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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE |
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‘I’m so glad I had the chance to take International Baccalaureate’
3rd iDiya challenge looking for bright ideas
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‘I’m so glad I had the chance to take International Baccalaureate’
THE International Baccalaureate — or the IB — has cropped up repeatedly in the news over the past few years; being heralded as a superior qualification to replace A-levels and revolutionise education worldwide. Such hyperbole was what led me to sign up to the course two years ago at the only state sixth-form college in my area to offer it. Now, government cuts are forcing headteachers at state colleges to either drop the course, or abolish plans to introduce it. This means that in future the only students who will get access to it will be those with parents rich enough to send them to independent schools. This will be a great shame for our state schools and for the future of Britain’s education and its place in future international communication.
After completing the International Baccalaureate, I can say I am so glad I did it. However, that was certainly not always the case. I spent most of the teaching hours feeling like I was being punished for making the decision to be so pretentious as to do a qualification that only a few months before I had not even heard of, let alone known how to pronounce. But like all effective punishment, I see now it was for my own good. The International Baccalaureate is not what most 16-18 year olds want to be doing. It is harder than I ever believed it could be, involving a huge number of taught hours. While my A-level contemporaries were lounging about in the college field, I was dragging my back-injury-inducing bag from classroom to classroom. It also has significantly more exams than A-levels. You have to do subjects you know you are – to put it mildly – abysmal at. The IB even dictates how you spend your free time, with a compulsory 150 hours of creativity, action and service needed to be completed over the two-year course, with the only incentive being: “If you don’t, we’ll fail you”. But at the end of it all, I’m still glad I did it. The benefits? Well, first and foremost the kudos from doing such an intense and “hardcore” qualification. Secondly, it forces you to expand your spheres of interest and as a result become a more well-rounded person – that sounds like flowery exaggeration, but is actually true. Perhaps most importantly – as this is supposed to be an education – you just learn more. By studying six subjects without the constant loom of exams every few months, you are able to absorb so much information and frankly, be better educated. It’s no secret that the traditional British education path needs a major overhaul. The once world-renowned A-level qualification is losing credibility by the day – and the Government knows it. By no means do I believe that A-level exams are getting easier; that is a huge insult to thousands of students who have worked exceptionally hard for them. However, more and more people are getting A grades, making it more and more difficult to distinguish which students truly make up the highest echelons of contemporary education. The introduction of the A* for A-levels was an attempt to fix this problem, but that merely attempts to hide the fact that the grades have become more inflated than the lips of Hollywood’s superstars. I think this is to do with the basic structure of A-levels. With the modular format of the course, people can do numerous retakes until they get the grades they want. With the IB, there are no retakes, as all exams are taken at the end of the second year. There is also a points system out of 45, which is a combination of the grades from all of your subjects, the compulsory Theory Of Knowledge course, and the personal research assignment called the “extended essay”. Through this numerical system, it is far easier to distinguish between the achievements of students and is a lot fairer to those who truly are excellent and put the effort in, given that only 0.2 per cent of students studying the IB get the coveted 45 points each year. The main reason that I think the Government’s cuts to the IB budget are exceptionally short-sighted, narrow minded and foolish is that the International Baccalaureate, by its very name, encourages something that the future leaders and taxpayers of our country desperately need: a global understanding. The International Baccalaureate was forged out of the despair of the World Wars in an attempt to unite the world through education, by a collection of teachers at the International School of Geneva. If there is one word that is constantly repeated in response to every instance of prejudice or infringement on human rights, it is education. It is not enough for Britain to sit back and feel that other countries need to be more educated in Western morality, without engaging in educating their own population in a way that actually takes the rest of the world into consideration. At a time when international communication is growing ever more crucial, how can the Government possibly justify restricting the access of its own young people to a programme that is trying to unify the next generation through education? With some 876,000 students taking it worldwide, surely this is Britain’s opportunity to take a forward thinking and pioneering stance and to set an example to the rest of the world that a global education is something we should be striving for. If the Government goes ahead with these plans to reduce funding to the groundbreaking 139 state schools and colleges that offer the International Baccalaureate, they are not only condemning the students in the years below me to lose out on a more rigorous, fair and highly respected qualification, but also condemning the future of Britain to take a back seat in encouraging the world in global co-operation and understanding. —
The Independent |
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3rd iDiya challenge looking for bright ideas
Gul Panag and Shaheen Mistri were the distinguished guests who shared the stage with Dean Ajit Ranganekar while launching the 3rd iDiya challenge at Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, last week.
