 |
|
| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
|
Bad implementation mars system
Meeting market needs
Campus Notes
|
|
|
Bad implementation mars system TODAY, much is being said and done to improve our education system. New laws have been enacted and huge funds are being pumped into a system that apparently has failed systematically. The reasons that have led to this overall educational mess are not beyond one’s comprehension. First of all, it must be admitted that no system can ever be said to be fully fault free. The problem arises from the bad implementation of any system. This is exactly what had happened to our past educational structure. Since much has not been kept in mind in regard to the sincere execution of the new system, the past chaos seems to have taken a more complex form. For instance, look at this lopsided graph that comes immediately to one’s mind whenever one looks closely at the broader structure of our present education system. A diagram of rising staircase depicting every growth or advancement always tells us about the hardships and efforts that go into achieving the next higher step. This is not true about our education. For, think of the number of hours and efforts that a school student puts in these days in order to step onto the next higher position called “higher education”. Normally, on one’s stepping onto the next higher step of “higher” education, it should be normal to consider that in order to move towards a next still higher destination, things would not only be tougher but also require more efforts and study hours than one was used to at the school level. But lo! Things here become rather easier. When would our schools become, as desired and declared time and again, as bag-less is yet to be seen. However, college education still seems to be having no need for the students to carry books or stationary at all. Many a time, while getting some or the other form signed from students, I, during my teaching tenure in a college, have faced this awkward situation when I had to lend the students my pen! Things at the university level, except in some science courses, are still worse. I often quote how I passed, though not with flying colours, four out of five papers of the first and my last semester of the Panjab University’s bachelor’s law course without attending the required lectures and reading any text. Small pamphlets named “33 Questions” were enough to go through to pass the examination; and that too if you read them a day before the exam! No wonder, the varsity students, who have been getting more than enough spare time at their disposal (they perhaps cannot imagine the amount of work the varsity students are required to do in advanced countries), that they can afford to sit in ‘dharna’ before the Vice-Chancellor’s office throughout their academic session. The same is true about the university teachers who seem to be interested less in academics and more in politics. All this, abetted by bureaucratic interferences even into the day-to-day working of teaching institutions and their reported scams after scams in the recruitment of teachers at all the levels of education, has pushed the education system to dismal lows. Unless fair recruitment of teachers, based on merit alone, are made and unless teachers thus recruited are trusted in full, nothing perhaps would change. Higher pays, stricter laws and checks, binding teachers to teach only a specified and thus limited prescribed course and to hold him for certain hours in their classrooms, seemingly has turned this once respected and trusted teaching community into running horses, who seem to have no goal except earning money. Why not, when education today has also been allowed, like many other once hallowed professions, to turn into an industry. The introduction of self-financing educational courses and the appointments of teachers on contractual basis clearly vindicate my point of view. Instead of making a level-playing field in order to provide equal opportunities of getting education for all, this system allows the rich to buy education of his or her choice, and at will. No wonder, the social chasm, inflated by petty political interests, is sharply on the rise and surely a cause of great worry. India is still a developing country, which has yet to overcome mass illiteracy, ill health and poverty. It probably should neither have industrialised education nor health. But alas, this is today’s sad reality! |
|
|
Meeting market needs DURING a recent interaction with students in a class when asked to submit an assignment on the history of development of computers, one of the students asked why we need to delve into the past and not make it short and to the point with just collecting recent relevant information. The observation clicked on some of the very fundamental issues involved in the education system and its relevance to current market needs. In another interesting experience, a visit to a pharmaceutical company revealed that it had a vibrant education programme based in an institute supported by the company to give focused training to manpower needed for its R&D activities. It’s another matter of course that there is a fees charged for the program which is quite high but the happy icing is the surety of a job after the end of the program. It did make good sense though to run such a program. So, the moot question is how our education system is working in the country. Do we need to spend such large funds on training graduates who just want a degree at the end of a programme to write a competitive exam or to be honourably referred to as graduates or education till high school? After that there may be career options like polytechnics, diploma and certificate courses that make them employable and help them earn a living. Here, the government has a very important role to play in setting up a national accredition and examination facility which monitors such courses and evaluates the students at the national level with a uniform