. Of course, in private schools in Delhi and Haryana, this regulation has gone beyond merely the fee structure. Through these misconstrued measures, the government hopes to convey to the voters that it is serious about bringing quality education within the reach of the masses. What it conveniently fails to dwell on is that while these two measures may bring quality education within the reach of a very miniscule number of school going children, these will impinge greatly on the quality of education imparted by private schools, if not ruin that altogether. No one, not the government, not the media, ever dwells on the irony inherent in the situation where a public interest litigation is filed every time a private school legitimately increases its fees and not a whimper of protest is made when a state government blunders along year after year carrying almost 25,000 unfilled posts of school teacher in its state-run schools. Yes, regulation, control and accountability are required, but these are required much more in the running of government schools than in specifying the fee structure and management of private schools. The heads and chairmen of elitist private schools till yesterday were smug and complacent in their superiority and, barring the rare exception, had not a thought to spare for the millions and millions of children attending practically non-existent government schools. Now confronted with the fear of government interference and the consequent destruction of their exclusive citadels of excellence, these worthy ladies and gentlemen have gone into a flurry of seminars and conferences to evolve ways and means to strengthen the government education system. This has fortunately produced a churning of thoughts and awareness for the need to overhaul the government education system. Numerous ideas have been propounded; several measures have been proposed, some new, some as old as the hills. Three major thoughts have emerged. A partnership between the government and the corporate world in the field of school education. Privatisation of government schools that are not running well. Setting up of an autonomous regulatory body to oversee the running of all schools. All these measures presuppose the ability of the government to admit its failure in the field of school education and to rise above the compulsions of its political alliances and the considerations of its vote bank. There may be some scepticism about the government’s ability to do this specially when one remembers that it took the government 50 years to wake up to the fact that primary education should be compulsory. One can only hope that with the concern and publicity that this issue is currently receiving this scepticism will prove to be misplaced. In the meantime, one has merely to look around to see that the most successful movements in social welfare are being spearheaded not by government agencies but by individuals or private organisations — a special school for slum children near Chennai, successful rain-water harvesting to fight drought in Rajasthan, population control in villages in Orissa, free computer education for economically backward children in Bihar, successful and free training for IIT entrance examinations to children who would never otherwise have dreamt of this achievement — all this and more is being done without government help or support. It would not come as a surprise if there are already groups of individuals or NGOs somewhere in India who have adopted government schools, are giving them all possible help and support and are well on their way to converting disaster stories into success stories. I know that villagers in Punjab have begun to pool in their resources and engage substitute teachers in government schools where the government has failed to appoint teachers. A beginning could be made by groups of people like the panchayat extending this support further to every aspect of the school’s function. I am sure that seeing the transformation in a few schools, the government would be motivated to take steps to upgrade all government schools and realise that it is not by imposing checks and balances on private schools, but by ensuring the efficient running of government schools that the slogan of quality education for the masses will translate into reality.
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Educators who have much to teach
MEET the select band of four schoolteachers who have been honoured with this year’s third Tara Chand Saboo Excellence Awards. Receiving accolades is nothing new for these chosen ones. Recognition after recognition has made them even more humble and better focused on their dreams of shaping the future of the nation. For Mr Ram Kumar Sharma, Principal, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, Chandigarh, who has been honoured with the Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement, service means to work for quality education. Going one step further, he is already working on a proposal to get nearly 40 used computers from banks and other institutions so that his teachers can prepare their teaching schedules, search the Internet for keeping themselves updated and prepare their class notes in a better way. “Students could use the extra computers,” said Mr Sharma. His another major project is to launch a website of the school on which the students can see their datesheet, seek information about the school and get information on the alumni. He is trying to set up a book bank so that the poor children in other government schools can get textbooks free of cost. “I would collect the spare or used books from students and the school library and give these away to the poor students,” he said. Recipient of the Excellence Award for School Teaching in Rural Areas, Mr Pitamber Lal, a teacher at Dadumajra Colony, Sector 38 (West), cherishes a dream of taking the literacy campaign to every house of the colony. “I want to instil confidence in neglected children,” said Mr Lal. Another issue he wants to work on is creating awareness on AIDS. He has also demonstrated the successful use of rainwater harvesting technique in his school. Dr Arun Kumar Sharma, a teacher of History at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, has been honoured with the Excellence Award for School Teaching. He plans to make learning history more interesting and exciting. “I have already introduced the concept of project works, quiz competition, surfing the Internet and working on assignments,” he said. He also plans to introduce new concepts in teaching methodology. Dr Sumati Kanwar, Principal of IS Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, who is an accomplished international sportswoman, has been given the Excellence Award for Extra Curricular Activities (Sport). An international hockey player, who also represented India in the VIIIth Asian Basketball Championship in Hong Kong, Ms Kanwar has designed curriculum in which focus is also on extra-curricular activities. She plans to keep improving the school’s performance in basketball, judo and other disciplines.
