Beyond reading and writing 
D. S. Cheema
THE status of literacy learning in India is rather bleak, essentially because of deprivation of the poor and socially backward, and poor pedagogical practices. Literacy in India has been viewed in a very simplistic manner of providing minimum skill of reading and writing without knowing its meaning or usage. In a sense, a literate person may never become an educated person.

Kids who shout in class perform better in tests
IMPULSIVE children who cannot resist shouting out in class score higher in tests than their counterparts who appear to be better behaved and quiet, according to researchers. A Durham University study that looked at 12,000 primary school pupils in England found children who “blurt out” responses perform better in maths and English.

Campus Notes
Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
Seminar on Indian values
THE Institute of Hotel and Tourism management (IHTM) of the university will organise a one-day national seminar on “Indian Values and Culture—Role in Career Enhancement” on February 20. According to the Director, Prof. Dalip Singh, the IHTM will organise the seminar in collaboration with the University Career Counselling and Placement Cell. 

• ADMISSION DEADLINE

Beyond reading and writing 
D. S. Cheema

THE status of literacy learning in India is rather bleak, essentially because of deprivation of the poor and socially backward, and poor pedagogical practices. Literacy in India has been viewed in a very simplistic manner of providing minimum skill of reading and writing without knowing its meaning or usage. In a sense, a literate person may never become an educated person. Though literacy rate in India has shown a steady increase from 18.33 per cent in 1951 to 64.8 per cent in 2001, the number of illiterate has not decreased in absolute terms, if we consider the corresponding increase in population. The problem of education goes far beyond the basic task of learning to read and write and as such all those who are considered literate cannot be considered educated.

The issue of 25 per cent reservation at the entry level in private schools for the poor children from the neighbourhood is a volatile one.

One major cause for concern is deprivation due to unequal and graded access to economic and social rights, including the right to education. Discrimination due to any reason is an issue not only of equity but also of economic growth. The government’s efforts in this regard don’t seem to be making much difference and the curse of deprivation is carrying on unabated. This results in a large number of uneducated youth from disadvantaged sections like Dalits, tribals, physically challenged, etc., without whose participation inclusive growth can remain only a far-fetched idea.

Education is an indispensable means to empower people who can become responsible for development and growth. Appreciating this fact, the Right to Education Act guarantees free and compulsory education to every child between the age of 6 and 14. However, its implementation demands vision, pragmatic strategy and ruthless execution and above all, the necessary political will. Such gigantic projects are always fraught with many pitfalls. The present project is bound to entail problems which “naturally” come up in any project of this magnitude. This demands men of calibre of Nielkeni or Sridharan (of the Delhi Metro fame) or Naryana Murthy, who enjoy spotless reputation and are blessed with clarity of vision and ruthless execution skills, at the helm of affairs. It appears the much-touted Act has had very little impact to improve the situation of the poor and deprived sections of society, as far education of their children is concerned.

The issue of 25 per cent reservation in private schools for the poor from the neighbourhood at the entry level is tricky and complicated. Students of private schools generally go through Nursery, Lower KG and Upper KG. By the time they are six years old, they are ready to take off to Class I, which nowadays has a detailed syllabus in at least four subjects. Children from poor families, who will join at six years, will be far behind the others in studies and a class within the class will create complexes which may play havoc with the under-privileged slow learners. In its present form, the Act is silent on the quality of free and compulsory education. It is obvious to any one that the amount which the government is willing to spend on each child per year, approximately Rs 2,800 or Rs 234 per month, is too inadequate to even talk about quality.

The quality of teachers generally raises a question. It is only through training and experience that one can learn to become a good teacher. Due to absence of any effective and efficient system for training of teachers, every teacher evolves his/her own method of learning and uses it for teaching. Over a period of time, the teacher gets into a set mould which continues. Therefore, it is not enough to select a teacher based on qualifications alone. One important parameter for developing and sustaining quality education is to provide continuous and rigorous training, orientation and reorientation of the teaching community. Training should not only provide missing knowledge and skills in the context of the current role of the teacher, it should also help convert potential into usable competencies for use in the future and support self-development efforts of individuals.

