 |
|
| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
|
Private schools or teaching shops?
England’s view
|
|
|
|
Private schools or teaching shops? If you are a good soul…if you are truly educated, the suffering of every human being will hurt you as if it is your own. This is what we mean by education. —
Dr Sarvpalli
Providing proper education to their children is the first and foremost concern of all educated, aware and pragmatic parents. With the mushrooming of private schools in practically every town and city, they usually have a number of options to choose from. However, due to the lack of check on the functioning of these schools, their owners and managements have reduced these to “education shops”. At the time of setting up a new school, an education society or trust is formed to get land from the government at highly subsidised rates. In order to get cheap land and other facilities, these institutions promise to provide education to the lower strata of population at reasonable cost. But once the school is established, these promises vanish into thin air and most of the school owners adopt the single-point agenda of making more and more money. In the process, they use every trick of the trade, like extorting exorbitant admission fee, tuition fee, building funds and numerous other charges from the hapless parents. The parents are emotionally blackmailed or coerced into paying heavy amounts in the name of a bright future of their children and the business of education flourishes. Apart from the fees and charges, the school owners also make money from uniform, stationery and books. Then, the teachers, who are the spine of any educational institution, are also subjected to all sorts of exploitation by the school authorities. Making teachers sign against a higher amount than they are actually paid has become a common practice. Thus, even the teachers, who are the pillars of society, are financially exploited at the hands of school managements. Given the large-scale unemployment in the country, coupled with the availability of ample fresh talent, the fear of losing their job always lurks large over the teachers, forcing them make do with whatever they get. While the underlying purpose of making quality education available to all is lost somewhere in the process, an out-and-out commercial approach is what remains. The most significant point to ponder here is that in the end, all profits of the school go to the owners, who are free to use these in whatever way they deem fit. Moreover, in this quest to make more and more money, the school owners do not mind compromising on educational standards or adopting dishonest and unfair practices. For instance, most school owners focus on improving their results, particularly those of the board classes. For this, many of them even start preparing students of previous class for the board exams so as to give them some extra time. Say, for example, the students of Class IX are prepared for Class X, which is a board class. Besides, the school authorities, allegedly in connivance with the officials concerned, manage mass-copying or use other unfair means to register good results. Sports and other extra-curricular activities, which are considered vital for the overall growth of students, are also neglected as they “do not count”. Since the basic motive is to attract parents, merely “good results” achieved through bookish knowledge are considered enough for a school’s
success. Educationists lament that the thought of forming a good society has fizzled out in this mad quest for money. They feel that unless the private school authorities realise their responsibility towards the society or a well-defined system of check or control over them is put in place, the rot will continue. All in all, it is very unfortunate that instead of producing good human beings or dutiful citizens, these institutions are merely pushing out degree-holders, who are often unable to find their own way, let alone the question of showing the right path to society.
|
Eton (England): For boys with parents who can pay £ 24,000 ($ 42,030) a year in fees, Eton, founded in 1440 and one of Britain’s top schools, is a social and professional springboard to the top echelons of society. A list of old boys reads like a register of Britain’s ruling classes. It includes 19 prime ministers, princes, academics, writers, diplomats and military heroes. That today’s elite sends its offspring to private schools such as Eton highlights the gulf in Britain’s educational system, which extends to society at large. Only seven per cent of England’s children go to fee-paying schools, with the bulk educated by the state. Parents get their money’s worth. Despite educating over 90 per cent of British children, state schools supplied Oxford, one of the country’s top universities, with only 51 per cent of its British students last year. “In no other European country do the moneyed and professional classes, and the aristocracy and royalty, reject the system of education used by the overwhelming majority as an inferior product,” said George Walden, a former Conservative junior education minister. Private schools take bookings, with a deposit, for unborn children. A private education will, parents hope, equip their children with good examination grades and open the door to top universities and careers notably in law, politics and banking. “The advantage of a private education is that even if you Walden says the system undermines efforts to raise standards overall and will have major economic consequences when Britain is competing with highly-educated workers from China and India.
“As long as our independent sector remains divorced from the national educational enterprise, our system is condemned to overall mediocrity,” he said.
