 |
|
| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
|
Testing time for parents Sikh studies popular
in Canada |
|
|
Sailing through Boards Examination season is here and so is the stress and anxiety it brings along, not only for the students but also parents. With their heads buried in their books, students, especially those appearing for the board examinations, have time for little else, as they burn the midnight oil learning and revising the syllabi. Alive to the problem of examination blues, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has now come out with a special tele-counselling manual, offering solutions to all examination-related problems, from preparing syllabi to giving tips on dealing with physical and psychological reactions. Strategies for
three kinds of students A well-prepared student should:
The average student should: The below average student should: Two school Principals and tele-counsellors for the region, Ms Sarita Manuja and Ms Madhu Bahl, back after a two-day training with the board on counselling harried students, are unanimous in their opinion that the D-day is still far and there is no damage that can’t be repaired. While the CBSE helplines ring in new queries everyday, we find out how students and their parents can tide over these trying times. “Physical reactions can range from indigestion, backache, constipation, cramps and sleep disorder. However, pills aren’t the solution to these chronic problems and memory enhancing pills, as also sleep-inducing or sleep-removing pills, are an absolute no-no. During examination time, the child may experience pressure, frustration, gloom, irritation and mental drain. Parents can help by being supportive and cut down on pestering children,” says Ms Madhu Bahl, a tele-counsellor for the fourth time. “Following healthy eating habits, including staying away from fast food, goes a long way in dealing with physical reactions of the body at the time of examination. While taking a short break from studies helps, a good sleep and physical activity take the mind off the lessons and prove beneficial. Also, the students should not burden themselves with unrealistic study goals and assess priorities before they get down to work,” says Ms Manuja. Encouragement and reassurance are essential for the child to study well. The already stressed children should not be kept away from television, outings or entertainment. In fact, to build their concentration, the counsellors suggest the students ought to identify their best time for concentration, take frequent breaks and make a time-management plan for all subjects. The parents, too, need to be sensitive to the child’s needs and should not be too demanding with regard to studies. The counsellors opine that the child will perform better if he or she is allowed to prepare at his or her own pace; hastening learning and revision doesn’t help. “For any queries from parents on poor scores of their wards in pre-boards, we’d advise them to help the child maintain confidence when his or her marks or grades drop. The parents should realise that good schooling and tuitions are no substitutes for emotional cushioning,” says Ms Bahl. Her experience as counsellor has shown that weak students are under tremendous pressure from nagging parents, who continue to harp on the child’s previous failures. Ms Manuja sums up: “Examinations come and go. These are important, but certainly not everything. While the children should give it their best shot, the parents should not go overboard and displace their anxiety on the child. A little patience would serve greater purpose in promoting a conducive study environment for the child and enable him or her to perform better.”
|
||
|
Testing time for parents With the board exams (egg-jams) around the corner, I can see a lot of worried faces around me—of children and parents alike. Examinations have always been a source of tension, but with increased competition and rising aspirations, the situation appears grim. At times, it is parents who create this pressure and they are to be blamed for this huge mass of confused, disoriented children. At a party, conversation with friends whose children are appearing for the board examinations left me astonished at their attitude. In the presence of their children, they were incessantly talking about examinations and its stress. The children started feeling guilty that they had come to a party when they should have been studying. Initially, they had been coaxed by their parents into attending the party, and now their parents were unintentionally making their children miserable. One mother went on praising her child: “Oh, she is very sensitive. If she does not score well, I shudder to think what she’ll do to herself.” I looked at the girl, who seemed quite confident and well poised. However, when she heard her mother talk, I could feel her energy dwindling, her eyes losing shine