 |
|
| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
|
Callous system, sensitive minds
Campus scene |
|
|
Callous system, sensitive minds While the suicide may or may not be directly related to the treatment he got at PEC, this is surely a case of a system gone seriously afoul: a teacher behaving disgracefully, the administrative system failing to let the student know (or deliberately blocking) the result, and even the two re-evaluations having a wide difference. The blame cannot be put on PEC alone, for this is the failure of the whole design of the education system, marked by competition, callousness, lack of resources and social pressures. With this veritable powder keg sitting atop a highly inflammable material of young immature minds, the results cannot be but ugly. In August this year a Dhanas, Chandigarh, schoolgirl attempted to commit suicide after she and other girls of her class were slapped by boys on orders from a teacher. The principal's reaction was: "The girl was just slapped, and that too by boys of the same school and not a teacher." Only if the principal had the slightest idea of what goes through the minds of adolescents…. Just as doctors' actions are a matter of life and death, making their profession very critical, teachers and the education bureaucracy handle a material no less critical. Young minds that are not equipped to handle the pressures they are put under have to be dealt with extreme sensitiveness. Beginning with a system that gives them a sense of justice, to teachers and administrators that give them support when they fail even under a fair system (for youngsters do not spare even themselves), we need to put in place an environment that keeps the heat off campuses. In August this year, a girl from Ghaziabad could not get admission in an MSc course in the town because she was late by a few hours in depositing a draft for Rs 400. Her pleadings had no effect and she could not afford to study in a different town. The girl committed suicide. Legally, it was probably nobody's fault, but was it really nobody's fault? All institutions that have young people need to have a formal structure in place that takes care of their educational/career activities as well as their emotional needs and turmoil. At present, the casual friends circle is the only fallback that students have in times of crisis. The National Defence Academy, Pune, where cadets are under extreme pressure for academics as well as military training and discipline, has a fairly formal system to handle this problem. Officers are assigned to take care of a specified small number of cadets with whom they interact regularly. Also, a time period is marked for cadets to meet the officer in charge with their personal problems. Any signs of distress are usually identified early. Most of our regular colleges and universities lack this. The counsellors and wardens serve this purpose only in name. The teacher strength is usually not sufficient enough to go to the extent of handling students' emotional problems. It is said that if a depressed person is helped pass a crisis period, he may escape an extreme step like suicide. A formal system may thus be evolved in which students themselves may be made responsible for each other's care. Shrugging shoulders would not do, somebody has to be responsible for the emotional well being of students. One major vulnerable group seems to be that of students of professional courses. One may assume that having had relative success in education these students may be more stable, but that is not the case. While there are no statistics on this, a general perusal of newspapers suggests that the proportion of suicides in this section is higher. It may have to with the mental make-up of ambitious students or the greater pressures they are under. But the students cannot be blamed in any case, for they are only beginning to learn what life is about. Professional institutes have more resources and should do a better job of setting up formal emotion-handling systems. Not only are students problems ignored, India lacks facilities desperately even in handling general mental diseases. According to a report prepared by the Directorate-General of Health Services, Union Ministry of Health, there are only 600 clinical psychologists in the country and 4,000 psychiatrists for a population of 1 billion. Amidst the overall lack of resources, mental health issues apparently are the first casualty. Today we live in a world in which the traditional support structures of the extended family and the small town have broken down. An urban student is thrown amidst heartless competition and exposed to influences that his age cannot be expected to handle. Only extreme sensitiveness and careful redesigning of education programmes can save their future.
