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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Schooling
without burden Technology
to shape quality teaching |
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Schooling
without burden The school education suffers from lack of professional management of educational resources and the burden of vocational courses. Millions of students miss the warmth of schools, perhaps, due to the absence of supporting environments that would respect the dignity of every child. Students acquire knowledge which is irrelevant to their immediate needs, while the knowledge that makes them creative to empower them truly is absent. It is the consequence of this that teaching shops have sprung up everywhere like parthenium. One implication of this is clear. The students of backward classes are eventually denied a level playing field. It also means the absence of good support facilities, including competent teachers. The Joint Survey (Harvard University and World Bank) confirms this criminal neglect of government primary schools of Punjab, where nearly 36 per cent of the teachers remain absent from duty daily. Nearly 50 per cent of the teachers who do come to school do not give lessons. Little wonder then that 40 per cent of the students from classes II to VII cannot read or write. It is clear evidence that we do not have teachers who can foster love, equity and truth in the classrooms without fear or favour. Government apathy is equally cruel. Nearly 522 schools were closed for want of teachers, 1500 schools have only one teacher, 7000 schools have two classrooms and teachers, each. The lack of basic facilities leads to the decline of enrollment of nearly 4 lakh students in Punjab alone. Thousands of posts of teachers are vacant for a long time, while the government policy is that any post that remains vacant for six months is abolished. The shortage of teachers is a natural corollary of ineffective management of education resources, although we have a top-heavy administration. Long-term policy for teacher recruitment/projections is not on the agenda with the government. Furnished classrooms, clean drinking water, separate toilets for boys and girls, playgrounds, mid-day meals, not only for students but also for teachers, and subsidised hygienic food in canteen are standards that have never been met, but there’s a silver lining in the Outcome Budget. One measure of education is the number of teachers, but the hope can only be fulfilled if the education officers and principals are given management training at least for one semester. The management of resource facilities is the only way for achieving excellence in education. Student should not be tied early to a vocation because the talented ones would then be denied the better options. The secondary school teachers complain that the primary pass students have not acquired the requisite skills in 3 Rs and college teachers complain that freshmen do not have their concepts clear. The university teacher would also rue their lack of knowledge. The high failure percentage in the UGC National Eligibility Test confirms it. Professor N Narlikar has condemned conformity at teaching in an article. When each stage remains deficit in the right inputs, the outcomes cannot be right. The higher the status of a teacher, the stiffer the neck for they who work under him/her. The boundaries of knowledge are assiduously fixed. No one is allowed to cross these limits. The university teacher scarcely understands the significance of education and imposes hard subjects upon students. The level of receiving mind is not their concern, a trend that continues down to the primary schooling. Voluminous textbooks, that cannot be read fully in one academic year, confirm these fears. Now is the time to revamp the SCERT
to do research in curriculum development in the context of Professor
Yashpal’s wish for education without burden. This can happen only if
free, fearless and frank interaction takes place between different
categories of teachers. Unless the transition is smooth,
vocationalising normal education simply means condemning the school
children to the tradition
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Technology
to shape quality teaching It took a while, but technology has at last come to aid us in technical education. With a view to reducing the shortage of quality faculty in technical institutes, all schemes relating to improvement of quality in technical education, excluding the externally aided Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP), have been clubbed under the Programme for Quality Improvement in Technical Education (PQITE). This comes as a second wave of attack after the launch of the National Programme for Earthquake engineering Education (NPEEE ), the National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning, support for distance education and web-based learning, INDEST consortium and Eklavya Technology Channel. The NPEEE, launched with the seven IITs as resource institutes, comprises conducting short and medium-term training programmes for teachers of engineering colleges, polytechnics and architecture colleges, enabling teachers to attend international conferences, inviting experts to India for teaching, research and teaching-aid development and offering library resources in earthquake engineering to nearly 100 colleges. The programme is open to all recognised engineering colleges, polytechnics and schools of architecture having related academic degree or diploma programme. Eklavya, launched on January 26, 2003, is a channel dedicated to technical education that telecasts programmes generated at different IITs. This channel hopes to make a difference to the learning environment in technical institutions. The channel telecasts eight full video courses and runs for 16 hours per day for seven days a week. Sundays are reserved for programmes of interest to a common man. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has set up the Indian National Digital Library in Science and Technology (INDEST) Consortium and offers 38 centrally funded institutions, including the IITs and the IISc, differential access to nine full-text electronic resources and seven bibliographic databases. The benefit of consortium-based subscription to electronic resources is not confined to these institutions, though. Archival centres may be established for different resources at different institutions. The National Programme for Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL) has been mooted to enhance learning effectiveness. The NPTEL is for developing course material, both video as well as web-based to supplement the efforts of the faculty on the campuses.
