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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Starting with
Shakespeare Varsity waits for verdict, students for results Campus Notes: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar |
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Starting with
Shakespeare “Nothing in education is so astonishing as the amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts.” These words of Henry Adams aptly portray the plight of English introduced in one go by the Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education in primary schools (from classes I to V). The decision which came into effect last year has made learning of English an arduous task for the students in 10,629 primary schools across the state. Even as the state is the first in the region to have brought this change, its implementation has defeated its very purpose. A class IV student who is yet to recognise alphabets is supposed to understand tough words like Independence Day, pronounce words by recognising sounds, fill answers to complex questions, grasp the difference between active and passive voice, read poems, etc. The sudden introduction of the language subject in classes III and IV has turned the students away from the language. A section of teachers opined that with the implementation of “no retention policy” in the primary classes, where there were instructions from the government not to fail any student, the learning of English would be merely a formality. Grades received in the English class point to the lack of interest the students have shown. Mr B.M. Nanta, Director Primary Education, when quizzed, said these were teething problems and the system would be streamlined within a few years. Agreeing that the language should have been introduced stepwise each year, he said the problem mainly arose for the transition students of classes III and IV, where they were made to study a higher level of English without having any basic knowledge. He said regular seminars were now being organised to train the teachers in dealing with transition students.
Most of the students here come from a background where English is not spoken in home. “Children of the poor studying in state-run primary schools find it even more difficult to grasp the language,” remarked a primary school teacher. She added that though students would learn English faster than Hindi, its simultaneous introduction in all classes has spelt doom for the system. It has not only made it difficult for the teacher to communicate effectively, but also reduced the interest of the students in the subject. Teachers rued that while the books introduced last year were simple, the new ones were proving to be a lot tougher for students. Though care has been taken to add maximum illustrations to make learning easier, but the content has gone over the heads of the primary level students. The SCERT, which has developed books for these classes, is now developing modules for teachers. Regular 10-day workshops are being organised to equip teachers to handle the new subject in class. A section of primary teachers, however, opined that the modules would serve little purpose, as the students would still have the original level of understanding. The subject is taught from class V in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana . Mr B.R. Rahi, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education, when questioned, said the decision to introduce English in all primary classes was taken by the academic committee of the Education Department. Their suggestion to introduce English step-wise was, however, not considered, as it would have taken many years. The board had only printed the books that were developed by the SCERT. He said he could not comment on the syllabus or why it was so tough. The decision of the academicians had been accepted in entirety, he added. As the state was trying to curtail the dropout rate, it necessitated the introduction of no-retention policy, where the students were not failed in the primary classes. The introduction of English in this manner may not augur well for the students, who treat English more as a bugbear than a new subject.
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Varsity waits for verdict, students for results Amritsar: Even as the Supreme Court on August 24 directed Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) to declare within two days a fresh merit list of Pre-Medical Entrance Test after evaluating the marks of the eight questions as per the correct key answers suggested by Delhi University and the CBSE, the varsity has failed to do so till date. The candidates resent the inordinate delay in declaring the results and the number of queries related to this has shot up. The delay would result in late admissions, which would further affect the studies of students who think they have cleared the PMET, for now. While the authorities concerned were tight-lipped over the issue, certain officials in the administration block, on the condition of anonymity, said the university was waiting to receive a copy of the judgment before it could declare the results. The apex court had also asked the university to take action against persons responsible for this mess.
