The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

Teachers seek changes in promotion policy
Our Correspondent

Sahnewal, June 9
A teacher can make or mar the future of his students. The overall development of society depends on the quality of human resource, and a teacher plays a vital role in shaping this resource. So, the appointment and promotion policy of teachers should be such that only meritorious and capable teachers are allowed to serve. However, the present promotion policy for teachers in government schools has many flaws. The Masters’ Organisation (Punjab) has highlighted these anomalies, and demanded relevant changes in this regard. This correspondent gathered its views about the amendments they wish to be introduced.

Mr Harjit Singh Balahri, president of the organisation, said: “According to the service rule, 1978, Appendix B item 2 rule 5, the academic qualification for promotion to the post of lecturer is specified only as M.A., M.Sc. or M. Com, and it is not necessary that the subject of post-graduation should have been studied as an elective subject in graduation. As a result, a science or mathematics master can be promoted as a lecturer in languages or social science, if he acquires a master’s degree in these subjects. But they are unable to do full justice to students. The service rule, thus, need to be amended. Only those masters should be promoted who acquire their postgraduate degree in the subject of their teaching. Besides, no increments are being given to the school teachers. At least two increments for M.A., four for M. Phil. and five for Ph.D. must be fixed.”

Ms Rosy Bhasin, a Hindi teacher, was of the opinion that in order to raise his academic qualification, a teacher should acquire his master’s degree only in the subject he teaches. Otherwise, he would not be able to teach properly, and the students would have to mug up things without understanding.

Mr Dilbag Singh Gill, a social studies master, had a point to add to the issue. He opined, `“Though the service rule 1978 rule 9 (3) page 189 D clearly states that all promotions shall be made by taking into consideration merit as well as seniority, the masters are promoted as lecturers only on the basis of seniority; the merit is entirely overlooked. The masters with at least second division in post-graduation in the subject of their teaching should be considered for promotion as lecturers. The Education Department considers only the date of joining as the basis for promotion. But many masters acquire their post-graduate degree several years after joining the service. So, the date of acquiring the PG degree should also be given due consideration for promotion.”

According to Mr. Kashmira Singh Aulakh, a retired Principal, “The policy of joint seniority for all subjects does not do justice to the masters, because the masters of a specific subject keep getting promoted while those of other subjects remain ignored. The seniority list should be prepared subject-wise so that masters of all the subjects get a fair chance to be promoted. Headmasters should be appointed keeping in mind the popularity of the subject they teach. Academic merit should also be given due weightage alongwith seniority. The condition of at least second class should be imposed for promotion as principal.”

Mr Dalwinder Singh Minhas, working as D.P.E., stated that out of the 752 masters promoted as lecturers by the Education Department in June, 2000, about 300 were those who had been earlier serving as science and mathematics masters, but were promoted as lecturers in the subjects of Punjabi, Hindi, English, History, etc. “They are not competent to teach these subjects. Their little knowledge would prove to be dangerous for their students. So, it would be in the interest of the students and the entire education system if rules are thoughtfully framed, and properly adhered to.”

Dr Singla to head business management dept
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 9
Contrary to the claims of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) authorities about deciding the question of headship of the Department of Business Management only after inviting applications from prospective candidates, the university is believed to have decided to appoint Dr S.K. Singla as the Head.

Dr V.C. Kapoor, Head of the Department of Zoology and Coordinator Research of the College of Basic Sciences, has forwarded Dr Singla’s case to the Registrar, Mr Alok Shekhar, for approval. Sources said that the Registrar had sent it back to the Dean, College of Basic Sciences, for reconsideration.

The move assumes significance as the recent change of designation of Dr Singla from professor of statistics to professor of management had sparked off a controversy and resentment among the teachers of business management.

Senior PAU officials said that it was not necessary for the university to invite applications for the post of a head as the seniormost professor of the department was automatically considered for the post. They said that Dr Singla had become the seniormost professor of the university after his designation was changed in the last meeting of the academic council of the varsity.

It is worth mentioning here that the change of designation of Dr Singla was approved by the academic council of the university amidst allegations of favouritism against the university authorities. The decision had flared up tempers in the university as the change of designation meant that he was eligible for direct appointment as the Head of the Department of Business Management.