iDiya is ISB's national social venture ideas competition that aims to be a launch-pad for high-impact and self-sustaining social businesses in India. Shaheen Mistri is the CEO of Teach for India Movement while Gul Panag, the former Miss India universe has recently been working on her project Social Outreach Accreditation Program better known as SoapOnline.in. Both the speakers shared their respective experiences and connections on the grounds of social entrepreneurship Started in 2009, iDiya is targeted exclusively at working professionals and focuses on business ideas that create measurable social impact. The launch event today signals the commencement of applications from teams across the country. After several rounds of selection and interviews, 10 teams are invited to ISB's campus for an intensive week-long boot camp where industry experts, entrepreneurs and faculty train and coach them for challenges they would face in bringing their ideas and ventures to realisation. There are cash prizes worth Rs. 3 lakh for the winners and runners up. The iDiya platform also brings with it key venture capitalists who are ready to seed in as much as Rs. 10 lakh for specific category of ideas. Participants will have to log on to the website http://www.isb.edu/idiya to register and submit their ideas. The registration and idea submission process is open from 1st August 2011 till 1st September 2011. ISB (Hyderabad) was established in 2001. In 2008, it became the youngest institution to be ranked among the Top 20, in the Global B-school Rankings by the Financial Times, London, and since then has been ranked among the top B-schools globally. The ISB is in the process of setting up its second campus in Mohali, Punjab, which will also have specialist Institutes for promoting research and education in areas critical to India's development. The Mohali campus is slated to be operational from April 2012.
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Campus Notes
Haryana Agricultural University has been issued a patent on a biotechnological process which enhances in-vitro plantlets regeneration in air yarn plant. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Government of India has granted patent number 248511 to this technology developed by Dr. Pushpa Kharab, Professor, Molecular Biology and Bitechnology Department (MMB) and her team mates including Parveen Batra, Neeru Narula, Santosh Dhillon and V.K. Chaudhary. It also includes two students Kanta Dahiya and Victoria Yadav. The technology developed by the team is innovative, efficient and environmentally safe. Home Science refresher course A two-day refresher course for the District Extension Specialists (Home Sciences) was organised by the Directorate of Extension Education in collaboration with the College of Home Sciences of the university. It was attended by nearly 50 extension specialists from all Krishi Vigyan Kendras located in Haryana. Dr. Saroj Jit Singh, Dean, College of Home Science while addressing the participants asked them to contribute their bit for eradication of social evils particularly women illiteracy prevailing in the countryside. Dr. J.S. Dhankhar, Director Extension Education called upon extension workers to make rural women technically sound by improving their skills and capabilities. The faculty apprised the participants of latest technologies for rural women. Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences has signed yet another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for its Milk Urea Detection Technology. The technology has been licensed to Vanshika Milk Agro and Plastics Pvt. Ltd., Hisar through the BPD Unit, Haryana Agricultural University for commercial production on non-exclusive basis for four years. Dr. Gulshan Narang and Dr. R.S. Khokhar have evolved a simple technology to detect presence of urea in milk. A drop of Milk Urea Detection Reagent (pink colour), when mixed with a drop of milk on filter paper changes the colour of reagent to yellow in case the milk contains urea. The university has set up a Technology Business Incubator and an Entrepreneurship Development Laboratory where facilities are being provided to the new and start-up entrepreneurs. — Contributed by Raman Mohan
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ADMISSION DEADLINE Union Public Service
Commission, Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi 110069 1) Indian Statistical Service Examination – 2011 2) Indian Economic Service Examination – 2011 Eligibility: For 1: Masters degree in Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Applied Statistics For 2: Masters
degree in Economics / Applied Economics / Business Economics /
Econometrics Test: 03 December 2011 Application Form & Details: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) / Website Application Deadline: 29 August 2011 Engineering Indian Plywood
Industries Research & Training Institute, PB No 2273, Tumkur Road,
Yeswanthpur, Bangalore 560022 (Kar) (M/o Environment & Forest, GoI) PG Diploma in Wood and Panel Products Technology Eligibility:
BSc / BE / BTech Selection: Merit Application Form:
Send Rs 250/- by DD favouring "Director, IPIRTI", payable at
Bangalore to the above address / Download from website Application Deadline: 15 September 2011 Finance The Institute of
Chartered Accountants of India, ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg, New
Delhi 110002 Exams: Exam:
1) 01 – 17 November 2011 Application Deadline: For
1: 30 August 2011 Language Jamia Milia Islamia,
Arjun Singh Centre for Distance & Open Learning, Maulana Mohd. Ali
Jauhar Marg, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025 (Central University) Certificate Course in Urdu (Eng/Hindi medium), 1 year, Dist Application Form: Send stamped (Rs 10/-), self-addressed envelope (24cm x 12cm) to the Hony. Director, Urdu Correspondence Course, Arjun Singh Centre for Distance & Open Learning at the above address / Download from website Details: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) / Website Law Gujarat National Law University, E 4, GIDC, Electronic Estate, Sector 26, Gandhinagar 382028 (Guj) www.gnlu.ac.in 1) LLM with