|
|
|
Punjabi university deviating from original aim Punjabi has been as important to Punjabi University as say the Directive Principles to the nation. The Directive Principles may be inherent suggestions which the country is to take into account in governance, but for Punjabi University there cannot be any way to unloose itself from the shackles of Punjabi. The University was established for this purpose alone and the first paragraph of its Calendar makes this clear, stating that the institution will propagate Punjabi language, literature and culture. Even today, the Punjabi University administration says it is "committed and dedicated" to the development of Punjabi, but the fact remains that the university has in the past 42 years since its inception failed the cause of Punjabi. Every Vice-Chancellor knows he has to remain "committed and dedicated" to the development of Punjabi, but there has not been any uniform and coordinated approach to realise this goal, which should have been the cornerstone of the university's functioning. The results are there for all to see. Even as Punjabi University now marches on to meet the demands of the global Punjabi audience with establishment of software which will allow easier translations and introduction of new research projects and translation, the language itself seems to the dying a slow death. The vocabulary is not being developed at the needed pace and the university has failed to make Punjabi a medium of instruction for higher studies. "This has been the single biggest failure of the university," says its Correspondence Studies Department head Prof Bhupinder Singh Khaira. He says the language was currently lagging behind other Indian languages due to the failure of the university to make it a medium of instruction, especially for science courses. Dr Chamal Lal, also from the university, says despite a number of students coming from the rural areas, the institution had not awarded any Ph.d in science subjects. "The universities in service of Tamil and Telugu have succeeded in this sphere," he says even as Prof Khaira claimed the Tamil and Malayalam Universities were also awarding M.Sc degrees in mathematics to their students with the languages being the medium of instruction. Also missing, say intellectuals, is language planning, which is a scientific and rational methodology used worldwide. This is one issue which is often not understood with the university focussing on literature and culture right from its inception. It has had only one vice-chancellor who was a linguist, although that was also not by design but plain luck, as all VCs are appointed not on the basis of what they can specifically do for Punjabi, but because of varied political permutations and combinations. What makes Punjabi intellectuals despair is the fact that there seems no way the university can turn around after taking on such a "generalist" colour. "The people have a lot of hope from the university," says Giani Gurdit Singh, who wrote Mera Pind, a work which is known for making Punjabi culture known to the world. "However, these hopes have been belied," says the author, who played a role in the formation of the university by introducing a Bill in the Punjab Assembly. Punjabi University presently has five departments devoted to Punjabi studies: the Department for Development of Punjabi Studies, Department of Punjabi Literary Studies, Department of Punjabi Lexicography, Department of Linguistics and Punjabi Language and Punjabi Department. Surprisingly there is no separate School of Punjabi Studies or a faculty. Even the Department of Theatre and Television and the Department of Fine Arts partake of the budget for the Department for Development of Punjabi Studies. The university administration says a fresh look has been given to the development of Punjabi since the last two years during the tenure of vice-chancellor Swarn Singh Boparai. University spokesman Dr Baldev Singh Sandhu said the qualitative and quantitative work done on Punjabi in the last two years had never been attempted earlier. He said besides translation of the Mahan Kosh of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, the university was in the process of translating Nobel Prize winning works in Punjabi, besides initiating the work of transcribing great Punjabi works into other Indian languages. The university has also published 82 books in Punjabi during the last two years and it has 90 students enrolled for Ph.d programmes in the language. It is also reaching out to researchers by allotting them 80 projects, besides instituting ten life fellowships and eight fellowships.
