EDUCATION

Saturday tests for science students started
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — The UT Education Department’s project to hold weekly tests for senior secondary classes in all schools with science stream has come in for appreciation at the hands of teachers of these schools. The teachers say that besides helping the students in their preparation for final as well as competitive exams the scheme is proving to be beneficial for them also.

They say that they have to put in extra time to prepare their lessons at home because the students are over anxious to do well in their tests and leave no queries. To answer their questions they have to understand the subject fully. Moreover the discussion sessions organised by the department after every weekly test help the teachers to get into the depth of the subject.

They claim that students are very happy with the new scheme and their presence in the school on Saturdays is a testimony to the success as the tests are organised on Saturdays.

Ms Poonam Rautea, a physics teacher says, “The tests have recaptured the interest of students in the schools. They take these tests very seriously and, thanks to the scheme, we are looking forward to seeing very good results in the exams.”

Mr Tejwant Singh, a math teacher, finds the testing scheme a commendable effort by the department. He says that after this project even the teachers have become more confident. “In the discussions held after the tests all the teachers of 15 senior secondary schools run by the Government gather in a school and they sit for hours together discussing the questions put in the tests. I have seen that the more the brains the more number of solutions they can provide to a problem. We ourselves learn new and simpler solutions to the same old math problems.”

The teachers also feel that the students have started self study in view of performing better in the tests every time. So they will be automatically benefited from this. Some teachers even expect that during the next session, if the project does well, the students will stop going for the tuitions and will be able to do well just with the education at school.

Ms Savita another math teacher says, “We have started laying emphasis on the objective type and short answer type questions. Earlier this was a neglected part of the subject-wise education. The students go in for tuitions because they find this part missing from the routine education. Moreover, with this much of practice, we have started to do justice to the experiment, I think we will be able to help the students up to a large extent.”

Mr Ram Kumar, Principal of GMSSS, Sector 16, claims that not only the teachers and the students, the parents are also very happy with the project. “Many parents I have come across after the start of the testing are very positive about this scheme. Although this was an expected reaction, still if your experiment works you feel satisfied”.

St John’s wins song contest
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — St. John’s High School bagged the first prize in the inter -school folk song competition organised by Ajit Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 41, here, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of the school Miss Ajit Karam Singh.

The second prize was bagged by the host school, while the third prize went to Shivalik Public School, Sector 41. Students from a school were given a special prize for their presentation. Two individual prizes were also given to the students from St. Soldier’s School, SAS. Nagar who accompanied their teams on the instruments.

As many as 13 teams from Chandigarh and SAS Nagar participated in this competition. Mr Brahmjit Kalia, District Education Officer, presided over the function.

CULTURE

She prefers making films on social issues
By Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 23 — From Shimla to Mumbai and from a conventional “Kapoor bahu” to a film maker and entrepreneur, Veena Kapoor has come a long way.” I was a typical small town girl when Trilok Kapoor’s son Vijay saw me on the Mall road in Shimla and before I knew, I was married into the famous Kapoor family.” Incidentally, Trilok Kapoor is the actor, famous for playing the role of ‘gods’ in various religious feature films like ‘Shiva-Parvati’.

Veena is here these days in connection with a quiz programme on Sikhism, which she is producing and directing. Next on anvil is a serial on social causes and another on true life stories of women who have suffered and emerged winners.

Her journey from being a housewife to a film maker has been marked by ups and downs.” Being a Kapoor bahu meant there were a lot of restrictions on what I could and could not do. It was a total contrast with the life I had been leading in Shimla. After marriage, all I did was attend only the mahurats and family functions. Film parties were a strict no. I did feel rather lost in the “giants” all around me. Though somewhere deep inside, I had this little fire burning wanting me to do something in my life.”

Veena started assisting her producer director husband Vijay. “Soon I was writing scripts for him, assisting in his film making, costumes design, production assistance, almost in every other way I could,” she adds.

The opportunity in life came but was shadowed by the tragedy of her husband’s death in 1991. In 1990, Vijay Kapoor started a feature film called Akanksha, starring Supriya Pathak and Abhinav Chaturvedi, which he could not complete. After his death, Veena completed the film and released it. “The entire ‘Kapoor khandan’ has rallied behind me in my every problem. But the fact is that you have to fight your own battles. And quite early, I too realised that I had to look after and take care of my family.”

Veena has made about 70 short films on various social issues, which have been telecast on ATN and the Zee TV. She has scripted, produced and directed films on gender bias, AIDS and dowry, besides other social problems. She has also made short films with messages on blood donation with film stars like Govinda and Nasserudin Shah.

Veena has to her credit documentary films on tourism for the Himachal Pradesh Government and on state transport for the Haryana Government. “My independent career as a film maker started with a documentary on musical instruments of Punjab. The film was sponsored by the state government. Presently, I am working on the script of the talk show which will concentrate on subjects related to women. How they are placed in society, divorce rate, problems related to being a single mother. In fact just about everything and anything concerning women.”

Veena adds that women of today have a lot to celebrate. “It is not as if the word woman is synonymous with misery. I know a lot of women who are doing very well and are happy. What is important is to realise your capabilities and work accordingly. For me, film making is the only field I could be happy in. I personally think that it is a very good era for women.”

Veena says that each career comes with its own set of problems. “In any field, the problems I have faced are common to both men and women.”

There have been times when shooting on a certain topic has left a deep impact on her. “It was when I did a film on the one-time famous actress Devika Rani that I realised the importance of family and children. In her hey days she had everything. She was a beauty much feted and respected. When I did the film for the Doordarshan, she was lonely and alone. She had so much money that two governments were fighting over it. But still she had no purpose in her life. That really changed my entire perspective in life. I think children add a purpose to a woman’s life. Today I am a very happy and satisfied person , all thanks to my wonderful children.”