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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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Revamp teacher training
Campus NoteS
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Violence in schools
THE recent shoot-outs at Gurgaon and Satna schools and the incident involving a Mumbai-based B.Sc. I student who committed suicide because of the fear of failing in the examination have put a big question mark on the character of education culture prevailing in our system.
Could it be termed as ‘negligence’ on the part of parents and school and college authorities that such gruesome incidents took place, and that too at the hands of innocents? The educationists believe that the developmental changes that a child experiences from birth to adulthood are simply being ignored. Parents pay little attention to many advances in cognitive abilities, language usage and physical growth of their children. Environment at home and school plays a major role in shaping the mind of children. With recent advances in technology, children are exposed to films, video games that depict violence and destruction. Such acts cause substantial effects on their aggression. Punita Singh, a child counsellor at Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, Chandigarh, says: “Violent tendencies crop up in a child’s mind when he handles toy-guns or plays video games containing violence. His naïve mind fails to differentiate between the real stuff and toy. So, toy-guns should be replaced by puzzle games and he should be indulged into physical activities like sports to instill a sense of togetherness, competitiveness, team spirit, etc.” D. S. Bedi, Principal, Shiwalik Public School, Sector-41, opines that at such a tender age, extra energy needs to be channelised in a positive direction. “Keeping this in mind, we regularly conduct counselling sessions for children on the campus by engaging qualified persons.” Amrita, a lecturer at GGSSS-18, says, “Besides parents, the teachers, too, need to be trained in counselling. Instead of making it a mere fad, schools should make sincere effort in imparting counselling skills to teachers.” “Teachers should insist students not to resort to name-calling or teasing. Instead, encourage them to show the respect that they expect to earn from others. They should be involved in developing the standards of acceptable behaviour,” says Surinder Singh, Principal, GMSSS-33. On the other hand, the ultra-modern thinking of techno-savvy cosmopolitan parents has spoilt the new generation. The children are frequent visitors to discotheques; they drive expensive cars and often break rule and regulations. Student counsellors feel that these so-called convent schools though offer state-of-the-art facilities like sprawling playing fields, wired classrooms, ‘five-star’ residential accommodation, expatriate principals and teachers, the majority of these schools lacks in imparting the real value of education to children. Many a ‘five-star’ schools discourage parent-teacher meetings and allow a very limited parental involvement. Particularly, the highly remunerated CEO-style Principals are rarely accessible to parents. Discouraging this practice, Madhu Behl, CBSE national counsellor and Principal of KB DAV-7, says the Principals should be accessible and take parents’ suggestions seriously. “Parent-teacher associations are an integral part of the schooling process because school authorities and parents share the common vision, i.e., holistic development of children. Education does not end in school; it has to continue at home too. Therefore, parents and teachers should collaborate and cooperate with each other. And this principle is applicable to all schools irrespective of their reputation and status.” |
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Revamp teacher training
THE National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) has placed Haryana at number 23 on the continuum of the Educational Development Index in India on the basis of several parameters relating to quality of education that significantly depends on competence of teachers. This necessitates to take corrective and innovative measures pertaining to pre- and post-service teacher education programmes in the state.
Keeping the requirements of teaching in mind, education institutions should devise effective ways to prepare better teachers and ensure employability. Efforts should be made to break isolation of teacher education. It can be accomplished by introducing ‘education’ as one of the main disciplines in graduate courses, remaining in touch with current educational problems, working of teacher education institutes as the consultative body for schools and bringing various teacher education courses under one roof. The curriculum for teacher education needs to be revamped. More emphasis should be on content and new subjects like advanced educational technology and educational management. Teacher training institutions should be residential in character to facilitate frequent interaction among the residents. The appropriate time to restructure teacher education is after Class XII. There can be two types of integrated courses—three-year BA/BSc (Education) course for elementary schools and five-year BA/BSc (Honours in Education) for secondary schools. The practice-teaching session should be enhanced with a provision of some honorarium. The teacher training institution should have a practising school to enhance innovative skills and action research. More inter-state exchange programmes should be held to keep teachers updated. All elementary school teachers should complete a 20-day comprehensive refresher course after every five years and special increment may be provided to teachers after completing the course. Teacher training institutions should be equipped with necessary infrastructure and modern gadgets. There should also be a provision for distance education for teachers. The environment of a school demands a sense of accountability and commitment. The teachers should be categorised on a five-point scale on the basis of their performance and other qualities. Every teacher needs to be associated with extra-curricular activities . The institutions should work under the provisions of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments and matters like policy formation, monitoring and supervision, etc., should be the main concern of administration. Academic competitions among schools can boost up the teaching environment. The institution of awards and punishments, based on transparency and objectivity, can further enhance motivation of teachers. There should be a need to have a movie production centre for preparing educational movies for developing ‘passion quotient’ and ‘emotional quotient’ among the teachers and students. An ‘in-service teacher education journal’ should be brought out for the professional growth of the teachers. The promotion of teachers should be so streamlined that it is treated as a hard-earned achievement rather than a guaranteed affair. Efforts should be made to induct highly skilled persons into the teaching profession. Revitalising teacher education should be on the high agenda of the government for giving a new thrust to quality of education in the state. The writer is former director, Bharat Scouts and Guides,
Chandigarh |
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Campus NoteS
The Department of Sociology has got a grant of about Rs 28 lakh from the University Grants Commission
(UGC) under the special assistance programme.