|
|
|
Campus scene The campus has been reverberating with the visits of artistes and dignitaries from Pakistan Punjab for the last few days. It is gearing up to give a memorable time to another delegation from the neighbouring country on December 3, when the Chief Minister of Pakistan Punjab, Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, is scheduled to visit the university. The cultural exchange between the East and West Punjab has seen the organisation of a number of joint festivals in Punjab. One of these was a youth festival in which a delegation from Pakistan had also participated. Noted horticulturist from
Faisalabad, Mohd Amzad Elahi, was a guest of the university recently. After playing host to these guests, PAU is now sending a delegation of 40 students and teachers to Pakistan for the Punjab Lok Boli Mela to be organised in January in Deepalpur city. Pakistan has also invited artistes and students from the university to participate in a number of prestigious evening cultural programmes. The cultural exchange is a contribution of PAU to help improve the relations between the two countries that remain at loggerheads with one another on diverse issues. Speculation over VC's future
The campus is abuzz with speculation over the future of the serving Vice-Chancellor, Dr K. S. Aulakh, whose term ends on March 31 next year. Though there are four months remaining, rumour mills have started churning overtime about whether he would get a second term or not. With no common platform like a cafeteria found in other universities, teachers and employees remain busy gossiping in small groups on the campus. Some claiming proximity to Dr Aulakh claim that he has got major offers from prestigious institutions like the World Bank or ICAR. Some say he will get an extension, while others are busy circulating names from within and outside the campus as his alternate. Whatever the result, everybody is waiting with bated breath to see which way the wind blows, and then maybe they can come out in the open with their support or against the Vice-Chancellor. Vacant posts cause of concern
Four key posts- Comptroller General, Librarian, Additional Director Communication and Director Students Welfare-are lying vacant in the university for the past some time, causing administrative problems. Rare gift by alumnus
Former Associate Professor and Farm Manager, Department of Vegetables, PAU, has set a rare example of "thanksgiving" to his alma-mater by donating his provident fund amount to the university. The NRI, Maninderjit Singh, now settled in Canada, has resigned from his post here. He has donated the money, running in several lakh, to set up a corpus fund from which every year a Parwasi Punjabi Award would be given to a person deemed fit by the university. Chrysanthemum bloom
The sprawling lawns, roadsides, corridors and roundabouts on the campus have come alive with blossoming of various varieties of chrysanthemum flowers. Nature seems to have descended on the campus to spread colours all round. The campus does not have a vibrant student life as normally felt or seen at such places. The flowers seem to make for the missing vibrancy. Whither music nites?
There was much heartburn among the students and PAU employees regarding the organisation of the Gurdass Mann Musical Nite on the university premises. The students had a tiff with the police and the organisers of the show when they were not allowed to enter the pandal. They also complained of too much noise disturbing those who wanted to sleep or study. The university had allowed the organisation to earn the much-needed revenue. It remains to be seen whether the will of the students and residents would prevail in future or the sheer pressure of economics would again lead to the organisation of more such shows.
|
| HOME PAGE |
Agriculture January 10 Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture
& Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) PhD in: College of Horticulture: Pomol, Post Harvest Tech, Fruit Breeding & Genetic Resources, Veg Crops, Floriculture & Landscaping, Mycol & Plant Pathol, Entomol & Apiculture, Biotech College of Forestry: Tree Improvement & Genetic Resources, Silviculture, Agroforestry, Forest Products, Soil Sc & Water Mgt, Agri Econ Eligibility: MSc in relv subj (65% or OGPA 6.5/ 10.00) Appln F: Send Rs 300/- by DD fvg "Comptroller, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry" payable at State Bank of Patiala, Nauni at above add or download from web. Details: Website Engineering December 22 National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra 136119
(Deemed University) (Har) PhD in Dept of Engg & Appl Sc Appln F: Send Rs.150/- by DD fvg "Director, NIT, Kurukshetra" to the above add by 10 Dec ‘04 Details: Website January 07
IIT-Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur,
Madras, Roorkee, BHU Varanasi & ISM Dhanbad Joint Entrance Exam-2005 (JEE-2005) Eligibility: Cl 12 or equiv/ Dip. (3-4 yrs). DoB: < Oct 01, 1980 Test: Screening Test: 10 Apr ‘04; Main Test 22 May ‘04. Details: Employment News (Nov 20-26)/ Website. Management
Indian Institute of Management (IIM-B), Bangalore Exec General Mgt Prog (Through Direcway) Eligibility: Bachelor’s deg; 5-10 yrs wk ex. Details: Website. December 31
Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi,
Delhi-110007 Master of Business Adminstration in Mgt of Services (2-yr, FT) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Deg: Arts/Comm/Soc Sc (50%); Sc (55%); Maths/Stats (60%); Med/Engg/Tech (60%) CGPA 6.00 in scale 10.00 OR Master’s Deg/2nd Deg (60%). Age: 20 yrs (on 1 Oct ‘05). Selectn: Admission Test: 30 Jan ‘05 Details: Website January 20
Delhi School of Economics, Deptt of Commerce, Univ of
Delhi, Delhi 110 007 1) Master of International Business (MIB) 2) Master of Human Resource & Organisational Development (MHROD) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Deg (50%) Selectn: Common Entrance Test: Feb 06 (at Del, A’bad, B’lore, Bhopal, Ch’garh, K’kata, Chennai, L’know, H’bad, Mumbai). Details: Website.