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Campus Notes GND University, Amritsar Affiliation to Ethiopia-based college The Guru Nanak Dev University authorities have decided to grant affiliation to Police Training College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for MA, M.Phil and Ph.D courses for the next academic session. GNDU would be the first university to grant affiliation to a foreign government institute under the Indian-Abroad Study Programme of the University Grants Commission. A three-member delegation led by the Vice-Chancellor, Dr S. P. Singh, had gone to inspect infrastructure and finalise the formalities. Conference on thermodynamics A galaxy of scientists gathered on the GNDU campus to participate in the three-day National Conference on Thermodynamics of Chemical and Biological Systems organised by the Indian Thermodynamics Society and the Department of Applied Chemistry, GNDU. The scientists were of the unanimous view that a central funding agency should be established to develop and promote the national research facilities in the field of thermodynamics. They also pleaded that there should be a thermodynamic database at a single centre that could be accessed by different groups. The scientists also recommended that a website of the Indian Thermodynamics Society should be launched to provide information on aims and objectives, research conclusions, besides the enlisting of members. Punjabi University, Patiala Workshop on Janam Sakhis A workshop of the paintings on Janam Sakhis, "The Hues of Janam Sakhis", was held from December 12 to 19. Famous artists like Satwant Singh, Sukhpal Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Gursharanjit Singh Brar, Baljit Singh Faryadi, Manmohan Singh, H. S. Sohal and Baj Singh appreciated the works. According to the Vice-Chancellor, Mr Swaran Singh Boparai, the workshop was an effort to spread Guru Nanak’s message of love, compassion, peace, unity and service to mankind, by capturing in art incidents and deeds related to him. These paintings will be preserved and displayed in the Museum and Art Gallery of the university. Dr Saroj Sharma said the visual fragrance of Janam Sakhis had been given pictorial shapes from time to time, technically in stylised versions and in realistic, European style, too, though not in that order. — Contributed by Pawan Kumar and Rubinder Gill
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ADMISSION DEADLINE Armed Forces Armed Forces Medical
Services/DG-1A, Ministry of Defence, ‘M’ Block, New Delhi 110001 Army Medical Corps (SSC) 2006 Eligibility: MBBS
& MS/MD (Anaesthesiology / Gen Medicine / Surgery / Obestetrics
& Gynaecology / Forensic Medicine / Orthopaedic Surgery /
Paediatrics / Radiology) Permanent registration of State Medical
Council/ MCI Selection: Interview: February / March 2006, Medical Fitness Application Form: Send application in prescribed format with required documents, stamped (Rs 6), self-addressed (4"x9"), envelope and Rs 200 by DD issued by any Nationalised Bank favouring "Director General, Armed Forces Medical Services (APF Fund)" to the above address. Mention your name & address on the reverse of DD bearing the issuing bank code number. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 20 January 2006 *Indian Navy, Post Box
No. 04, R.K. Puram PO (Main), New Delhi 110066 SSC Officers in Executive Branch (General Service) Eligibility: Unmarried
Indian male, BSc (Physics & Mathematics) 1st Division
OR MSc (Physics or Mathematics; 55%). MSc (Physics) should have done
Mathematics in graduation & vice versa OR BE / BTech (1st
Division) OR BSc (Physics & Mathematics) with NCC Naval Wing
Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate. DoB: Between 02 July 1981 – 01 January 1987. Selection: SSB Interviews & Medical Examination. Application Form: Send application in prescribed format to the above address. Supercribe "Application for SSC (GS) ‘X’-Jul 2006 course", Qualification`85`85`85 Percentage`85`85`85`85%, NCC Certificate`85`85`85." on envelope. Details: Employment News (24-30 December 2005)/website. Application Deadline: 14 January 2006 *This is a repeat advt. Those who have applied to the advt published on 22 October 2005 in Employment News should not apply. Indian Army, ADG of
Recruiting (Women Entry Section), West Block-III, R K Puram, New Delhi
110066 Women Special Entry
Scheme (Officers) Eligibility: Unmarried
women / issueless widows & divorcee / widows of Defence personnel; Selection: SSB interview, Psychological Aptitude Test, Medical Test. Application Form: Send
application in prescribed format on specified color paper to the
Additional Directorate General Recruiting (Women Entry Section) at the
above address. Superscribe in Red ink "’WSES’ (O) Course Ser
No 29 Entry / Qualification Code`85`85 Details: Employment News (24-30 December 2005)/website. Application Deadline: 10 February 2006 Indian Army, ADG of
Recruiting, Women Special Entry Scheme, West Block-III, R K Puram, New
Delhi 110066 Women Special Entry
Scheme (Officers) Eligibility: Unmarried
women / issueless widows & divorcee / widows of Defence personnel DoB:
For MSc (Electronics / Computer Science): 02 October ‘79–
01 October ‘85 Selection: SSB interview, Psychological Aptitude Test, Medical Test. Application Form: Send application in prescribed format on yellow paper to the Additional Directorate General Recruiting (Women Entry Section) at the above address. Superscribe in Red ink "WSES (O) Course Ser No 29 Entry / Qualification Code`85`85" on the envelope. Details: Employment News (24-30 December 2005)/website. Application Deadline: 10 February 2006 Indian Army, West Block