and then she looked very vulnerable. In the coming days, I observed the girl closely and felt she was a determined soul, but her mother expected her to whine and faint at the slightest pretext. She was loved and pampered more if she did so, with the result that it was now becoming a habit. I realised that when we hear of suicides by children or their running away from homes, it is the parents who are somewhere responsible for those acts. You are putting wrong ideas into their heads. As parents, during such critical times as the board examinations, it becomes our duty to encourage them to do their best. We should not make them feel like criminals, if they don’t fare well. A mark here or there should not be taken as the end of life. We have to make them believe that they are precious to us, with or without success. The board examinations is their first step into the world of challenges, for they will not be competing with their classmates alone, but with children from the entire country. For the first time they will be stepping out of their cocoons, we have to be by their side. There are innumerable greater challenges to counter, in career and life. It is our duty to prepare them to face these challenges. Success and failures are part of the game. I remember being bad with figures, so with my mathematics exam approaching, I was nervous while taking my board examinations. A day before the examination, I blurted out: “I am feeling scared of the mathematics examination. If I fail, I’ll kill myself.” My parents heard this and instead of getting nervous like some parents at that party, hauled me up. My mother said: “If you think again on these lines, you’ll get a whack from me. Life doesn’t need to end with one small failure. We have brought you up with great difficulty; you better live well.” Those words made me realise how precious I was to my parents and I owed my life to them. More than the failure, I grew more worried about not harming myself. Gift this confidence to your child. Tell him how precious he or she is to you. Teach them, that life is too precious to be wasted, that everybody has his or her challenges, but that doesn’t mean we rest all the time. Teach them to strive on, to put in their very best in every endeavour and then leave the rest to God. Mould them into good human beings, who learn not to rest on their laurels. Obstacles are temporary and every moment of life has to be cherished for all times to come. The board examinations are the first opportunity for you to tell them about the realities of life. You’ll be a much happier and relaxed parent and your child will love you all the more. |
||
|
Sikh studies popular in Canada Montreal: As an indication of increasing interest in Sikh studies among North American students, 51 students have already registered for a course on Sikhism at McGill University this year. This is a significant increase over the registration of 29 students last year. The majority of the class at McGill is non-Indian and non-Sikh. There are 27 Christians, 11 Hindus, 6 Sikhs, 2 Muslims and 4 Jews. The class even attracted a Chinese student. Courses on Sikhism are currently offered at many institutions of higher learning in North America. At McGill, the three-credit course was introduced only four years ago, The course had a humble beginning, but there was a surge in interest after September 2004, when the Faculty of Religious Studies and the Canadian Sikh Council jointly sponsored an interfaith conference on Guru Granth Sahib at McGill University. This two-day conference honoured the 400th anniversary of the compilation of the Holy Scripture. Professor Manjit Singh is the sole instructor. He is presently developing a higher-level course on Sikhism to meet the needs of those who have already taken the introductory course. — Harbans Lal
|
| HOME PAGE |
Armed Forces February 28 Directorate of Manpower
Planning & Recruitment, R&R Section, Room No 204, ‘C’ Wing,
Sena Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 Officers in Logistics Cadre (SSC) Elig: Single, Indian men/ women with BCA/MCA/ BA (Eco)/ BCom/ BE/ BTech (Mech/ Marine Engg/ Electric/ Electron/ Telecomm/ Instru & Control/ Comp/ IT) Age: 19`BD - 25 yrs (DoB: 2 Aug ‘80 - 1 February ‘86). Selectn: SSB Interview followed by Medical Exam. Appln F: Send in prescribed format to the above add. Civil Services March 08 Union Public Service
Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110069. Indian Forest Service Exam – 2005 Elig: B Agri/ B Forestry/ BE/ BTech or Bachelor’s deg (Animal Husb & Vet Sc/ Bot/ Chem/ Geol/ Maths/ Phys/ Stats/ Zool). Age: 21-30 yrs (on 1 Jul ‘05). Exam: 9 Jul. Appln F: Designated HPOs/ POs: Rs 20/- (Cash). Details: Employment News (February 5-11)/ Web. Engineering June 30 Mody Institute of Technology & Science (MITS), Lakshmangarh, Distt Sikar 332311, (Raj) (Deemed Univ) www.mitsuniversity.info BTech, MCA, MBA Prog (For Girls Only) Details: Website. February 18 VLSI Design & Research