Indian Institute of Materials Management, Plot No 102
& 104, Sector-15, Institutional Area, CBD Belapur, Navu Mumbai 1) PG Dip in Materials Mgt (3-yr, Dist) 2) Graduate Dip in Materials Mgt (2-yr, FT; 3-yr, Dist) Eligibility:
For 1: Bachelor’s deg/GDMM
(50%) with 2 yrs wk ex Selectn: Aptitude Test: 02Jan ‘05 (at IIMM branches) Details: Website. Recruitment December 17 Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), PB No
2282, Chankyapuri, Post Office, New Delhi 110021 29 1) Asst Software Engg 2) Software/ Sr Software Engg Eligibility: BE/BTech/MTech (Comp SC)/MCA, 60% Selectn: Written Test, Interview. Details: Website. December 12 Haryana Staff Selection Commission, SCO No 114-115, Sector 8 C, Chandigarh Various posts in 12 categories Details: Leading national daily (25 Nov) December 10 ISRO Satellite Centre, Airport Road, Vimanapura Post, Bangalore 560017 (Kar) www.isac.ernet.in Recruitment in: Digital Electron, Mech/Aero, Thermal, Microwave & Radar, ESD/EMI/EMC, Mat Sc, Controls, Reliability Engg, Comp, Optics Eligibility: ME/MTech, 1st Div. Age Limit: 35 yrs Details: Employment News (Nov 20-26)/ Website. December 31 Departments of Posts, Delhi Circle, Meghdoot Bhavan, Link Road, New Delhi 110001 Recruitment of Jr Engineers (Civil & Electrical) Eligibility: Diploma (Civil/Electr Engg) Age: 18-27 yr Selectn: All India Entrance Exam: 13 Mar ‘05 Details: Employment News (Nov 20-26) 509 Army Base Workshop, Agra 282001
Apprenticeship Training (to
prepare for National Apprenticeship Cert) Eligibility: ITI in relev trade Age: 22-yr (23-yr for 2) Selectn: Written test: 13-14 Dec ’04. Details: Employment News (Nov 20-26) Scholarships February 28 The Paul Foundation, 15, Park Street, Kolkata 700016 www.thepaulfoundation.org Scholarships (For study in India/ Abroad) Eligibility: First Div. Bachelor’s/ Master’s deg; Age Limit: 30 yrs; Must have submitted applns to Univs. Selectn: Interviews: Jun-Jul ’05. Schools Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Rai-131029, Distt. Sonipat (Har) 1) Class VI (Main entry point) 2)Outstanding Sportsperson’s Category 3) Lateral Entry to Classes VII, IX & XI Eligibility: For 1): DoB: 1 July, ‘93
— 30 June, 95 Details: Employment News (Nov 20-26) Biology December 31
Bioinformatics Institute of India, B-15, Sec 3, Noida
201301 (UP) 1) PG Diploma (Pharma Bus Mgt/Pharmaco-informatics/Pharma Regulatory Affairs/Biotech Bus Mgt/Bioinfo/Agri Info Tech). 2) Industry Diploma (Contract Research & Clinical Trials/Drug Des & Patenting/Intellectual Property Mgt)10+2. Details: Website Pervin Malhotra,
Director, CARING, New Delhi
|
A
vindictive teacher of Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, has been alleged to have marked a student zero in a fourth semester exam. The student was later granted 55 and 64 marks in two re-evaluations, of which he was not informed in time to save his life, for he committed suicide.