M A I L B A G

Problem of admission tests

MR P.P.S. GILL’S article, “Education mafia taking over”, published in The Tribune on November 17 draws the attention of education administrators to certain problems that have emerged in the wake of the introduction of entrance tests for admission to the medical and engineering colleges. The tests have enormously burdened students and parents and are a big drain on their financial resources, time and energy.

As different universities hold separate tests, parents are compelled to spend huge amounts on buying prospectuses, paying admission fees and then accompanying their wards to different areas for the entrance tests. Since the strategies for preparations for the tests are quite different from classroom teaching, the students spend a big amount as fee, charged by coaching centres and private tutors.

The most serious repercussion of the tests is that the sancity of classroom teaching is almost lost. As the eligibility for appearing in the tests is mere 50 per cent marks in the class XII examination, students devote most of their time to preparing for the tests. In-depth and detailed study in the classroom becomes a casualty in the process.

The universities find the entrance tests an easy way to collect huge funds. I fully endorse the suggestion that in order to bring the much-needed relief to the students and to reduce the financial strain on the parents, the task of holding the tests should be assigned to a single national agency. It is learnt that Mr Mohan Lal, Minister of Higher Education, Punjab, has already addressed a similar request to the Union Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Murli Manohar Joshi. All concerned await a favourable decision in the matter.

A.C. VAID
Chandigarh

Of Haryana Police website

A news-item appeared in a section of the press on November 17 saying that the Haryana Police website is no more than a Panchkula police website and that the police websites are not people-friendly.

It appears that the correspondent concerned has seen only a section of the Haryana Police website or has not seen it at all, relying solely on hearsay. The Haryana Police website opens with a message from the Chief Minister and from the DGP. It has a photo-gallery of all the previous heads of the police force, which none of the other police sites has developed. It has a feature on the achievements of the police. It litst out the names of those officers who have received Police Medals for gallantry, distinguished services or meritorious services. It gives the names of achievers from the Haryana Police in the field of sports, which also includes two Arjuna awardees — Mr Jagrup Singh, Addl SP at Sonipat, and Mr Rajinder Singh, DSP, Meham.

Besides, the website has detailed notes on the various units of the department like the Armed Police, the training college, telecommunication, railways, commandos, the Forensic Science Laboratory, the State Crime Record Bureau, the Police Housing Corporation, etc. There are detals of training courses which are run at the Police Training College, Madhuban. The write-up on the Forensic Science Laboratory mentions in detail about the various divisions and their working.

For the benefit of the public and to make it user-friendly, a helpline has been provided in the website so that people can either lodge their complaints or give their suggestions. A list of all important telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and district maps showing all police stations has been given in the website. Some tips for citizens have also been incorporated in detail. Ift gives do’s and don’t for the people when they are alone of home or on the road or travelling in trains. It even tells them how to lodge an FIR with the police.

Regarding information relating to missing persons at unclaimed bodies. It is clarified that similar information from other districts is being loaded on the NIC server of Delhi and all efforts will be made to keep this website updated.

PARMINDER RAI,
DIG/Admn, for Director-General of Police, Haryana
Panchkula

ANAND PRAKASH
Chandigarh