CETs: to scrap or not to scrap
Ivninderpal Singh
* The Tribune receives a fax containing 88 questions and all these are part of the PMT conducted by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. The examination is held afresh.

Campus SCENE
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
PAU faces financial crunch
Vimal Sumbly
All is not well with the finances of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The university that enjoys the privilege of having scripted the Green Revolution in the country that led to India’s self-sufficiency in food production, has been managing it in the proverbial "hand-to-mouth" way.

* The Tribune receives a fax containing 88 questions and all these are part of the PMT conducted by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. The examination is held afresh.

* A question booklet of the CET, reportedly, goes missing from the examination centre of Chaudhry Devi Lal University, Sirsa. The test is conducted by Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar.

* Dissatisfied with the CET results declared by Punjab Technical University, students demand re-evaluation of papers manually. Later, the university accepts there has been a goof-up. After the papers are rechecked, the boy ranked 6665 earlier top scores in the state.

These incidents have put a question mark on the authenticity and credibility of entrance tests. The very purpose of entrance examinations, to filter the talent, seems to have been defeated. In the wake of such incidents, should we continue with the existing system of selecting students for professional courses or adopt an alternative procedure?

Recently, the Tamil Nadu Government abolished all examinations for entering professional colleges and based the admissions on the marks obtained in the class XII examinations.

Does this mean that the time has come to say goodbye to entrance tests? Educationists differ on this issue. While many favour abolition, the others say this will encourage corruption in the school examination system.

Those who say no to entrance tests opine that students are already under stress while appearing for their school examinations and entrance tests put an extra burden on them. Due to parental and peer pressure, students devote more time to preparations for the entrance tests at the cost of classroom teaching.

This procedure of selecting students for professional colleges also encourages tuition culture, which shakes the basic foundation of school teaching. These teaching shops fleece students and even universities that conduct these entrance tests have money on their mind. In many streams, entrance tests are conducted even though the number of seats is more than the number of applicants. Aren’t these tests then conducted just to collect money by way of examination fee? They who say that a lot of energy and resources can be saved by scrapping these entrance tests also say that this energy should be diverted to raising the level of senior secondary education. The syllabi need to be revised to lay more stress on the practical aspect and less on the theoretical aspect. Question papers should be designed to test analytical ability of students and improve their overall personality.

One reason why entrance tests have come to stay is that the syllabi and pattern of tests in education boards and universities are not uniform. The tests in some boards are subjective type, while in many other universities, emphasis is on objective-type questions, in which the probability of scoring high marks is more.

Appropriate talent for professional courses can be tapped only when students get a level playing field and are tested for solving a uniform set of problems.

Mr Gurmukh Singh, a former lecturer, who taught in a senior secondary school, feels that since nepotism and corruption have come to be an integral part of our society, it has become easier for the influential to manipulate the school results to help their wards score good marks. "It is easier to check corruption at one place (the institution holding the entrance test) than in thousands of schools all over," he says.

Dr R. K. Mahajan, former coordinator of the Panjab University IAS Coaching Centre, favours a combination of both (the entrance test and the school examinations) to prepare the final merit list. He says admission should be on the basis of 50:50 weightage given to the marks scored in the school examination and scores obtained in the entrance tests, so that students should not ignore classroom studies to get better rank in entrance tests. This kind of evaluation will reveal the overall intelligence and personality of the students taking the test.

All is not well with the finances of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The university that enjoys the privilege of having scripted the Green Revolution in the country that led to India’s self-sufficiency in food production, has been managing it in the proverbial "hand-to-mouth" way.

The state of financial affairs is such that the authorities concerned are never certain whether they would be able to pay the salary of employees on time or not. About a couple of months ago, the regular employees, including scientists, teachers and the non-teaching staff, had to wait for two months for their salaries. Recently, the university daily wagers too had raised their voice for getting their monthly remuneration. Later the university managed to make the payment, but the financial crisis continues to persist in the university.

Probably, this was one of the main reasons for the Vice-Chancellor, Dr KS Aulakh, to take a firm stand on the payment of charges by the students for their stay in the hostel during the summer vacations. The students resorted to strike on the issue and the campus remained volatile for about 10 days. The strike was withdrawn after a mutually agreed formula between the authorities and the students. Although the amount generated from the students’ stay during the summer break are quite nominal, but the authorities made it a point that the university cannot be casual about financial management.

Though the authorities managed to make the students pay the charges, the financial problems of the university still remain unresolved. The Vice-Chancellor has already written to the Punjab Government seeking the release of the pending grant of Rs 10.2 crore on account of salaries and other expenses for the month of March. The grant that still remains to be released has led to the present financial crisis.

PAU has been getting a good response from the students who are interested in agriculture and veterinary sciences courses. Recently, the university conducted the entrance test for the admission to various courses offered on the campus. About 20,000 candidates appeared in the test. A university spokesman said the good response reflected the credibility and acceptability of the university among students. It is not only the students from within the state or the country, but also from other countries who keep visiting the campus for special time-bound courses and programmes, he said.

