EDUCATION

IT students face problems
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — Namita is doing a one-year diploma course in web engineering from a national-level computer institute. She started the course in November last year with much zeal, thinking that in a year she would be a diploma holder and would move abroad. But contrary to expectations, classes rarely ever started on time, there were long breaks, sometimes extending to several weeks as the instructors for the course were not available. Much to her disappointment, she is now being told that it will take another six months for the course to be completed.

Gaurav, doing a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) course, is a dissatisfied youngman as he feels that he is not getting quality education. He was surprised that as per the claims made to him at the time of admission, his instructors were themselves not MCSE qualified. In fact, some of them were still students.

These are just a few instances of the problems faced by some of the students taking up advanced computer courses in the city. Even after paying a hefty amount at the computer centres, students have to face several problems ranging from poor quality of education to lack of facilities. Several students informed the Ludhiana Tribune that the modules and services promised at the time of admission were left out later and if the full payment was made in advance, the quality of services deteriorated further.

And the problems being faced by students taking up computer courses at relatively small centres are manifold. Sumedha, doing a desktop publication course from a newly opened centre, complained, ‘‘At the time of admission, I was told that the centre will be offering the latest and cheap computer education. I got impressed and I made the whole payment. However, when I started the course, I was taught version 4 of PageMaker and version 5 of CorelDraw whereas the latest versions are PageMaker 5 and CorelDraw 9.’’

Bharat, also a computer education student, said “we were once even told to fill up feedback forms to be sent to the head-office. We thought we had got a nice opportunity for redressal of our grievances but unfortunately we were not allowed to write down any negative point in the form.”

The net result of the appalling services being offered by some of the small and big computer centres is production of a so-called computer literate society under the illusion that they are employable! (All names used in the stories have been changed on request by the students).

Few students visit PU extension library
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — The Panjab University Extension Library was set up in 1968 in Ludhiana. It is the only extension library in India which is out of a university campus. When it came into existence, its majestic edifice of red standstone, unique sun breakers and manicured lawns, collection of rare books, text books and journals beckoned students to use its immense wealth to reach towards their goals.

According to Mr S.H. Khan, Deputy Librarian officiating as Acting Librarian, the variety of books in the library is amazing. We have books on all subjects. We have rare books which are of immense value to research scholars and those doing post graduation. But sadly, flow of students has reduced a lot. Very few students come and avail the facilities available here.

This correspondent noticed that there were not more than 20 students in a huge hall which could seat more than 100 students.

Mr Hari Singh, senior officer in the administration department, said the library has become old, and so have we all working here. Many have retired and most of us are on the verge of retirement. So it has decayed. Moreover, Panjab University is financially in doldrums. We get no money for maintenance. For everything, we have to write to a XEN in Chandigarh. The Chandigarh people hardly seem to bother.”

According to Mr Singh all students of the colleges affiliated to Panjab University are eligible to become members. They only have their principal to recommend them. Rs 100 is charged annually as refundable security. For students in professional colleges the security is Rs 250. But for professors and teachers the membership is free. For private students the security is Rs 1500. But these days very few students come. We have a sale counter of forms for various kinds of examinations. The students are always in and out to ask about the results. Our work has increased manifold.”

A majority of students do not seem to be interested in the library. Our hall is in a deplorable state. All chairs are broken. We get only one answer when we ask for money for maintenance and that is, “no funds”.

Mr Khan said, “We have a large number of books on social sciences and pure sciences. We are stocking books on computer education also. Earlier, we used to subscribe to 300 journals. Now due to paucity of funds, we subscribe to only 145 journals and magazines. There is no programme to computerise the libraries. Punjab is way behind Andhra Pradesh as far as information and technology is concerned.”

“At present, 1700 students are members of the library. I feel very sad that the students are not availing of the facilities. Some of our books are rare. We have leather- bound editions of The Tribune since it came into print. Sadly enough, due to cable TV and other distractions students do not come to read. We send letters to principals of colleges and ask them to encourage their students to become members but it does not seem to work. I wish we could directly motivate students.”

Mr Khan says when libraries are so good, it is amazing why students do not inculcate reading habits. We have 1,21,000 books in the library. We welcome students with open arms.

Sunil Ahuja, a student of MBA course of Punjabi University, said, “I come to study for a competitive examination. I find all sorts of books that I need for my subject. I get immense knowledge here from books and magazines. I come here seven days a week and study from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. I feel this library is a boon for me. If I succeed, it will be thanks to the facilities in the library.”

Swati, a student of Ramgariaha College studying in BBA final, finds the library a treasure trove of knowledge. She says, “I study for two to three hours daily in this library. The atmosphere is very conducive for studies. One feels like studying and I enjoy the serenity here.”

Another student, Mohit Maini, a student for Guru Nanak Engineering College, says, “I am in third year of civil engineering, and I find extra books that are helpful. In college, one gets limited knowledge, but here I can widen my horizons. My only suggestion is that they should have a coffee shop here, where we can refresh ourselves when we are tired of reading.”

Rajni Dhawan, a commerce student doing MA by correspondence course, finds almost all course books in the library. She does not find the need to buy any books and finds the library very useful.