The chair of the Head of the Department was vacated by Dr O.P. Sahni when he retired from the department on March 31. He was replaced by Dr M.A. Zaheer, Dean, College of Management, as the officiating head. Dr Singla was a professor in the Department of Statistics and he was transferred to this department to teach students of management and it was said that his seniority would be retained in his parent department.

Interestingly the academic council of the PAU had rejected the change of designation in its two meetings held on January 18 and February 28. Later the then Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, had constituted a committee which recommended the change in qualifications for the post of professor of business management.

In the next meeting of academic council held under the chairmanship of the new Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, the qualifications required for the post of professor in business management were changed. It was recommended that the candidates with post-graduate degree in commerce, economics, statistics and related subjects were eligible for the posts of professor and assistant professor. This cleared the way for Dr Singla to become a professor in the new department.

Other teachers of the Department of Business Management resented this decision and alleged that the qualifications were tailored to benefit a person who was close to the authorities and was an office-bearer of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers Union.

The issue was hanging fire since November, 1999, when Dr Singla was transferred to the Department of Business Management after the department faced shortage of staff after the retirement of a senior professor. The move was, however, opposed by the faculty members of Department of Business Administration arguing that Dr Singla did not hold a degree in business management.

Corruption fuels brain drain: toppers
Manoj Kumar
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 9
“No one can save the country from brain drain in the coming years as most of the students that the country is training in engineering and other streams with tax payers’ money will leave for other countries after completing their studies,” say city toppers. They start planning to go abroad even before entering a professional college. Reason: corrupt environment, lack of professionalism and a show-off attitude of the Ludhianvis.

“India has become one of the most corrupt countries in the world and Ludhiana is a dirty city where rich people prefer to show off their money instead of their talent. We want to get rid of this city and country as early as possible,” said a group of toppers of the city who have secured top positions in the entrance tests of IIT, CET and the Delhi College of Engineering (DEC).

Amardeep Gill, who has got the 489th rank in the all-India engineering test of IIT, 60th in the Punjab Engineering College and 199th in the DEC entrance test admits, “It is not the role of my parents or the blessings of God or even school, but my hard work that I have achieved this rank. Rather lack of good coaching institutes in the city has proved a handicap. I could have done much better, had I got better coaching.” When asked about his future plans, he said, “I will prefer to settle in the USA or some European country after getting a degree in computer science from the IIT.”

Jasmeet Singh who has secured the 152nd rank in the CET entrance test, wants to become an IAS officer. He says, “A degree in electronics and computer science would help me to secure an alternative job.”

Regarding the role of schools and coaching institutes in their success, the students opined that there was a very poor correlation between the performance in board exam and success in entrance test. Jasjot Singh, who has secured the 91st rank in the PEC entrance test, said, “There is a need to provide coaching in all subjects under one roof. He said that most of the coaching institutes in the city were indulging in corrupt practices. These institutes did not provide adequate teaching material or latest information. Rather these were interested in making money without paying adequate taxes.”

Ms Usha Tyagi, director, Aditiya Institute, said that all 50 students of their institute, who had appeared in the CET entrance exam, had been selected. “Nishant has secured the 87th rank and Nikita Sood, the city topper in the board exam, has got the 131st rank in the CET entrance test. She has also secured the 137th rank in PEC entrance test and the 427th rank in the DCE entrance test,” she said.

Mr Surinder Pal Singh, whose father runs a provisional store near Samrala Chowk, has secured the 293rd rank in the CET exam. He was grateful to his parents who had tried to provide best education despite financial constraints. The coaching institute and fellow students also helped him. He is planning to join electronics course in the regional engineering college, Jalandhar.

COURTS

9-month sentence in cheque bounce case
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 9
The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Ashok Kapoor, has convicted Rajesh Syal, Director, M/s Marigold Leasing India Ltd, Manimajra, Chandigarh and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for nine months, besides a fine of Rs 5,000 for having committed an offence punishable under section 138 of The Negotiable Instruments Act.

A criminal complaint was filed against the accused by one Rajpal, resident of Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana the allegation being that a cheque worth Rs 1 lakh issued by Rajesh Syal in his favour, to repay a loan was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in the account of the accused.