standard. Most of the requirements of trained manpower for our technology, administrative assistance, etc., can be fulfilled at this level. The hands-on training and development will lead to much better career prospects in the long run for the people having become earning members at a relatively young age, learning hands-on in the job with options for career development. For highly skilled professionals like doctors, engineers and scientists, the training has to be more rigorous. Coming from science background, I can comment a little on scientifically trained manpower. Here, any professional degree has to be preceded by a very rigorous basic science degree with provisions for carry forwarding the credits to the professional courses. Unlike the current scenario, where a higher secondary pass-out goes straight to a professional college for technical degrees like medicine, engineering, etc., the candidate needs to be trained in the basic concepts of science and scientific thinking before making them available a specialisation. This would entail extended study period of course but as mentioned above, it can be compensated by transfer of credits and extensive practical exposure. Maybe we can produce professional at this level who have not to write qualifying exams in the US or Europe to be considered equivalent to their professionals one day! |
|
|
Campus Notes A workshop on natural farming was organised at the Department of Economics here recently. More than 100 farmers and social activists from 45 villages from all over Haryana participated. The participants not only purchased books and other equipment but also contributed Rs 3,600 to meet the expanses of the workshop, said Dr Rajinder Singh, coordinator of the workshop. With over half a dozen experts, including agricultural scientists and officials, the workshop witnessed exchange of ideas and views about the need and importance of natural farming and the ways and means to reduce the dependency on chemicals in the farming area. Several farmers practising natural farming shared their experience gained during the current sowing season. While it is too early to finally conclude, as harvesting is yet far away, all the farmers were more than satisfied with the results till date. This is in spite of the fact that while these farmers have stopped using chemical fertilisers and insecticides, they have as yet not adopted all agronomic practises recommended for natural farming. The biggest problem has been lack of training as well as adequate biomass for mulching to cover the ground. But farmers are hopeful about future and expect rice residual to meet the requirement of mulching for wheat crop, said an expert. A 60-page booklet in Hindi on natural farming was also released. Pt. B.D.Sharma University of
Health Sciences, Rohtak Symposium held
A one-day symposium was organised by the Deptartment of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation of the PGIMS, Rohtak, in collaboration with the North Zone Indian Orthopedic Association here recently. The symposium was inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor of Pt. B.D.Sharma University of Health Sciences, Dr S.S.Sangwan. Addressing the delegates and audience, Dr Sangwan said such activities would help in generating more awareness besides updating the knowledge of the doctors and medical fraternity. Speaking on the theme of "Intricacies of Upper Limb Trauma-An Update", the experts said since most of the accident victims were of young age, it was important to treat such cases with immense expertise and care because if the upper limbs, including the eyes and hands, got injured, it became difficult to get rehabilitated and start a normal life again. The main aim of the symposiums should be to find new approaches and make doctors aware of the intricacies of treatment, they said. Later, in a question-answer session, senior doctors of the PGIMS as well as visiting delegates from different parts of the country answered the queries of the participants. Besides the senior doctors and faculty of PGIMS, Rohtak, those attended the programme included Dr Raj Bahadur Singh, Dr Ramesh Sen and Dr Sameer Aggarwal from Chandigarh; Dr P.P. Kotwal, Dr S. Rastgi, Dr Anil Jain and Dr Maheshwari from New Delhi; Dr C.H. Sharma from Dehradun; Dr Saranjit from Ahemdabad and Dr A.S. Sidhu from Patiala. Blood donation camp
A voluntary blood donation camp was organised by the Blood Transfusion Department of PGIMS, Rohtak, and the Haryana Blood Transfusion Council, Panchkula, on the university campus recently. The camp was inaugurated by Asha Hooda, vice-president, Child Welfare Council, Haryana, who asked the people to come forward for the noble cause and donate blood. Later, she flagged off a rally in which a large number of doctors, students and general public took part. |
|
|
Armed Forces Union Public Service
Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069 Combined Defence
Services Exam (I), 2011 Eligibility: For 1, 2, 3: Unmarried males; For 4: Married/Unmarried Selection: Written Exam: 13 February 2011; SSB Interview Application Form: Available at designated HPO’s / PO’s countrywide on payment of Rs. 20/- Details: Employment News (25 September – 01 October 2010) / Website Application Deadline: 25 October 2010
Engineering IIT – Guwahati,
Guwahati 781039 (Assam) PhD: Application Form: Send request for application with a stamped self-addressed envelope (24 cm x 15 cm) to the Deputy Registrar (Academic) at the above address by 11 October 2010. Superscribe "Request for PhD Application Form" on envelope. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 22 October 2010
IIT – Patna,
Patliputra Colony, Patna 800013 (Bihr) PhD: Application Form: Send request for application with a stamped self-addressed envelope (24 cm x 15 cm) to the Assistant Registrar at the above address by 27 October 2010. Details: Website. Application Deadline: 01 November 2010
Management Institute of Public