Armed Forces

Elig: Indian, 1-yr rotatory internship, medically fit, Permanent Dental Registrn Cert
For 1: BDS (60%)/ MDS. Age Limit: 28 yrs (Dec 31 ’05).
For 2: BDS (55%)/ MDS. Age Limit: 45 yrs (Dec 31 ’05).

Selectn: Merit in BDS, Medical Exam. For 1: Written & Clinical Test, Interview. For 2: Interview.

AppIn F: Send in prescribed format with reqd doc, a self-add postcard and self-add stamped (Rs 22) env (23 x 10 cm) to The Director General at above add.

Art & Design

The Apparel Training & Design Centre (ATDC), NBCC Tower, 15 Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi 110066 (Sponsd by AEPC, M/o Textiles, GoI)
www.aepcindia.com

1) Diploma in Apparel Mfg Tech (1-yr)

2) Diploma in Knit Garment Mfg Tech (1-yr)

3) Diploma in Fashion Sampling/ Co-ord (1-yr)

4) Prodn Supervision & Quality Control Course (6-mth)

5) Pattern/ Cutting Master Course (6-mth)

6) Machine Mechanic Course (4-mth)

7) Finishing/ Packaging Supervisor Course (3-mth)

8) Sewing Machine Operator Course (3-mth)

9) Measurement & Quality Control Course (3-mth)

10) Apparel Merchandising (3-mth)

(Courses offered at 12 ATDC centers in India. Spl morning classes for wkg people)

Elig: For 1, 2, 3, 4, 7: 10+2.
For 5, 6, 9: Cl 10.
For 8: Cl 8.
For 10: Bachelor’s deg/ Dip in AMT.

Selectn: Oral aptitude test/ interview.

Appln F: Send Rs 140 by DD fvg "Apparel Training & Design Centre" payable at ‘A-223, Okhla Indl. Area, Phase-I, New Delhi 110020.’

Details: Employment News (18-24 June)/ website

Hotel Management

Small Industries Service Institute, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110020 (M/o SSI, GoI)
Ph: 011-26838118/068

Entrepreneurship Development Prog on Bakery Products (in assoc with Delhi Instt of Hotel Mgt & Catering Tech, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi) 1-mth.

Elig: 10+2, Age: 18-40 yrs.

Appln: Send on plain paper (mention name, father’s/ husband’s name, add, tel no, DoB, qualfn & wk ex if any) and Rs 3,500 (course fee) by DD fvg "Director, SISI, New Delhi" at above add.

Languages

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Jawahar Lal Nehru Academy of Languages, KG Marg, New Delhi 110001
www.bvbdelhi.org

Foreign Lang (evng)
French/ Spanish (recog by DU), Arabic (recog by Jamia Millia), German (recog by Max Mueller Bhavan), Japanese, Italian, Chinese, English

Elig: 10+2.

Appln F: From above add.

Management

All-India Mgt Association, Centre for Mgt Educn, Mgt House, 14 Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003
www.aima-ind.org

PG Dip Prog (Mgt, IT & Mgt)

Elig: Bachelors/ Masters Deg with 1/ 3 yr wk-ex. Valid MAT score.

Selectn: Special Entrance Test (S-MAT) & Interview (3 July)

Details: Website.

Courses commence: July

Indian Retail School, N-10, South Ext-1, New Delhi 110049 (supported by Pearl Acad of Fashion & Images Retail)
www.indianretailschool.com

1) PG Prog in Retail Mgt (1-yr)

2) Adv Prog in Retail Entrepreneurship (1-yr)

Elig: For 1: Bachelors Deg

For 2: Bachelors Deg/ 10+2 with 3 yrs wk-ex.

Selectn: Written Test & Interview (11 June)

Appln F: Send Rs 250 by DD fvg "Images Pearl Retail Solutions Pvt Ltd," payable at New Delhi to above add

Details: Website.

Sydenham Instt of Mgt Studies & Research & Entrepreneurship Education B-Rd, Churchgate, umbai 400020 (Mah)
www.simsree.org

PG Dip in Business Mgt (2-yr, FT)

Elig: Bachelor’s Deg (50%).

Selectn: Merit, Common Written Test (17 July). GD & Interview (20/ 21 July), Acad record & wk-ex.

Appln F: Send Rs 750 by DD fvg "Director, Sydenham Institute of Management," payable at Mumbai to above add.

Details: Website.

Medicine

Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research (DIPSAR), Pushp Vihar, M B Road, New Delhi 110017
www.dipsr.org

1) BPharm (4-yr)

2) MPharm (2-yr)

3) DPharm (2-yr)

Appln F: Send Rs 300 by DD fvg "Principal, DIPSAR", with stamped (Rs 50) self-add env (25 x 10 cm) to above add/ d’load from website. Apply separately for each course.