Since 1991, the expenditure on education has been steadily declining, but it seems Dr Manmohan Singh has the right focus when he says, “It (right to education) is the surest way of ensuring rapid inclusive growth.” He has committed to the nation that expenditure on central gross budgeting support will increase from less than 8 per cent to more than 19 per cent in the Eleventh Plan, as he feels India is the only industrial economy with literacy rate less than 70 per cent. This is in consonance with the view expressed in the National Policy of Education, where it is stated that the “investment on education be gradually increased to reach a level of 6 per cent of the national income as early as possible.” There is no doubt that the project must not be pushed to fail, the government must tread on the difficult path slowly and carefully.

Kids who shout in class perform better in tests

IMPULSIVE children who cannot resist shouting out in class score higher in tests than their counterparts who appear to be better behaved and quiet, according to researchers. A Durham University study that looked at 12,000 primary school pupils in England found children who “blurt out” responses perform better in maths and English.

“Although it may seem disruptive, blurting out of answers clearly helps these pupils to learn,” the BBC quoted study co-author Christine Merrell as saying.

The study, carried out by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University, compared English and maths test results with monitoring reports of pupils’ behaviour.

The study of children at 556 schools found those pupils who showed “impulsive” behaviour, such as being unable to resist shouting out to teachers in class, were more likely to achieve higher test results. The findings run against the model of quiet, assiduous pupils—and it raises questions about how the enthusiasm of such demanding and noisy behaviour could be managed and controlled in a school.

The study looked at a full range of pupils in state and independent schools, including those who were considered “inattentive” or who had symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder). The researchers found that among this group, those who called out performed better in tests than similar children who remained quiet in class.

Children who were considered well behaved and able to pay attention were more likely to be higher achievers than those who were inattentive.

But within this attentive group there was also the same pattern, with those who were not self-conscious about shouting out responses in class being more likely to have higher attainment.

Peter Tymms, head of Durham University’s school of education and lead author of the research, said that among children with ADHD symptoms, those who got excited and shouted out seemed to be more “cognitively engaged and as a result learn more”.

“Perhaps those children also benefit from receiving additional feedback and attention from their teacher,” suggested Prof Tymms. — ANI

Campus Notes
Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
Seminar on Indian values

THE Institute of Hotel and Tourism management (IHTM) of the university will organise a one-day national seminar on “Indian Values and Culture—Role in Career Enhancement” on February 20. According to the Director, Prof. Dalip Singh, the IHTM will organise the seminar in collaboration with the University Career Counselling and Placement Cell. Meanwhile, the Women's Studies Centre (WSC) of the university will organise a national seminar on “Women, Society and State” from February 9 to 10 in collaboration with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (North-West Regional Centre, Chandigarh). The seminar will focus on various issues related to women and their development, said an official of the department concerned. While Prof. Ravinder Kaur (I.I.T., New Delhi) will deliver the keynote address, noted scholar Prof. Prem Chaudhary will chair the valedictory session. A symposium on “Emerging Issues Confronting Women in North-West India” will also be held to discuss the various aspects of women’s status, including economic, social, psychological and political dimensions.

Ph.D programmes

As many as 141 candidates have been registered for carrying out research programmes in various faculties of the university for the year 2011-2012. The Academic Council (AC) of the university in its 165th meeting held recently gave nod to the registration of these candidates in PhD programmes. The AC also approved several academic proposals, including the approval for establishing the Institute of Social and Economic Change in the university, proposal for agreement between MDU and Lakshmi Precision Screws Ltd., Rohtak, for co-operation in scientific research and training as part of academic industry interface and the amendment to the PhD ordinance of the university.