Programme coordinator Dr K. S. Sangwan said a computer lab would be set up with this amount. Apart from this, the grant would be used to aid the research work going on at the department. The amount will be spent during the next five years, Dr Sangwan said, adding that several qualitative changes would be brought about in the department with the help of this special
grant. B.Ed examination rescheduled The MDU administration has rescheduled the annual examinations of the B.Ed course run by the university. The MDU Controller of Exams, Sukhbir Singh, said according to the revised
datesheet, the B.Ed annual exams would now be held from May 24 instead of April 17. Book released The MDU Vice-Chancellor, Prof R. P.
Hooda, released a book written by Dr Nasib Singh Gill, Head, Department of Computer Science and Applications, on the university campus recently. Digital Design and Computer Organisation is the third book written by Dr Gill. He has also got nearly 80 research publications in national and international journals to his credit. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor exhorted the students to read more books to attain proficiency in their respective subjects. Players slug it out for inter-varsity meet As many as 34 athletes of the university are preparing for the All-India Inter-University Championship to be held at Annamalai University in Tamil Nadu from January 13 to 17. The MDU athletes, including 26 boys and eight girls, are preparing for the national event under university’s athletics coach Ramesh
Sindhu. They are hopeful of getting medals in various events. They are also scheduled to participate in cross-country event at Calicut University in Kerala and National Cross-Country event to be held in
Goa. — Contributed by Sunit Dhawan |
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ADMISSION DEADLINE
Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069 Civil Services Examination - 2008 Eligibility: Bachelors degree. Exam: Prelims: 18 May ’08 Application
Form: Send on Common Application Form available at designated Head PO’s (Rs 20/-). Details: Employment News (29 December 2007 – 04 January 2008) / website. Application
Deadline: 28 January 2008 Management Management Development Institute (MDI), Mehrauli Road, Sukhrali, Gurgaon 122001 (Har) Executive Management Programme (3 years, Part Time) Eligibility: Bachelors degree / Professional degree (Engineers / CA / CS / Cost Accountants / Architects / Doctors preferred); Minimum 3 years executive work experience. Selection: Written Test: 17 February ‘08; GD/ Interview Application
Form: Send Rs 1550/- by DD favoring “Management Development Institute,” payable at Gurgaon / New Delhi with a self-addressed adhesive sticker, to the above address by 08 February 2008 / Download from website. Details: Website Application
Deadline: 09 February 2008 Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, L N Road, Matunga (CR), Mumbai 400019 (Mah) 1) PGDM (2 years, Full Time) Eligibility: Bachelors degree (50%) Selection: CAT 2007 / MH-CET (2008) / XAT 2008 / ATMA 2008 scores; GD; Interview. Scholarship: Few students will receive full tuition waiver / sponsored airfare for their global internship / Learning Resource (Laptop sponsored) Application
Form: Send Rs 1350/- by DD favouring “Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research,” payable at Mumbai to the above address / Apply online. Details: Website Application
Deadline: 28 February 2008 Engineering Thapar University, Department of Distance Education, Patiala 147004 (Punj) (Deemed University) BTech (Distance Mode): Civil, Comp Sc, Electrical, Mechanical Engg Eligibility: Diploma in relevant area of engg (3 years) with 3 years relevant work experience Entrance
Test: 24 February 2008 (Patiala & Delhi) Application Form: Send Rs. 550/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Thapar University,” payable at Patiala at the above address / Download from website. Also at counter: Rs. 500/- cash. Details: Website. Application
Deadline: 08 February 2008 Medicine Director General of Medical Services (DGMS), 4B, Adjutant General’s Branch, Integrated HQ of MoD (Army), Room No 45, ‘L’ Block Hutments, New Delhi 110001 BSc (Nursing) (4 years) (at College of Nursing, AFMC, Pune) Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery (3½ years) (At various Nursing Schools of the Armed Forces) Eligibility: Single Indian women / divorcees / legally separated / widows without encumbrances with 10+ 2 (PCB (50% agg) -1st attempt), Pvt. students or compartment-holders not eligible. Selection: Written Test (objective): February / March ‘08; Interview (April / May ‘08); Medical Exam. Application