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Campus scene:
Himachal Pradesh University EVEN as the Executive Council of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) hasn’t yet taken a final decision on the report of the Kaul Committee looking into the appointments made during the previous Bharatiya Janata Party regime, there is a lot of resentment among teachers and employees because of allegations of pick and choose on political grounds. It was in September 2003, that the Chancellor of the HPU ordered an inquiry into the administrative affairs of the institute over the last three years. The committee headed by the Chief Secretary, Mr Arvind Kaul, submitted its report in November 2003, which was placed before the Executive Council (EC). Even as the matter has been challenged in the court in the form of public-interest litigation, the HPU faces a piquant situation, as some employees have refused to file affidavits in these cases, saying that they are being pressurised to make wrong statements. Notices were issued to over100 daily wagers and close to 10 regular employees appointed during the BJP regime, but later the matter was pursued against only 10 persons. At present, only four appointments are being looked into. The sub-committee, which was constituted by the EC to look into the matter after certain anomalies were pointed out in the Kaul Committee report, submitted its report almost a year ago, but no final decision has been taken on the matter. The HPU Teachers Association and the Employees Union has already resented the pressure tactics and pick-and-choose policy being adopted by the university. Law college row ends The latest controversy regarding granting of permission by the Vice-Chancellor to the LR Institute of Legal Studies to set up a Law College at Solan has been finally laid to rest, as the EC granted post-facto approval to the matter in its meeting last week. The controversy arose when the BJP accused the Vice-Chancellor of bypassing the Executive Council and allowing the Law College to make admissions for this session on the basis of academic merit instead of the entrance examination. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof L. R. Verma, clarified that this concession had been made only for this year to save an academic session, as it was already too late to hold an entrance examination. The EC, while granting approval, put a rider that from the next session, admissions should be strictly made on the basis of an entrance examination. A decision was also taken by the HPU to introduce five-year integrated law course with honours from the next academic session. Expansion on hold With no final decision by the government on transferring of over 66 bighas at Potters Hill to the university, all expansion plans of the institute have been put on the hold. The authorities concerned had requested the Chief Minister to give this land to the HPU so that some new academic blocks, hostels and an indoor gymnasium facility could be created. The delay has been mainly due the Department of Sports and Youth Services staking claim to this land for setting up its shooting range. With no further scope for expansion and construction due to a paucity of land on the HPU campus, the HPU authorities are keen on getting this chunk of land adjacent to the campus. Meanwhile, the authorities concerned have already sent proposals to the Union Grants Commission, seeking funds for improving and expanding the infrastructure on the campus. ‘High-altitude allowance’ sought This being a hilly state with difficult topography and inaccessible remote areas, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof L.R. Verma, has requested the UGC to grant special funds to the HPU on the pattern of Kashmir University. “Our university should be treated at par with Kashmir University, as we too require additional funds to create special facilities for students coming from the remote areas of the state,” says the VC. Faced with a financial crunch, the HPU has focussed its attention on internal resource mobilisation. While restrictions have been imposed on wasteful expenditure like excessive phone bills by imposing limit, efforts are being made to mobilise funds. The HPU, by holding tests for selection of multipurpose workers and nurses for the Health Department, has been able to earn over Rs 1.10 crore. It hopes to generate more funds by organising such selection and screening tests for government departments and other agencies. Additional funds are also being raised through the self-financing NRI courses in management (MBA) and postgraduate courses in sciences.
