EDUCATION

AIFUTA seeks payment of arrears
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 10 — If the state governments failed to release the payment of arrears by March 15, university teachers will take steps “to awaken the governments from their” slumber.

This was decided at a meeting of the North Zone council of the All India Federation of University Teachers Associations at Panjab University here today.

Presidents of the state federations of university teachers from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh attended the meeting. Prominent among the participants included Prof Hari Singh, Prof S.K.Sharma, Prof Bhupinder Singh Khaira, Prof Hari Pal Brar, and Prof Devi Sarohi.

During deliberations it was noted that university teachers in Haryana were still waiting for the release of payment of arrears on account of pay revision due from April 1,1996. Teachers from Punjabi University, Patiala and Guru Nanak Dev University , Amritsar had been paid arrears upto 1997 only.

Prof P.P. Arya, President, said, “The federation took a serious note of the fact that the state governments were damaging the functioning of the universities by appointing non-academicians as Vice-Chancellors.

The AIFUTA endorsed a call given by the Punjab Federation of University Teachers’ Associations to participate in a protest action in this regard at Punjabi University, Patiala.

Teachers are also resenting the non-implementation of enhancement of retirement age from 60 to 62. Research activities and promotional avenues also came up for discussion.

St John’s bags best school library award
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 10 — Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, MP, presided over the annual prize distribution function of the Chandigarh Librarians’ Association (CLA) held at the Government Polytechnic, Sector 10, here today.

Lauding the efforts of the CLA in organising “these innovative and creative competitions related to libraries”, Mr Bansal observed that such competitions should be held regularly. He also suggested that the schools and colleges should celebrate ‘Library Day’ to inculcate reading habits among students.

Mr I.B. Verma, Secretary, CLA, gave details of the association’s activities in the year. On the occasion, students of St. Stephen’s School Sector 45, presented a group song and dance.

This year’s best school library award has been bagged by St John’s and Preeti Kathpalia of the same school has won the best school librarian award for the year 2000.

The over all trophies for the best performance have been bagged by St John’s, Government Model Sr. Sec. School, Sector 35, and Government School, Sector 45.

Teachers of a school in Burail and St Soldier School, Mohali, bagged the first prize in the essay writing competition organised by CLA. Ms Kanwalpreet of DAV College, Sector 10, along with a faculty member of Mount Carmel School jointly bagged the second prize while a teacher of St Kabirs School was got the third prize.

Founder’s Day celebrations at college
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 10 — Religious fervour marked the 27th Founder’s Day celebrations of the Guru Gobind Singh College for Girls, Sector 26, held here today. Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, inaugurated the multipurpose hall at the college campus.

A session of gurmat vichar followed the bhog of the akhand path organised in the college on February 8th. Bhai Kulbir Singh shared his views about the role of education in building a constructive society with the students in the gurmat vichar.

“Mittar pyare nu” a shabad composed by Guru Gobind Singh was sung by students of the college. Bhai Jasbir Singh Khalsa Khanne wale and Bhai Kulbir Singh performed the shabad kirtan on the occasion. Langar was also served after the function.