Details: Prospectus/ website

Dip in Prosthetics & Orthotics (2 ½ -yr)

Elig: 10+2 (PCM/ B, Eng; 50%), Age Min: 17 yrs (July 1 ’05)

Selectn: Written Test (14 August)

Appln F: Send Rs 50 by DD fvg "Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi" payable at New Delhi on any Natln Bank with stamped (Rs 25/-), self-add env (10 x 24 cm) to above add.

Diploma in Pharmacy (2-yr)

Elig: 10+2 (PCB/M) / 1 yr of BSc/Inter (Sc)/ Pre Deg

Appln F: Send Rs 520 by DD fvg "Secretary, Punjab State Board of Technical Educational & Industrial Training" payable at Chandigarh at above add/ at counter & affl instts: Rs 250.

Details: Prospectus

Protective Services

Elig: 10+2 (Cl 11 for wards of Delhi Police), Age: 18-21 years on 1 Jan ‘05; Height: Min 170 cms; Chest: Min 81-85 cms. Qualify a 1-mile race in 6 minutes/ High Jump: 3.6 ft & Long Jump: 12 ft. Registered with Employment Exchange.

Appln F: Available for Rs 50 at above add and at

PTS, Wazirabad, Delhi

Office of the DCP-IIIrd Bn, DAP, Vikas Puri, Delhi

Office of the DCP VIIth Bn DAP, Malviya Nagar, Delhi

Scholarship

Mahabir Prasad Singh Foundation For Education & Research, 6 Vasant Marg, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi 110057
www.mpsfer

(For PG/ UG studies in Med/ Engg & Modern Sc)

Details: Website.

Sciences: Biological

1) MSc (Biotech & Bioinformatics)

2) MSc (Integr Biotech & Bioinformatics)

3) BSc (Biotech & Bioinformatics)

4) PG Diploma in Bioinformatics.

Elig: For 1: BSc (Life Sc)/ BPharm/ Med.

For 2 & 3: 10+2.

For 4: Backgr in Life Sc/Comp Sc (including Math & Engg Sc)

Appln F: Send Rs 550 by DD fvg "SRM Bioinformatics" payable at Chennai to above add.

HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar, Garhwal 246174 (Utt)
zoobiotech@yahoo.co.in

Integrative Biology Prog
1) MSc Adv Zool (4-Sem)

2) MSc Biotech (Intgr, 5-yr)

3) MSc Biotech/ Microbiol (4-Sem incldg job trng)

4) PG Diploma in Biomed Lab Tech (3-Sem incldg job trng)

Elig: For 1: BSc Bio grp (Zool, 55%),
For 2: 10+2 (Sc, 60%),
For 3: BSc (Bio grp with Chem/ BPharma/ BVSc, 55%),
For 4: BSc (Bio grp with Chem (50%)/ BPharma/ 2-yr Dip in Pharma in lieu of Chem)

Selectn: Entrance Test: (12,13 July)

Appln F: Send Rs. 450/- by DD fvg "Finance Officer, HNBGU," payable at Srinagar to the Co-ordinator, UGC-SAP Zoology, Box 45 at above add/ d’load from website

Details: Employment News (18-24 June)

Devi Ahilya University, School of Life Sciences, Vigyan Bhawan, Takshila Campus, Khandwa Rd, Indore 452001 (MP)
www.dauniv.ac.in

MSc: (Life Sc, Industrial Microbiol)

Elig: BSc (Bio) 50%

Test: 5 July

Appln F: Send Rs 250 by DD fvg "Head, School of Life Sciences"/ d’load from website

Details: Employment News (18-24 June)/ website

Sciences: Physical

Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Rd, New Delhi 110069
www.upsc.gov.in

Elig (Acad): Masters Deg in Geol/ Appld Geol/ Marine Geol/ Mineral Explorn or Dip in Associateship of Appld Geol (ISM, Dh’bad)

Appln F & Details: Employment News (18-24 June)/ website

Sports & Leisure

Western Railway Sports Association, HQ Office, Churchgate, Mumbai 400020 (Mah)
www.westernrailwayindia.com

Elig: Gr ‘C’: Cl 10/ Matric, Gr ‘D’: Class VIII. Age: 18-25 yrs (on 1 July ‘05).

Selectn: Trial & Interview.

Appln F: Send in prescribed format with Rs 60 for Gr ‘C’ & Rs 40/- for Gr ‘D’ by PO fvg "Western Railway Sports Association, Mumbai" to above add.

Details: Employment News (18-24 June)/ website

Teaching & Education (Spl)

Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Educn (BA BEd, VI): (4-yr, Intgrd)

Elig: Cl 10/ 10+2/ PUC. Age: 17-25 yrs

Selectn: Entrance Test (at D’dun).

Appln F: Send Rs 300 by DD fvg "The Director, NIVH," payable at D’dun to above add by 29 July.

Diploma in Spl Educn (Mental Retardation) 2-yr

Elig: 10+2, domicile of Chandigarh, Delhi, HP J & K, & Punj

Appln F: Send Rs 150 by DD fvg "NIMH, Regional Centre," payable at New Delhi to above add.

— Pervin Malhotra
www.careerguidanceindia.com