— Reuters
|
||
|
GND University, Amritsar As many as 330 students belonging to various courses, including M.Tech. IT (8), MCA (44), MBA (78), MBE (4), M.Com (5) B.Sc Chemistry (9), M.Sc Applied Chemistry (4), B.Tech Computer Science (92), B.Tech Electronics (70), B.Tech Textile Chemistry (10) and B.Tech Food Technology (6), have been placed through campus placements in 38 national and multinational companies. These students will join their jobs in June after their final examinations. Dr S. P. Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GNDU, said the highest pay package was 3.80 lakh per annum, which was offered by AMDOCS, Pune, to six students, while the average pay package offered was Rs. 2.04 lakh per annum. The major recruiters were Cognizant Technologies, Pune (59), Satyam, Hyderabad (52), Wipro, Bangalore (24), the Centurian Bank of Punjab (22), Perrot System, Noida (19), India Bulls, Mumbai (18), Max New York Life Insurance, Gurgaon (12), HCL Technologies, Noida (9), Ind Swift Laboratories, Chandigarh (7), Jubliant, Noida (6), AMDOCS, Pune (6), Coca-Cola (5) and HDFC Bank (3). Course opens Prof Prithipal Singh Kapoor, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of GNDU, inaugurated the 4-week General Orientation Course and underlined the need of such courses on account of their multidisciplinary approach. He advised the teacher-participants to try and become the role models for their students by learning and disseminating knowledge gained from the orientation programme during their stay on the campus. Dr S. K. Bhatia, Course Coordinator and Director, Academic Staff College, said 28 teachers from different colleges of Punjab and other states are attending this course. Guru Jambheshwar University, Hisar A national seminar on “Efficacy of Rural Financial Institutions in North-Western States of India” was organised at the Department of Business Economics of Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) here recently. Nearly 100 participants attended the seminar, during which 40 research papers were presented. Mr R. L. Bhatla, Managing Director, Haryana Cooperative Agricultural and Rural Development Bank, who was the chief guest on this occasion, assured the department of all help and support for conducting any study in this area. NABARD General Manager R. K. Dass and District Development Manager Jugal Kishore were also present. This was stated by Dr N. K. Bishnoi, Reader at the host department. He said the participants discussed how efficiently the rural financial institutions were performing their duties. —
Contributed by Pawan Kumar and Sunit Dhawan
|
||
|
Agriculture Centre for Distance
Education, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Bijni Complex, Laitumkhrah,
Shillong 793022 (Megh) 1) Certificate Course in
Floriculture (6-month, Distance) Eligibility: Bachelor’s Degree. Application Form: Send Rs.150/- by DD / Banker’s Cheque favouring "NEHU, Shillong," to the Head, Centre for Distance Education at the above address or download from website. Details: Employment News (4 - 10 March 2006) Application Deadline: 20 March 2006. Post Graduate School, Indian
Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi 110012 PhD Programmes 2006-’07 Eligibility: Master’s degree (60% or equivalent OGPA). Selection: Entrance Exam: 04 June 2006. Application Form: Send Rs 575/ - by DD favouring "Registrar (Academic), Post Graduate School, IARI", payable at Delhi to Registrar (Academic) at the above address or download from website. Application Deadline: 06 April 2006 National Dairy Research Institute (ICAR), Karnal 132001 (Har) (Deemed University) Admissions 2006 - 2007 Eligibility:
60% marks or equivalent OGPA For 2:
Academic scores, Interview: 20 June 2006. Application Form: Send a request letter with Rs 700/- by DD favouring "ICAR Unit, NDRI, Karnal", payable at Karnal to the Registrar at the above address by 05 May 2006. Mention postal address in capital letters with pin code. Application Deadline: 17 May 2006 Armed Force Indian Coast Guard Recruitment of Eligibility:
Indian males with specified physical standards DoB: 1 July ’84-30 June ’89. Selection: Written Test, Interview and PFT. Application Form:
For Yantriks: Send in prescribed format with required enclosures and an
unstamped self addressed envelope (25 cm x 10 cm) to the Recruiting Officer,
Post Box No 127, Noida 201301 (UP) "Under Postal Certificate" only
or download from the website. Details: Employment News (4 - 10 March 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 25 March 2006 Art & Design Film & Television Institute
of India, Law College Road, Pune 411004 (Mah) A) Courses in Film &
Television B)
Courses in Television Eligibility:
Bachelor’s Degree. Selection: For 1, 2, 4 & 5: Admission Test: 21 May 2006, For 3: Admission Test: 18 June 2006, Interview: 19 June 2006. Application Form: Send Rs 700/- by DD favouring "Accounts Officer, Film & Television Institute of India" drawn on SBI / Indian Bank, payable at Pune with stamped (Rs 100/-), self-addressed envelope (23 cm x 30 cm) to the Registrar at the above address or download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 20 April 2006 Art-Performing National School of Drama, Bahawalpur House, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi 110001 Diploma in Dramatic Arts (3-year, FT, Residential) Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree, participation in at least 6 productions & working knowledge of Hindi & English. Age: 18-30 years (on 1 July 2006). Selection: Preliminary Test, 4-5-day workshop & Medical fitness certificate. Scholarship: Rs 3000/- pm (on selection) Application Form: Send Rs 225/ - by DD favouring "Director, National School of Drama, New Delhi" to the Assistant Registrar (Academic) at the above address. Details: Employment News (4 - 10 March 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 20 April 2006 Engineering IIT-Roorkee, Roorkee 247667 (Utt) MTech / M Arch / MURP Selection: GATE scores and Interview. For sponsored candidates: GATE scores, Interview and work experience. Application Form: Send Rs 400/-by DD favouring "Registrar, IIT Roorkee", payable at Roorkee with 2 self-addressed slips to the Assistant Registrar, PG Admissions 2006 at the above address by 10 April 2006. Eligibility & Details: Employment News (11-17 March 2006) / Website Application Deadline: 14 April 2006 Himachal Pradesh Takniki Shiksha Board, Dharmshala 176057 (HP) Polytechnic Admission Test 2006 Eligibility: 10+2 (English, Maths, Physics, Chemistry) Exam: 21 May 2006. Application Form: Send Rs 550/- by DD favouring "Secretary, H P Takniki Shiksha Board, Dharmshala" at the above address by 19 April 2006 by registered post only. Mention your address on the reverse of the bank draft and the application. Also available in the Government Polytechnics and ITI’s till 24 April 2006 Application Deadline: 29 April 2006 National Power Training
Institute, Subramanyapura Road, Banashankari II Stage, P O Box No 8201,
Bangalore 560070 (Kar) (M/o Power,
GoI) Course on Operation & Maintenance in Transmission & Distribution Systems (26-week) Eligibility: BE (Power / Electrical / Electrical & Electronics). Selection: Merit (% of marks) Application Form: Send Rs 300/- by DD favouring "PSTI" payable at Bangalore with an A4 size self-addressed envelope or download from website. Details: Employment News (4 - 10 March 2006) / Website. Application Deadline: 27 March 2006 All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, 110, C R Avenue, Kolkata 700073 (WB) (D G Health Services, MHFW, GoI) Master of Engineering (Public Health) (2-year) Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or equivalent. GATE qualified non-sponsored / private candidates also eligible. Application Form: Available with the Director at above address or at CPHEEO, Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi 110011. Application Deadline: 22 May 2006 IT Manipal Academy of Higher
Education, Manipal 576104 (Kar) (Deemed
Univ) MTech / MS Selection: On the basis of marks obtained in the qualifying exam Application Form: Send Rs 350/- by DD favouring "MAHE" payable at Manipal or Udupi or Bangalore (Kar) to the Deputy Registrar, Admissions Office at the above address. Mention course and complete postal address. Centre for Development of
Advanced Computing (C-DAC), ACTechS, B-30, Institutional Area, Sector-62,
Noida-201307 (UP) (GoI, M/o
Communication & Information Technology, GoI) Diploma in Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing (4-month, Full Time) Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Science / Geography / Geology / Planning or related fields / engineering with knowledge of computer application. Selection: Interview: 24 March 2006 Application Form: Download from website. Application Deadline: 20 March 2006 Law Gujarat National Law University,
E - 4 GIDC, Electronic Estate, Sector-26, Gandhinagar 382028 (Guj) BA LLB (Hons) / BSc LLB (Hons) / BCom LLB (Hons) (5 - year Integrated), LLM & PhD Programmes Selection: All India Entrance Test: 06 May 2006 (For UG & LLM) Details: Website Application Deadline: 20 April 2006 Management Institute of Health Management
Research, 1, Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur 302011 (Raj) PG Diploma in Hospital & Health Management (2-year, FT) Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (50%). Selection: MAT Scores, GD, Interview. Mid-career professionals, medical graduates with 2 years experience in the relevant field exempted from MAT exam. Application Form: Send Rs 500/- by DD favouring "IIHMR", payable at Jaipur to the Dean, Academic and Student Affairs at the above address or download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 May 2006. All India Management Association
(AIMA), Management House, 14, Institutional Area, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003 Management Aptitude Test (MAT) - 2006 Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree. Test: 07 May 2006 Application Form: Send Rs. 690/ - by DD favouring "All India Management Association-CMS," payable at New Delhi with 2 self-addressed slips / adhesive stickers to AIMA-CMS by 15 April 2006. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 17 April 2006 Vellore Institute of Technology,
Vellore 632014 (TN) (Deemed
University) Master of Business
Administration Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (55%) Selection: MAT score, GD, Interview (managerial work experience preferred) Application Form: Send Rs 800/- by DD favouring "Vellore Institute of Technology" payable at Vellore to Admissions Officer at the above address or download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 March 2006 Department of Ocean Engineering
and Naval Architecture, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur
721302 (WB) Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Operation and Management Eligibility: MEO Class-I Certificate of Competency examination conducted by Government of India or equivalent. Selection: Written test: 17 June 2006, Interview: 10 July 2006 Application Form: Send Rs 1000/- by DD favouring "IIT Kharagpur", payable at any Nationalised Bank at Kharagpur with two self-addressed slips to the Coordinator, PGDMOM at the above address or download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 02 May 2006 |
||
| HOME PAGE |
|