Enterprise, Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad 500007 (AP) PG Diploma in Mgmt (2
years) Eligibility: Bachelors degree (50%) Selection: CAT / MAT / XAT / ATMA; GD; Personal Interview Application Form: Send Rs. 800/- by crossed DD favouring "Institute of Public Enterprise" payable at Hyderabad at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 08 December 2010
Management Development
Institute (MDI), School of Public Policy & Governance, Mehrauli
Road, Sukhrali, Gurgaon 122007 (Har) PG Programme in Public Policy & Mgmt (10.5 months Residential with 6-week term in international institutions) Eligibility:
Bachelors degree with 9 years of work-ex Selection:
Interview: 12 October 2010 Application Deadline: 06 October 2010
Birla Institute of
Management Technology, Plot No 5, Knowledge Park II, Greater Noida
201306 (UP) PG Diploma in Mgmt (Mgmt: International Business / Insurance Business / Retail Mgmt / Sustainable Development), 2 years Eligibility: Bachelors degree (50%) Selection: CAT 2010; GD & Interview. Application Form: Send
Rs 1750/- by DD favouring "Birla Institute of Management
Technology" with a self addressed slip (10 cm x 8 cm) payable at
Greater Noida / Noida / New Delhi to above address / Download from
website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 30 December 2010
Institute of Management
Technology (IMT), A 16, Site 3, UPSIDC Industrial Area, Meerut Road,
Ghaziabad 201003 (UP) PG Diploma in Mgmt Eligibility: Bachelors
degree (50%) Application Form: Send Rs 1600/- by DD favouring "Institute of Management Technology," payable at Ghaziabad at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 15 October 2010
Xavier Institute of
Management, Bhubaneswar (Oris) 1) PG Diploma in Mgmt
(2 years, Full-Time) 3) Fellow Programme in Mgmt 4) PG Diploma in Mgmt (3 years, Part-Time) Eligibility: For
1 & 2: Bachelors degree Selection:
For 1: XAT: 02 January ‘11 Application Form: Apply online Application Deadline: 05 December 2010
School of Petroleum
Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Raisan, Gandhinagar
382007 (Guj) (promoted by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd) 1) MBA (Focused
on Energy & Infrastructure) Eligibility: For
1: Bachelors degree (50%) Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline:
For 1: 18 February 2011
IIM-Calcutta, Diamond
Harbour Road, Joka, Kolkata 700104 (WB) Exec Program in Global
Business Management Eligibility: Bachelors degree + 2 years work experience Application Form & Details: Website Admission Deadline: 30 October 2010
National Institute of
Construction Management & Research (NICMAR), 25/1, Balewadi, NIA
PO, Pune 411045 (Mah) 1) PG Programme in
Advanced Construction Mgmt (2 years, Full Time) 2) PG Programme in
Project Engg & Mgmt (2 years, Full Time) 4) PG Programme in
Quantity Surveying (1 year, Full Time) 5) PG Programme in
Health, Safety & Environment Mgmt (1 year, Full Time) 6) PG Programme in
Infrastructure Finance, Development & Mgmt (1 year, Part Time) NICMAR School of
Distance Education: 10) Graduate
Programmes (Construction Project Mgt / Highway Project Mgt /
Construction Safety Mgt / Building Maintenance Mgt / Oil & Gas
Pipelines Project Mgt / Quantity Surveying / Construction Contracts
Mgt & / Construction Business Mgt / Contruction Quality Mgt / Site
Personnel Mgt / Construction Equipment Mgt)(1 year) Eligibility: For
1, 3, 4 & 5: BE / BTech / BArch (50%) Application Form: Send Rs 1300/- by DD favouring "NICMAR, Pune" to the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 10 December 2010
Medicine National Board of
Examinations, Ansari Nagar, Ring Road, New Delhi 110029 (M/o HFW, GoI) DNB Centralized Entrance
Test – December 2010 Exam: DNB CET: 12 December 2010 Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 14 October 2010
National Institute of
Unani Medicine, Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bangalore 560091 (Kar) Mahir-e-Tib –
MD Unani (Moalejat / Ilmul Advia / Tahafuzi wa Samaji Tib) 2010-11 Eligibility: BUMS; 6-12 month of rotary internship / house job Selection: Written Test: 24 October 2010 Application Form:
Send Rs 1000/- by DD favouring "Director, National Institute of
Unani Medicine, Bangalore" at the above address. Details: website Application Deadline: 15 October 2010
Sciences Indian Institute of
Science Education & Research, Computer Science Building, CET
Campus, Thiruvananthapuram 695016 (Ker) (GoI) Admission to PhD Programme: Eligibility: MSc
in (Physical / Chemical / Biological Sc / Maths / Stats (60%) a valid
GATE / CSIR-UGC-JRF / JEST / ICMR / NBHM Application Deadline: 22 October 2010
Sciences Physical Jawaharlal Nehru Centre
for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur PO, Bangalore 560064
(Kar) (Deemed University) 1) PhD Selection: GATE
/ UGC CSIR-NET / JRF / ICMR / JEST scores Application Deadline: 25 October 2010
Indian Institute of
Science Education & Research, ITI Campus (Gas Rahat) Building,
Govindpura, Bhopal 462023 (MP) (GoI) Admission to PhD Programme 2010 PhD in Areas of Biology / Chemistry / Earth & Environmental Sc / Maths / Physics Eligibility: MSc
in respective or allied areas with a valid GATE / UGC / CSIR / JEST /
ICMR / DBT / NBHM (55%) Application Deadline: 20 October 2010
Teaching & Education Indira Gandhi National
Open University (IGNOU), Maidan Garhi, New Delhi 110068 MEd (2 years) Eligibility: BEd (55%) Application Form: Send Rs 250/- by DD/ IPO favoring "IGNOU" payable at New Delhi at the above address by 25 October ‘10 / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 October 2010
Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India (CARING) (www.careerguidanceindia.com) |
TODAY, much is being said and done to improve our education system. New laws have been enacted and huge funds are being pumped into a system that apparently has failed systematically. The reasons that have led to this overall educational mess are not beyond one’s comprehension. First of all, it must be admitted that no system can ever be said to be fully fault free.