– IV, R K Puram, New Delhi 110066 NCC Special Entry Scheme - October 2006 (SSC, OTA, Chennai) Eligibility: Unmarried
Male. Bachelor’s Degree (50%), should have served 2 academic years
in the senior Division of NCC, "B" grade in NCC
"C" Certificate Exam. Selection: SSB interview, Psychological Aptitude Test, Medical Test. Application Form: Apply in prescribed format on plain paper & send to the nearest OC, NCC Unit from where NCC ‘C’ certificate has been issued. Details: Employment News (24-30 December 2005)/website. Application Deadline: 10 February 2006
Management National Institute of
Technology, Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, Durgapur, Burdwan 713209 (WB) MBA Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (50%) Selection: CAT-2005/ MAT 2005/06 scores, GD & PI: 10 - 13 April 2006 Application Form: Send Rs 550 by DD favouring "Director, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur", payable at Durgapur to the above address by 20 February 2006. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 17 March 2006
Medicine Indian Army, DG of Medical Services, (DGMS-4B) AG’s Branch, Army Headquarters, Room No 45, ‘L’ Block Hutments, New Delhi 110001 BSc (Nursing) Training
Course (4-year) Diploma General Nursing
& Midwifery Course (3`BD
-year) Eligibility: Indian single women / divorcee / legally separated / widow without children with 10+2 (PCB, 50%; 1st attempt). Dob: 01 January ’81—01 January ‘89. Selection: Written Test (February / March), Interview (April / May) & Medical exam. Application Form: Apply on plain paper (21 x 36 cms) in prescribed format with attested copies of required documents to above address. Details: website. Application Deadline: 23 January 2006
Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune 411040 (Mah) MBBS Eligibility:
10+2 with English & PCB (1st attempt, 60%) & Maths in
Class 10 / BSc Selection: All–India Written Test: 07 May 2006) & Interview: June 2006 Application Form: Send Rs 250 by DD issued on any Nationalized Bank favouring "Commandant, AFMC, Pune" payable at Pune & with your particulars & address, 2 self-addressed slips (9 cms x 5 cms) and stamped (Rs 55), self-addressed envelope (11" x 13") by 31 January 2006 to the Officer-in-Charge (Admission Cell) at the above address. Write your name & address on reverse of DD bearing issuing bank code number. Also available at designated HPOs till 11 February 2006: Rs 250 (cash). Details: Website. Application Deadline: 17 February 2006
Scholarships National Institute of
Science Communication & Information Resources (NISCAIR), Dr. K.S.
Krishnan Marg, New Delhi 110012 CSIR Diamond Jubilee Research Interns Award Scheme Objective: Internship is meant to be a preparatory phase for young interns in imbibing the spirit of enquiry & learning the tools & techniques of research through participation and doing. Eligibility:
BE / BTech / MCA / MSc (Zoology / Biotechnology) / MLibSc / MLISc Selection: Academic records, Test, Interview. Tenure & stipend: 2 years on consolidated stipend of Rs 7500 p.m. Application Form: Apply online. Details: Employment News (31 December 2005 – 6 January 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 31 January 2006 Tata Institute of
Fundamental Research (TIFR), Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005
(Mah) Visiting Students Research Programme - 2006 Eligibility: Pre-final students of MSc (Physics / Chemistry / Biosciences / Mathematics / Astronomy / Applied Maths) / BTech / BE / MBBS OR BTech / BE / ME / MTech in Computer Science / Electrical Engineering for Computer Science programmes Application Form: Send request with stamped (Rs 10) self-addressed envelope (25 x 17 cms), superscribed "VSRP-2006" to the Assistant Registrar (Academic) OR download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 27 January 2006 M/o HRD, Department of
Secondary & Higher Education, ES.3 Section, A1/W.3, Curzon Road
Barracks, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi 110001 Israel Government
Scholarship 2006-07 Eligibility: For Agriculture: Master’s degree (60%) with 2 years experience (on 05 January 2006); Others: Master’s degree (55%); Age Limit: 35 years (on 05 January 2006). Proof of English / Hebrew language is must Scholarship: Partial scholarships (Including health insurance & tuition fees), or Monthly allowance for 1 academic year (8 months) and health insurance. Full Scholarships include tuition fees, a monthly allowance and health insurance. Application Form: Send in prescribed format with required documents to the Section Officer at the above address. Or apply online Details: Employment News (24 - 30 December2005) / website. Application Deadline: By post: 5 January 2006, Online: 7 January 2006
Travel & Indian Institute Of
Maritime Studies, C/o Lal Bahadur Shastri College of Advanced Maritime
Studies & Research, Hay Bunder Road, Mumbai 400033 (Mah) BSc
(Nautical Science) (3-year) BE (Marine
Engineering) (4-year) Polyvalent BSc (Maritime
Science) Eligibility: 10+2 (PCM). Born on or after 01 October ‘86. Selection: IIT-JEE (2006): 9 April 2006, Interview and Eye test (31 July – 4 August 2006). Application Form: Send Rs 300 by DD favouring the "Indian Institute Of Maritime Studies" payable at Mumbai with stamped (Rs 55), self-addressed envelope (11" x 5") to the above address. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 31 March 2006 — Pervin Malhotra
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