specialisation in Criminal Law / Commercial Law (Part-time, 3
years) Eligibility: For
1: LLB, min 55% Selection: For 1 & 2: Merit Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 16 August 2011 National Law School
University Delhi, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078 1) PG Diploma in
Judging & Court Mgmt (1 year) Eligibility: For
1: Law graduates (50%) Selection: For 1: Entrance Test Application Form: Send Rs 1000/- (For 1) by DD favouring "The Registrar, National Law School, Delhi", payable at Delhi at the above address / Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 31 August 2011 Management Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Institute of Textile Management, 1483, Avanashi Road, Peelamedu,
Coimbatore 641004 (TN) (Autonomous Institute under M/o Textiles, GoI) 1) PG Diploma in
Management (Textile / Apparel / Retail) (2 years Full Time) Selection:
CAT / XAT / MAT / JCCAT /
TANCET score, Written Test, GD & Interview Details: Website Narsee Monjee Institute
of Management & Higher Studies (NMIMS), School of Business
Management, VL Mehta Road, Vile Parle (W), Mumbai 400056 (Mah) (Deemed
University) MBA (Core
/ Capital Markets / Actuarial Science / Pharmaceuticals Mgmt / Banking
/ HR) Selection: NMAT-2012: 31 October – 06 January 2012 Application Form: Apply online Details: Website Application Deadline: 10 October 2011 Medicine Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla 171001 (HP) BSc-Para Medical Technology (Laboratory / Radiology & Imaging / Anesthesia & OT Techniques), 3 years Eligibility:
For Direct candidates: 10+2 (PCB with English; 50%) Selection: 04 September 2011 Application Form: Send Rs 750/- by DD favouring "Principal, Indira Gandhi Memorial College, Shimla" to the Academic Branch at the above address. Application Deadline: 27 August 2011 BLDE University,
Bangaramma Sajjan Campus, Sholapur Road, Bijapur 586103 (Kar) 1) PhD Programmes:
Biochemistry / Physiology / Microbiology / Pathology / Community
Medicine / ENT / General Medicine / Pediatrics / Dermatoglogy /
Surgery Eligibility: For
3: MS ENT / DLO Application Deadline: 22 August 2011 Scholarships Indian Council of
Philosophical Research, Darshan Bhawan, 36 Tughlakabad Institutional
Area, M B Road, New Delhi 110062 Senior Fellowships,
General Fellowships, Junior Research Fellowships Application Form: Send Rs 50/- by DD favoring "ICPR", payable at New Delhi to the Director (Academic) with a stamped (Rs. 25/-), self addressed envelope (9" x 4") at the above address / Download from website Details & Application Form: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) / Website Application Deadline: 29 August 2011 CSIR, Human Resource
Development Group (Extra Mural Research Division), CSIR Complex,
Library Avenue, Pusa, New Delhi 110012 CSIR Fellowships: 1) Senior Research Fellowships (SRF) 2) Senior Research Fellowships (SRF Extended) 1 year 3) Research Associateships Eligibility:
For 1: MSc / BE /
BTech (55%) and one publication in SCI Journal with two years work
experience / ME / MTech in Engg / Technology / MBBS /
BDS (60%) with 1 year internship / BPharm / BVSc / BSc
(Agriculture), 55% and one publication in SCI Journal with 3 years
research experience / MPharm / MVSc / MSc (Agriculture), 55%
with 1 year research experience, Scholarship: For
1: Science discipline: Rs
18,000/- pm for 1-3 years; Application Form: Apply online Details: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) / Website Application Deadline: 09 September 2011 M/o Social Justice &
Empowerment, Room No 242, ‘A’ Wing, 2nd Floor, Shastri
Bhawan, New Delhi 110001 (GoI) National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2011 Eligibility: Disabled employed in Central / State Governments / UT / PSU / Self-Employed Application Form: Send in prescribed format with all required documents to the Section Officer, DD-IV, at the above address. Details: Website Application Deadline: 16 August 2011 Foundation for Academic
Excellence and Access, C 25, Qutab Institutional Area, New Mehrauli
Road, New Delhi 110016 Scholarships for the
year 2011-12 Eligibility: Students belonging to SC/ST community who have passed 10+2 / 1st year UG students Fellowship: Tuition fees, maintenance allowance / hostel / mess charges Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 17 August 2011 Sciences Social National Archives of India, School of Archival Studies, Janpath, New Delhi 110001 Diploma Course in Archives and Records Mgmt (1 year) Eligibility:
MA History (50%) / MA in (Anthropology / Economics / Political Sc
/ Sociology / Linguistics (50%) / MSc in (Applied / Physical Sc, 50%) Selection: Written Test and Interview Scholarship: 10 scholarships of value of Rs 1500/-pm are awarded purely on the basis of merit. 6 stipends of Rs 1000/-pm are awarded to sponsored candidates. Application Form: Send in prescribed format with required documents and Rs 100/ - by IPO / DD favouring "Administrative Officer, National Archives of India, Janpath, New Delhi 110001" to the Director General of Archives at the above address. Details: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) Application Deadline: 16 September 2011 Travel & Transportation Institute of Rail
Transport, Room No 17, Rail Bhavan, Raisina Road, New Delhi 110001
(Recognized by M/o Railways) Diploma Course on Rail
Transport & Management (Correspondence;
1 year) Eligibility: Bachelors degree / Diploma Application Form: Send Rs 100/- (per course) by DD favouring "Institute of Rail Transport", payable at New Delhi with stamped (Rs 15/-), self-addressed envelope (11" x 5") to the above address. Write your name and address on reverse of DD. Details: Employment News (30 July – 05 August 2011) / Website Application Deadline: 30 August 2011 Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India (CARING) (www.careerguidanceindia.com) |