Rajeev Goyal, Arun Behal and Amir Aggarwal are studying for CA examination. They say, “ We find the atmosphere more conducive to study here but we wish the environment was little better. We spend almost seven hours here so the room should look pleasant. The room needs a coat of paint. We spend practically the whole day here, so a small canteen would be welcome.”
(To be concluded)

Computer institute sans computers
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — Ever seen a computer institute sans computers? Well! visit the Government Polytechnic for Women, Rishi Nagar, to witness this unique situation. The polytechnic offers one-year postgraduate diploma courses in e-commerce and software engineering being conducted jointly by the Punjab Technical University and Asset International.

The situation has caused much disappointment among the students as, while talking to the Ludhiana Tribune, they said that they would go on strike from tomorrow morning as the authorities here could not give them the exact date of arrival of the computers at the centre. The course had started recently on October 8 and since then, only theory classes were being conducted.

The students said ‘‘even though we paid a hefty amount as fee, we are not being provided with the most important facility. Earlier we were told that we would get our computers within the first week, then we were told to wait till Divali, but now even though the month of November has started, we have not received any computer systems.’’

‘‘How can we understand the theoretical concepts without any practical knowledge?’’, the students further queried.

It may be mentioned that as per the terms and conditions signed during the joint venture, PTU was supposed to install computers in all the five centres where the courses had been started. While computers had been supplied at the other four ITIs on Gill Road, Jagraon, Samrala and Gujarwal, students at the main centre of Government Polytechnic for Women were still waiting for them.

Early this month, the centre was being sent computers with 486 configuration. However, instructors at Asset International denied to accept the old systems and demanded Pentium III systems for the centre as some advanced softwares which have to be taught could not be loaded on the systems with old configurations.

Dr H.S. Gurm, Vice-Chancellor of PTU, when contacted, said ‘‘while the ITIs have been supplied the spare computers from other institutes of the university, new ones will soon be bought for the main centre.’’

He further said that ‘‘there was no dearth either of money or will. Some formalities which had to be completed delayed the process but now I will make sure that the purchase is made soon and the centre is quickly supplied with 12 new Pentium III computer systems.’’

CAMPUS SCENE
Career Advancement Scheme for teachers controversial
From Surbhi Bhalla

LUDHIANA, Nov 2 — Even as scores of teachers of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) are anxiously waiting for assessment and promotion under the new Career Advancement Scheme, which has been introduced with retrospective effect from January 1, 1996, the scheme itself has been bogged down by controversies.

While a sizeable number of teachers have filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the criteria of eligibility for promotion to the two ranks of Associate Professor and Professor provided for in the notification of the scheme issued by the university Registrar on August 11, some others have found fault with other clauses of the notification.

These teachers allege that the university authorities, unmindful of the directions of the ICAR,which had categorically advised the state agricultural universities to follow its guidelines on the implementation of the career advancement scheme in letter and in spirit, had arbitrarily incorporated certain clauses and sub-clauses which do not find any mention in the ICAR’s notification of July 19,2000. For instance, they say, the ICAR has clearly stipulated conditions for counting the past service in Clause 3.0 of its notification for calculating years of experience for promotion of teachers. However, the PAU has added some other conditions in proviso to Clause 6.1 of its notification, which specifies that the past service will be taken into account of those teachers who had put in at least two to four years of service in PAU.

Some teachers are also resentful of the procedure for promotion laid down in Clause 7 of the PAU notification. This clause envisages that teachers will apply for promotion under the new scheme only twice a year by July 15 and January 15, depending upon their eligibility. Teachers point out that the ICAR had not prescribed any such condition in its notification. According to the ICAR, the teachers will submit their bio-data for assessment/ promotion as and when they become eligible for it. The PAU should abrogate this clause, they demand.

Prior to the introduction of the new scheme, the PAU teachers had been getting promotion under two schemes, namely Merit Promotion Scheme (1983) and Career Advancement Scheme (1986). Since the new scheme takes into account the total service rendered by a teacher for promotion to the higher cadres, it is regarded as more attractive than the older schemes. Under the provisions of the new scheme, some teachers can seek promotion from a date earlier than the one from which they have actually been promoted.

While the Registrar has notified through a letter of September 29 that the teachers promoted under the Career Advancement Scheme of 1986 can make applications for promotions from an earlier date under the new scheme, those promoted under the Merit Promotion Scheme of 1983 have been denied this benefit. The Registrar has unequivocally stated in his letter dated August 28 that “the cases of teachers who have already been assessed under the said (Merit Promotion) scheme on the basis of their eligibility will not be re-opened”.

When this correspondent met Mr Alok Shekhar, Registrar, he assured that clarifications for certain clauses of the notification had been sought from the ICAR, which were likely to be received soon.

He confirmed that M.Tech was being considered equivalent to M. Phil. He also said that as far as M. Tech was concerned, the ICAR is not the governing body to take a decision. He maintained that it was a long-standing demand which had been given the final nod only after considering the recommendation of the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

Regarding the Merit Promotion Scheme, he said that a cut-off date had been fixed .”Once people have opted for a scheme- we can’t give them double advantage,” he added.

Mr Shekhar maintained that the teachers were being asked to submit their bio-data for promotion only twice a year for the sake of official convenience though they would be allowed promotions from the date of their eligibility.

The alleged discriminatory treatment has caused resentment to the affected teachers who have been promoted under the Merit Promotion scheme after January 1, 1996. Some of them, it is reliably learnt, have made petitions to the Vice-Chancellor, urging him to allow them promotions from an earlier date under the new scheme. They have also demanded that the pre-96 status of seniority should not be disturbed as they are apprehensive that under the new dispensation they will be superseded by the junior counter parts in many departments.