EDUCATION

Exhibition at BCM Arya School
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 2 — An exhibition of various working and non-working models on science, mathematics, computers, art and craft, home science, photography, gardening and postal stamps was organised at BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, here today.

A working model of the ailments and cures of human heart made by Ankur and Smily of Class XI, was the main attraction in the science section. Students explained the problems and remedies of blockage in arteries and damage to pace maker. Deepak Sarna of Class X had devised a low cost three-chamber water purifier. Rajan and Varun of Class XI had made an electricity saver that worked on photoelectric effect. Besides, there were models on pollution, after-effects of consuming alcohol, volcano, electroplating, intercom and mechanical lift.

Bonsai, ornamental plants, chemical and natural fertilisers, hydrophytes and ornamental silicon plants were displayed in the gardening section. A model of a greenhouse made by Niharika and Kanav attracted the visitors. A group of Class X students demonstrated the 12 steps in agriculture from ploughing to transportation of the produce. Shiv Arora of Class IX had displayed a model of protection of crops from birds and animals by using scare crows, drum beaters and rotating reflectors.

The entire exhibition could also be visualised from a slide show on computer prepared by Abhishek of Class XII and Hitesh of Class IX. Kuber of Class XI demonstrated the use of computer for learning typing, composing and editing music through a software ‘Sensiva’. Besides, video CDs of Hindi and English movies were also played for the visitors.

Water, oil, glass, fabric and tin foil paintings were displayed in the art section. The students had also made rangoli patterns, fresh and dry flower arrangements, wall-hangings, soft toys, candles and hand-knitted pullovers. Baskets, humpty dumpty, huts and other decorative items were made out of waste material, including thermocoal and ice-cream sticks. A vast variety of cuisines from different states of India were presented in the cooking section.

In the mathematics section, students explained various easy calculation tricks. They displayed a 100-year calendar and ways to measure the height of a building by trigonometric calculations.

Photographs of flora and fauna, holy places, historical monuments and other sites, taken by the students on various trips and tours, were also displayed. Stamps and letter covers collected by the students on wildlife, personalities of India, space and monuments, were also displayed.

The chief guest on the occasion was Dr M.A. Zahir, Dean, College of Basic Sciences, Punjab Agricultural University. Mr Satyanand Munjal, president of the managing committee, and Ms Paramjit Kaur, principal of the school, took a round of the exhibition and encouraged the students to come out with more ideas.

Inter-school declamation contest
From Our Correspondent

KHANNA, Dec 2 — The 21st Principal Nand Lal Kalra Memorial Inter-School Declamation Contest was organised at AS Senior Secondary School here today.

Overall trophy was bagged by Sacred Heart Convent School, Khanna, while Radha Vatika Senior Secondary School, Khanna, were declared runners-up.

In English category, Karanvir Kaur of Sacred Heart Convent School and Megha Khosla of Radha Vatika Senior Secondary School were jointly declared first, while Gagandeep Kaur of Sacred Heart bagged second position.

In Hindi category, Ashok Kumar of A.S. Senior Secondary School was declared first and Priyanka Malhotra of AAR Jain Girls Senior Secondary School, Khanna, bagged second prize.

In Punjabi category, Pawandeep Kaur of AAR Girls School was declared first, while Hardeep Singh was declared second. In all, six schools of the city participated in the contest.

The Superintendent of Police (operations), Mr Ram Singh was the chief guest, while the function was presided over by Dr Sarabjit Singh.

Principal Vinod Kapila, president of AS School management Ashok Tewari, manager of the school Vinod Ghai and chairman Radha Vatika School Nirmal Sofat were present on the occasion.

Khalsa College library well-stocked
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Dec 2 — The library of Khalsa College for Women has the unique distinction of possessing more than 49,000 books, the largest number in any private affiliated college in North India.

The college library caters to the needs of students of seven postgraduate courses and the 20 other courses being taught in the college.

The principal, Ms Harinder Dhillon said, “We have seven courses in Post Graduation, and I believe in departmental libraries for every subject. My aim is to encourage teachers to consult books for preparing their lessons.”

“How do you know the teachers are making use of the books?”

“One can easily find out from the students,” she replied.

Khalsa college is perhaps the only college that has made a separate section, in a new spacious building for storing books of BBA, BCA, MCA and books on computers. There are 1,400 books on these subjects so far.

The main library housed in a big hall, has books neatly kept according to the subjects. The seven postgraduate courses are Fine Arts, Political Science, History, Punjabi, MCA and PGDP in computer education. Ms Balwinder, the Assistant Librarian said, “We are kept quite busy issuing and taking back books. On an average, 300 books are issued every day. Though we have no library periods in the curriculum, girls keep visiting the library for reading newspapers, magazines and for consultation of reference books. We are getting as many as 50 magazines and 11 newspapers.”

Ms Sonali, Simrit and Kuljeet of Class XII visit the library to read magazines like 'Competition Success’ for they wish to keep abreast of the latest knowledge. Their aim is to sit for the PCS examination.

Ms Sonia Singh, a Lecturer in English reads fiction. She says, “I go regularly to the library . I suggest the books that students should read.

“Are the reading habits on decline amongst the students?”

Ms Singh said, “Definitely. My own children do not like to read books. Whereas, my mother-in-law, my mother and I, cannot fall asleep till we read. The causes for decline in reading habits is obvious. TV is the main culprit. Even if they are not watching TV, they are on geris or busy on the computers in the various cybercafes.”

The librarian, Ms Balwinder, held contrary views . According to her, students were fond of reading, specially the postgraduate students . They consulted reference books. Undergraduates mostly read newspapers and magazines.

Parampreet, Jaswinder, Anchal, also liked to go to library to read magazines. They all lamented that they did not have much time at their disposal to read novels and biographies etc. Their studies kept them quite busy.

Sangeeta and Daljinder, students of MA said, “We come to consult political science books. We wish there were more books on this subject.”

The library was neat and tidy. At the entrance, the shelves were placed where the girls could leave their hand bags . Plenty of pictures all round the library made it appealing.