Form: Apply on plain paper (21 cm x 36 cm) with 4 stamped (Rs 6/-), self-addressed envelopes (27 cm x 12 cm) in prescribed format with attested copies of required documents to the above address. Details: Employment News (29 December 2007 – 04 January 2008). Application
Deadline: 25 January 2008 Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110076 DNB Admission: Eligibility: Selection: Interview Application: Send on plain paper with Rs 600/- by DD to the “ Indrapastha Apollo Corporations Ltd,” payable at New Delhi at the above address. Application
Deadline: 07 January 2008 All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110608 Entrance Exam for MBBS Course – August 2008 Eligibility: 10+2 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology & English, 60%). Exam: 01 June 2008 Application
Form: Send Rs 550/- (Rs 450/- for SC/ST) by AC payee DD favouring “MBBS Entrance Examination 2008,” payable at New Delhi to at the above address by 22 February 2008. Details: Website Application
Deadline: 29 February 2008 Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune 411040 (Mah) MBBS Eligibility: 10+2 PCB with English (1st attempt, 60% agg. and 50% individually in each subject) & Maths in Class 10 / BSc (with any 2: Physics / Chemistry / Biology (Botany/ Zoology)
The following categories are not eligible: Age: For 10+2: 17-22 years (DoB: 01 January ’87 - 31 December ’91). Selection: All India Written Test: 04 May 2008; Interview: June 2008 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 cm x 5 cm) and stamped (Rs 55/-), self-addressed envelope (11” x 13”) by 25 January 2008 to the Officer-in-Charge (Admission Cell) at the above address. Mention your name & address on reverse of DD bearing issuing bank code number. Also available at designated HPOs till 01 February 2008: Rs 250/- (cash). Details: Website. Application
Deadline: 05 February 2008 Recruitment ITB Police, Saboli Camp, PO: Nathupur, Sonepat 131029 (Har) 1) Constables (Radio Operator / Radio Technician / Line Man / Motor Mechanic / Driver) Selection: Physical Efficiency Test; Trade / Aptitude Test; Written Test; Interview; Medical Test Application Form &
Details: Employment News (29 December 2007 – 04 January 2008) / Website Application
Deadline: 17 January 2008 Scholarships University Grants Commission, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002 PG Merit Scholarship Scheme for University Rank Holders at Undergraduate Level Subjects for Scholarships
(2007-08): Eligibility: Students pursuing Masters degree (1st year) in any of the above mentioned courses Selection: Merit Basis Scholarships: 2375 scholarships @ Rs 2000 pm (for 10 mths each year) for 2 years. Application
Form: Send application in prescribed format with attested documents to the Head, UGC at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application
Deadline: 29 January 2008 National Council of Educational Research & Training (NCERT), Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016 NCERT Doctoral Fellowship (in Education of the Disadvantaged / Classroom Processes & Practices / Curricular Areas / Education for Peace / Psycho-Social Development of Children) Eligibility: Masters degree (55%) with good academic record. Selection: Interview / Seminar Fellowship: Rs 8000/- pm & Contingency Grant: Rs 10,000/- pa. Application
Form: Employment News (29 December 2007 – 04 January 2008) / Download from website. Details: Website. Application
Deadline: 31 January 2008 Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, 900, NCL Innovation Park, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008 (Mah) Junior Research Fellowships (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Interdisciplinary areas of Science) Application Form &
Details: Website Application Deadline: 15 January 2008 Sciences University of Delhi, Department of Operational Research, Room No 215, IInd Floor, New Academic Block, Delhi 110007 MSc Operational Research (N Campus) Eligibility: Masters degree (with at least 2 papers in Maths / Computer Sc / Statistics / Operational Research at Bachelors level) / Bachelors degree (with at least 2 papers in Maths / Computer Sc / Statistics / Operational Research), 55% Selection: Entrance
Test: 16 March 2008 Application Form: Send Rs 600 by DD favouring “Registrar, University of Delhi” payable at SBI, New Delhi along with a self-addressed, stamped (Rs 30/-) envelope (10” x 7”) at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application
Deadline: 15 February 2008 — Pervin Malhotra |
