EDUCATION

PCCTU flays state govt's policy
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
A meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the PCCTU (an apex body of privately aided and unaided colleges of Punjab and Chandigarh) was held at GTB National College Dakha yes.

In a press note, Prof Kanwaljit Singh, Zonal Secretary, PCCTU, PU area, said more than 30 college teachers drawn from different colleges of the State had attended the meeting.

The meeting condemned, the anti-higher education policies being pursued by the Panjab Government Cut in grants, abolition of posts, delay in the payment of salaries came in for strong condemnation. The meeting unanimously denounced the state government for striking at the very roots of higher education in the state.

A recent decision of the state government to impose complete ban on recruitment to the posts, lying vacant and likely to fall vacant due to retirement or any other reason, which has been endorsed by DPI (colleges) Punjab (vide letter No. 11/ho-2002 m(6) dated 13-8-02) would sound the death knell of higher education, added Prof Kanwaljit Singh.

The meeting chalked out future course of action in the current academic session. As per this action plan, extended dharna by the executive committee will be held outside DPI (Colleges) office in Chandigarh on Sept 5,2002.

Later a zonal rally of colleges will be held outside the mini-secretariat Ludhiana on September 24. On October 10, college teachers from all over the state will go on mass casual leave and hold a rally at Patiala, the home constituency of Panjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh followed by "jail bharo" andolan.

Teachers ‘getting raw deal’
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
The Punjab Non-Gazetted Employees Organisation (PNGEO) has charged the government with giving a raw deal to the teaching community. The teachers were not only being denied their rightful demands but were also being given non-teaching duties.

This was stated by Mr Pritpal Singh, vice-president of the PNGEO, and president of the Government Teachers Union in a statement here today. Criticising the Punjab budget, which had hit the employees, including government teachers, below the belt, he said it was perhapse for the first time that the allowances and other financial benefits, already being availed by the employees, were sought to be withdrawn.

He was sore at the teachers being targeted for election, enumeration, census and all other kinds of non-teaching works which adversely affected their teaching work. Pleading the case of teachers in Jammu and Kashmir, he said duties assigned to them in the disturbed state were unjust and should be immediately cancelled so that the teachers could resume teaching work. Coming down heavily on the new education policy of the government, he observed that none of the teacher organisations had been consulted by the government.

Class VII student invited for nature camp
Our Correspondent

Ahmedgarh, August 26
Dilshad Akhtar, a Class VII student of Government Senior Secondary School, Nathumajra, has been invited by the Centre for Environment Education for a two-day Nature Discovery Camp at Jim Corbet National Park. As many as 56 students from eight northern states are participating. He has won the first prize in one of the World Summit on Sustainable Development School competitions organised in April.

Dilshad is excited after receiving communication from the centre. He could never imagine that a simple poem on environment recited by him during the competition would bring a laurel to his illiterate parents and the school. After getting the invitation letter translated by the school Principal, Mr Jagmeet Singh, he has come to know that the camp would help not only to get an outdoor nature experience but also to understand the concepts of environmental conservation and sustainable development.

When contacted his father, Chheju Khan, a mason, and his mother, they said: “His teachers have been congratulating us but we are worried about his journey and stay at such far-off place. He does not have even good dresses which he can wear when he sits among others”. 

Declamation contest at Khalsa College
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
A declamation contest for both junior and senior sections of students of Khalsa College for Women was held on the college campus today. More than 20 students participated.

Among the senior sections, Aarahi, Parinidhi and Rubina bagged the first, second and the third prizes, respectively, while in the junior section, Jaskiran, Geetika and Priya were placed first , second and third. The function was organised by The English Society of the College.

Painting competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
The last date for the All-India Drug Awareness Painting Competition to be organised by Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle has been extended till September 20.

This was disclosed here today by Mr Jasbir Singh, Associate Director, Social and Health Services, Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle. The first prize carries a cash of Rs 5100, the second Rs 3100 and the third Rs 2100, besides 20 consolation prizes.

Murder accused acquitted
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 26
Mr V.B. Handa, Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, has acquitted Rajinder Singh, a resident of Khanna, of murdering his brother, Rajpal Singh, on December 25, 1999, as prime prosecution witnesses have turned hostile. A case was registered against him under Section 304 of the IPC on the same day.