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Art & Design Government College of
Art, Sec 10-C, Chandigarh-160011 MFA (2 yr): Appld Art, Painting, Graphics (printmaking), Sculpture Eligibility: BFA (50%). Selection: Interview (For Appld Art & Sculpture: 28 Nov, For Painting & Graphics: 29 Nov). Application form: Send Rs. 150/- by MO to the Principal, at above add. Engineering IIT-Mumbai, Delhi,
Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras, Roorkee Joint Admission Test to MSc (JAM –2005) Selection: Entrance Test (May 7 & 8) Details: Website Finance Dec 31 Deptt. of
Business Economics, University of Delhi, South Campus, Benito Juarez
Road, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi 110021 Master of Bus Eco (MBE) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Deg (H): (Bus Eco/ Eco/ Comm/ Bus Studies/ Bus Admin; 50%) OR BSc/ BE/ BA (55%). Selection: Test: 13 Feb ‘05. Details: Website December 24 International Institute
of Information Technology, P-14, Pune Infotech Park, Hinjawadi, Pune
411057 MS Prog in Adv IT with integrated SAP & SAS (18-mth; FT; Resid) Details: Website. Law December 24 W B National University
of Juridicial Sciences, NUJS Bhawan, 12 L.B. Block, Salt Lake, Kolkata
700098 (WB) 1) BSc/BA, LLB (Hons) (5-yr) 2) LLM (2-yr) Eligibility:
For 1: 10+2 (50%). Age: 21 yrs on 31 Dec ‘05. Details: Website Medicine December 11 National Institute of
Homeopathy, Block-GE, Sec III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700106 (WB) (Autonom
Org, D/o Ind Sys of Med & Homoeo, M/o HFW, GoI) MD (Hom; 3-yr) Eligibility: BHMS (5½-yr), Regd with CCH/State Homoeo Council. Selection: Written Test. Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov)/ Website Protective November 06 Office of Commandant, 25 Bn BSF, Chhawla Camp, Najafgarh Road, New Delhi 110071 Recruitment of Constables in various trades Eligibility: Male citizen, Cl X, ITI Trade Cert (Veh Mech/Auto Electrician/Blacksmith/Turner/welder/ORTP/Airconditioner Mech) / Cl 8 with 3-yr wk ex (Painter/Carpenter/Upholster) Age: 18-23 Selection: All India Open Rally: 06 Dec ’04 at above add Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov) HQ Jammu Frontier Border Security Force, Paulora Camp, Jammu (J&K) Recruitment of Constables (Veh Mech/Auto Electrician/Blacksmith/Turner/welder/ORTP/ Painter/Carpenter/Upholster) Eligibility: Cl.10 with ITI Trade Cert/ Cl 8 with 2-yr wk ex/ Cl8 with 1-yr wk ex and 1-yr ITI Trade Cert/ Cl 8 with 2-yr Diploma in ITI Trade Age: 18-23 yr Selection: Written Test/Trade Test/Interview on 06 Dec ’04 at 1000hrs at above add Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov) Recruitment November 29 Uttaranchal Peyjal, Sansadhan Vikas Evam Nirman Nigam, 11 Mohini road, Dehradun 248001 (Uttr) 1) Jr Engg (Civil/Mech) 2) Asst Engg (Civil/Mech) Eligibility: For 1: Diploma in Civil/ Mech Engg Age: 18-35 on 01 Aug ‘04 For 2: BE/BTech/AMIE (Civil/Mech/Electr) Age: <35 yr Selection: Written Exam: 26 Dec ’04 Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov) December 13 National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT), Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016Recruitment of Assts (36 Posts) Eligibility: Deg, Age: 20-27 yrs (on 01 Jan ’04) Selection: Preliminary Exam, Written Test, Personality Test. Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov) December 11 Andhra Bank, Dr Pattabhi Bhavan, 5-9-11 Saifabad, Hyderabad 500004 Recruitment of : 1)Probationary Officers (100 posts) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Deg (60%) Age: 21-30 yr on 01 Nov ‘04 2) Specialists Officer in various disciplines Details: E News (13-19 Nov) Reserved Cat November 28 Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, PB No 688, Mumbai 400001 www.bharatpetroleum.com Recruitment of Mgt Trainees belonging to Schedule Tribe (15 posts) Eligibility: ST, BE/BTech (Mech/Electr/Electron/Instru/Civil), 50% Age: 37 yr on 01 Nov ‘04 Selection: Written Test, GD, Interview Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov) / Website Scholarships November 28 Indira Gandhi Centre for
Atomic Research, Deptt of Atomic Energy (GoI) Kalpakkam 603102 Jr. Research Fellowships in: (Rs. 8000 p.m.) 1) Chem 2) Phy Eligibility: For 1: Master’s Deg in Chem (60%, with Phy & Maths at Bachelor’s level) For 2: Master’s Deg in Phy/Materials Sc (60%, with Maths upto Master’s Level and Chem at Bachelor’s level) Details: Employment News (13-19 Nov)/ Website November 25 M/o HRD, D/o Secondary & Higher Educn, Es.3 Section, A1/W.3, Curzon Rd Barracks, KG Marg, New Delhi 110001 www.education.nic.in Israel Govt Scholarship 2005-06 1) Research/Specialization (8 mths)Areas: i) Comparative Study (with ref to Judaism), ii) Middle East Studies, iii) Hebrew Lang & Litt, iv) History of Jewish people, v) Intnl Rel vi) Agri. Eligibility: For 1: Agri: Master’s deg (60%) with 2 yrs wk ex (on 02.01.04); Others: Master’s deg (55%); Age: < 35 yrs (on 30 Sep ’05). Proof of kwld of Eng/Hebrew. Details: E. News (13-19 Nov)/ Website Pervin Malhotra,
Director, CARING, New Delhi |