Voters’ Day observed

The university observed the National Voters' Day recently by organising an awareness rally and a declamation contest on Voters' Day importance. The Dean, Students' Welfare, flagged off the awareness rally and addressed the students briefing them about the significance of National Voters' Day. Students from the Political Science and Public Administration departments and volunteers of the National Service Scheme (NSS) participated in the rally. Professor S.S. Chahar, Head, Department of Public Administration, organised the event and enlightened the students about the importance of voters' rights, and their role in democracy. Simran (Department of Commerce) won the declamation contest, while Zuffila Batra (GVM Girls College, Sonepat) and Monika (GVM Girls College, Sonepat) won the second and third prizes, respectively. Yogesh (Department of Political Science) won the consolation prize in the contest. The Controller of Examinations, Dr B.S. Sindhu, gave away prizes to the winners.

Alumni meet on February 12

The university will organise its second alumni meet on February 12. Rajbir Deswal, Inspector-General of Police, CID, Haryana, will be the chief guest on the occasion. According to university spokesperson, hundreds of prominent alumni from all walks of life will take part in the meet which is being held after nearly five years. While necessary arrangements are being made for holding the meet, the election of MDU Alumni Association will also be held the same day. The programme will be held at Tagore Auditorium at 10 am, the spokesperson said. Notably, the first alumni meet of the university was held on April 8, 2007.

Pt. B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak
Expert dwells on ill-effects of air-borne pathogens

The College of Pharmacy of Pt B.D. Sharma University of Health Sciences organised a lecture on "Path-Breaking In-conditioning Technology for Healthcare Sector and Biosensitive Applications" here recently. Rajan Sahni, Managing Director, Life Technologies India (Pvt) Ltd, New Delhi, in his lecture focused on the ill-effects of air-borne particulate matter and pathogens and presented a new technique for overcoming the hazards associated with deadly microorganisms. He said the technique was useful in organisations like a hospital, where operation theatres, research laboratories, animal house, mortuary, forensic medicine, biochemistry, biotechnology, pathology and physiology, etc., had been spots for the potential danger caused by the air-borne particulate matter. He said the institution must adopt filter-less technology for clean air as it had been good alternative to the old practices which had gone outdated and were unable to meet the challenge on this aspect. Professor Gajendra Singh, Principal, College of Pharmacy, along with faculty members and students attended the lecture.

— Contributed by Bijendra Ahlawat

 ADMISSION DEADLINE

Agriculture

National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), Rajendranagar, Hyderabad 500407 (AP) (ICAR)
www.naarm.ernet.in

PG Diploma in Technology Management in Agriculture (PGD-TMA) (1 year, PT)

Eligibility: PG in Agricultural Sciences / Social Sciences / Physical Sciences / Management / Life Sciences / Engineering / Law OR Bachelors in Agricultural Sciences / Social Sciences / Physical Sciences / Management / Life Sciences / Engineering / Law with two Years Work Experience.

Application Form& Details: Website

Application Deadline: 15 February 2012

Armed Forces

Indian Army, West Block III, RK Puram, New Delhi 110066
www.joinindianarmy.nic.in

Application Form & Details: Website

Application Deadlines: 29 February 2012

Sciences – General

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Jakkur PO, Bangalore 560064 (Kar) (Deemed University)
www.jncasr.ac.in/admit

Eligibility: Teachers with BSc / MSc Degree with or without a BEd

Stipend: Full Time Programme is Rs. 10000 / month and PT Programme is Rs. 6000 / month.

Application Form & Details: Website

Application Deadline: 05 March 2012

Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology (RRCAT), P.O.: CAT, Indore - 452 013, (MP)
www.rrcat.gov.in

Eligibility: For 1: Masters Degree in Physics (60%) and cleared JEST 2012 / CSIR-UGC NET 2011 (JRF)
For 2 & 3: Masters Degree in Chemistry / Life Sciences (60%) and cleared CSIR-UGC NET 2011 (JRF) / Gate 2012

DoB: Born on or after 01 August 1986

Selection: Merit; Personal Interview

Fellowship: DAE JRF for accepted candidates; Rs 16,000 pm for 1^st two years; Rs 18,000 pm for next three years

Application Form & Details: Website

Application Deadline: 09 April 2012