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Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar Guru Nanak Dev University has won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy, the highest award for inter-university sports in India, for the record 19th time. Dr S. P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, would receive the award on August 29 from Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at a special function in Rashtrapati Bhavan. The university would get a replica of the trophy and Rs 2 lakh for the development of sports infrastructure on the campus. Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar The Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) Eco Club initiated a tree-plantation drive on the campus to mark Guru Jambheshwar’s birth anniversary. Prof Nawal Kishore, Dean, Students Welfare, planted a mango sapling to launch the campaign. The Eco Club would plant in five phases 500 shady and fruiting trees around the lake being developed on the campus. In the first phase, 50 saplings were planted. Dr Vinod Garg of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, convener of the club, said the saplings planted in the initial phase would be given regular care for one month and after ensuring that these were growing properly, 50 more saplings would be planted in the second phase. New VC visits campus
Dr Ram P. Bajpai, newly elected Vice-Chancellor of GJU, visited the campus before formally assuming charge. Before this appointment, Dr Bajpai was Director-grade Scientist at the Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO), Chandigarh, after having served there as Director. Dr Bajpai did his M.Sc. in physics from Agra University with specialisation in electronics. He obtained his Ph.D from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi, and D.Sc from Hokkaido University, Japan. He has received several prestigious awards and honours and has 175 publications in reputed journals to his credit. Mr Y. P. Goswami, Registrar, showed Dr Bajpai various departments during his visit. The GJU Teachers Association has welcomed the state government’s decision to appoint Dr Bajpai as Vice-Chancellor. A delegation of the association called on Dr Bajpai during his visit and assured him of support and cooperation from the teachers. Compiled by Pawan Kumar in Amritsar |
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Art & Design September 1 Professional Examination Board,
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Vision: 6/6, no colour blindness. Test: 30 Oct ’05 (at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi & Nagpur). Selection: Written test & Medical Fitness Application Form: Send in prescribed format Rs 100/- by IPO favouring "Director, National Fire Service College, Nagpur" & specified enclosures to the Director at the above address. Superscribe "Application for Entrance Examination for Sub-Officers Course 2005" on envelope Details: Employment News (20-26 Aug) September 10 University Institute of
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Management, L. N. Road, Matunga, Mumbai 400 019 1) PGDBM (2-yr) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (50%). Selection: CAT ’05 scores, academic records, work experience, ECA, GD & Interview& Psychometric Test. Scholarship: Top 5 students will be given complete tuition fee waiver while the next 5 students will be awarded laptop. Details: Website December 5 International Management
Institute (IMI), B-10, Qutab Institutional Area, Tara Crescent, New Delhi
110016 1) PG Programme in Management (PGPM)
(2-yr, FT) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree Selection: CAT ’05 scores, GD, Interview. Application Form: Send Rs 800/- by DD favouring ""IMI" payable at Delhi to the above address or download from web.Details: Website. November 15 Punjab Agricultural University,
Ludhiana 141004 (Punj) MBA Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree (Science/ Engineering /Technology /Agriculture /Agricultural Engineering /Veterinary Science /Home Science /Commerce /Business Administration /Management /Computer Application, 60%) or OCPA of 6.00 (out of 10.00). Selection: CAT ’05 scores, GD & Interview: 10 March ‘06. Application Forms: Send Rs 600/- by DD favouring "Additional Director of Communication, Language & Culture" payable at any scheduled bank at Ludhiana to the Additional Director of Communication, Language & Culture at the above address or download from website. Details: Employment News (20-26 Aug)/ Website September 10 Institute of Management Technology (IMT Ghaziabad). Courses through distance learning: 3 years MBA with specialisation in Marketing, Finance, HRD, International Business, Merchant Banking, Operations & Systems. 2 years MMM. 2 years MHRM. 2 years MSCM. 1-year specialised diploma courses in: Business Administration, Marketing Mgt, Export Mgt, Personnel Mgt, Financial Mgt. Eligibility: For Master’s
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graduate. Medicine September 20 National Board of Examinations, MG Marg, Post Box No. 4931, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029 (Auton body of M/o HFW) .natboard.nic.in DNB Final Exam & Centralized
Entrance Test – 2005 Exam: CET: 10 Dec ’05, DNB Final Exam: 11 Dec ‘05 Application Form: Send Rs 500/-by DD favouring "National Board of Examinations" payable at New Delhi to the Executive Director at above address or download from website. Details: Website September 12 Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001 (HP) BSc-Med Tech (Laboratory; Radio & Imaging; Anesthesia & OT Techniques) Eligibility: 10+2 (PCB with Eng; 50%), HP Domicile. Age: 17 – 25 years (as on 1 Jul) Application Form: Send Rs 250/- by DD favouring "Principal, IGMC, Shimla" to the Academic Branch at above address till Sept 9. At counter: Rs 200/- (cash). |
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IN a school in Himachal Pradesh, perturbed teachers try to translate English into Hindi to make the students understand what is being taught. Exhausted, they give up soon and stop stretching their vocal chords. These students of class IV haven’t understood even a word of what has been taught in class this year.
A visit to various government primary schools in the region revealed the plight of both the teachers and the students, who were struggling to cope with the subject. Particularly appalling is the plight of students of classes II and III, who have been made to study books of English sentences, prose, poems, fables and grammar, etc., much before they could grasp the basic alphabet. As students have no base in the language, teachers find it a Herculean task to enable them to read the text introduced this year.