It was alleged in the complaint that the accused took a loan of Rs 1 lakh on interest at the rate of 2 per cent per month. On demand, in the year 1997, Rajesh Syal issued the aforesaid cheque to discharge his legally enforceable liability, with the assurance that it would be encashed on presentation.

Man held under NDPS Act acquitted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 9
The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Mehndiratta, has acquitted Ghochar Singh (75), a resident of Leela village, Sidhwan Bet, from the charges of possessing 35 kg of poppy husk, as the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

The Judge held that the investigating officer did not get the investigation verified by a gazetted officer. The recovery, coupled with other circumstances, had made the case doubtful.

An FIR was registered on August 31, 1998, in Sidhwan Bet police station against the accused under Sections 15, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. According to the prosecution, a police party had found the accused sitting on a gunny bag. They checked him and 35 kg of poppy husk was allegedly seized.

Judicial remand

The Judicial Magistrate, Mr Balwinder Kumar, today remanded Vijay Dhand to judicial custody till June 22 in a case of fraud. His brother Nirdosh Dhand, co-accused in the case, was yet to be arrested. An FIR was registered against the duo, under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 448 of the Indian Penal Code by the E.O. wing.

Judiciary to the aid of unborn female child
Shivani Bhakoo

Ludhiana, June 9
The legislature and executive wings of the government having failed to check female foeticide, it is once again the judiciary that has come to the aid of the unborn female child. The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court, directing the state government to ensure a strict control over genetic labs, clinics and genetic counselling centers had started showing result with Director, Health Services Punjab, directing the civil surgeons in the state to exercise a check on there commercial activities.

Keeping in tune with the directive of the apex court, the Director Health Services, Punjab, issued a circular (No FW-1(4)Pb-2001/3190) to civil surgeon in all district headquarters of Punjab on May 24 asking them to ensure that the Supreme Court orders were properly implemented. The Director, Health Services, has outlined the actions that are expected to be taken by all district heads of the Health Department. The Supreme Court directive came in response to a writ petition, (No 301 of 2000) in a case titled “Centre for inquiry into Health and Allied themes versus Union of India and other”.

The circular reiterates what has been confirmed by the just released report of the Census, 2001 i.e “the pre-natal sex determination encouraged female foeticide and adversely affected female sex ratio in Punjab”. The court said the state government was responsible for ensuring a strictly control on “sex-determination labs” and to prevent the misuse of genetic clinics, laboratories, counselling centers and ultrasound test or other techniques involved in sex determination.

Though, the state government had done nothing in this regard prior to the issuance of this circular, the Indian Medical Association is believed to have asked all its members having ultrasound machines to register themselves with the office of the civil surgeon, a provision that has become mandatory after the directive of the Supreme Court.

Though the Director, Health Services, has directed the civil surgeon to take prompt action against a clinics or any other person who published or distributed any advertisement regarding facilities of pre-natal sex determination, by filing a case in the court as per the provisions of the Act, doctors are skeptical over the outcome of such an order as it is common knowledge that sex-determination clinics were flourishing in the state under the nose of those very officials who are now trying to restrain them.

The circular has directed that the civil surgeon must register all the genetic clinics, counselling centres, ultra sound centers under its jurisdiction (including government bodies) within 15 days. Action should be taken against those who do not come forward voluntarily. The authorities should create public awareness about the Act by putting up hoarding in hospitals and other important places in the city and nursing homes.

The civil surgeon have been asked to submit quarterly progress reports in respect of the Act to the Director, Health Services. The director has also asked the civil surgeons to identify and propose the names of three female social workers from each sub-district.

The state Health Directorate has also directed the civil surgeons to create public awareness about the Act and provisions punishments under it by putting hoardings in hospitals and, other important places in the town and near nursing homes. The civil surgeons have also been directed to use electronic media like radio, television and cable for educating both the public and the doctors about the Act and illegality sex-determination.

It may be mentioned that despite the enactment of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Regulation and Preventive Act in 1994 by the Central Government and the Punjab Government’s adoption of the same in 1996, female foeticide continued unabated in the state resulting in a sharp imbalance between the ratio of boys and girls in the state. The latest circular by the Health Department is being viewed as a ray of hope for the unborn female child.