Centre, D/o Electronic Science, University of Pune, Pune 411007 Certificate in VLSI Design/ Embedded Sys (6-mth, FT) Elig: BE/ BTech/ MSc in Electron/ Electron & Telecomm/ Instru/ Elect/ Comp/ Info Tech. Test: Stage I: February 20, Stage II: February 21, For GATE/ GRE score/ Ind & Instt spons Cands: February 20 (Only Stage II) Details: Employment News (Jan 29 – February 5)/ Web. Indo-Danish Tool Room, M-4
(Part), Phase-VI, Tata Kandra Road, Gamharia, Jamshedpur-832108 Post Diploma in (Comp Aided Tool Design/CNC M/cing using CAD/CAM) (6-mth) Elig: BE/ Dip in Mech/ Prod/ Auto or equiv Details: Employment News (Jan 29- February 4)/ website. Finance February 25 The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi 110002.www.icai.nic.in 1) PE-I, PE-II, Final
Exams, Exam: For 1: May 2, For 2: May 6 (at 94 centres incldg Del, Chandigarh, M’bai, Kol’ta.) Appln F: Send Rs 25/- (for 2) & Rs 60/- (for 1) by DD/IPO fvg "Secretary, ICAI, New Delhi" with self-add slip & stamps (Rs 15/-, for 1 only) to the Joint Secretary (Examinations) at the above add. IT February 17 D/o Electronic Science, University of Pune, 411007. www.cadcamguru.com Certificate Course in 3D CAD, CAM & CAE (6 mth) Elig: BE/BTech (Mech Prodcn/Auto). Selectn: Entrance Exam: February 20 & Interview. Cands with GATE/GRE/CEED score exempted from written test. Details: Employment News (Jan 29-February 5)/ Website Law March 31 National Law University, Admin Block, (JNV University New Campus), Pali Road, Jodhpur 342001 (Raj) www.nlujodhpur.ac.in National Entrance Test
2005 for admission to: Masters in (Trade Laws/ Criminal Law, Criminology & Forensic Sc) Elig: For 1) 10+2 (50%). DoB: Before Jul 1, ‘85 For 2, 3, 4, 5): Bachelor’s deg (60%) Test: For 1-5: May 7 ‘05. Appln F: Send Rs 1200/- by DD favouring "The Registrar, National Law University, Jodhpur" to above add/ d’load from website. February 25 The Indian Law Institute, Bhagwan Das Rd, New Delhi 110 001 www.elearningili.org Online Certificate in IPR & IT in Internet Age (3-mth) Details: Website Management February 04 The Times School of Marketing, 10, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110002 http://tsm.timesjobs.com PG Diploma in Sales Mgt (1-yr, FT)* Elig: Bachelor’s deg, relev wk exp prefd. Selectn: Written Test: February 20, Interview. Appln F: Send Rs 500/- by DD fvg "The Times School of Marketing", payable at New Delhi to above add by 4 February. Forms also available at: Ch’grh (Ph: 2544146). (*not recog by AICTE/UGC) April 10 Welingkar Institute of Management, L. N. Road, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019 www.welingkar.org 1) PGDBM (2-yr) Elig: Bachelor’s/ Master’s deg. Selectn: CAT-2004/ MAH-CET-2005 scores Details: Website Maths & Stats February 21 Mathematics Training &
Talent Search, D/o Mathematics, University of Mumbai, Vidyanagari,
Kalina, Mumbai 400098 Mathematics Training & Talent Search Prog Elig: Level ‘O’ & ‘I’: 2nd & final yr of BSc/BStat/BTech etc (with Maths). Meritious 1st year students can apply. Level ‘II’: Ist yr of MSc/ MStat/ MTech etc (with Maths). Selectn: Acad merit & letter of recomm from Maths Prof. Appln F: Contact Head, D/o of Maths of your college or send stamped (Rs 10/-) self-add, env (10 x 22 cm) to Prof S Kumaresan, Programme Director at above add or download from website. Superscribe "MTTS-2005 Application Form" on env. Details: Employment News (Jan 29-February 5)/ Website Medicine April 30 Birla Institute of Technology, Mersa, Ranchi 835215 (Deemed Univ) BPharm (2-yr) Elig: 10+2 (PCB). Selectn: AIPMT: April 3 (Preliminary)/ May 15 (Final) Appln F: Send Rs 250/- by DD fvg "Principal, BN College of Pharmacy, Udaipur" payable at Udaipur (Raj) with AIPMT Roll No. to the Accounts Office at above add. Recruitment February 18 Staff Selection Commission, Block No 3, Ground Fl, Kendriya Sadan, Sec 9, Chandigarh 160017 Jr Hindi Translators Elig: Master’s deg in Hindi/ English with Hindi/ English as elective subj at Bachelor’s OR Bachelor’s deg with Hindi and English as main subj (compulsory & elective). Selectn: Written Test. Details: Employment News (29 Jan- 4 February ‘05). Scholarships February 28 National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped, Manovikasnagar, Secunderabad 500009 (M/o Soc Justice & Empowerment, GoI) www.nimhindia.org NIMH Research Associates Elig: PG in rel subj (55%), NET for JRF/ Lecturership in Soc Sc, reg’d for PhD. Age: Below 35 yrs. Details: Employment News (Jan 29-February 4)/ Website Biology Central Institute of Fisheries Education (Deemed Univ, ICAR), Fisheries University Road, Seven Bungalows, Andheri (W), Versova-400 061 (Mah) Short Term Training
Programmes: Elig: Entrepreneurs, professionals, officials, students, and researchers engaged in the fisheries sectors. Appln F: Send apply with your name, add, qual, DoB & exp to the above add. — Pervin Malhotra
|
