EDUCATION

Resolution on starting new Chairs to be studied
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
Panjab University will take up with the coordination forum of vice-chancellors to study starting of new chairs through mutual co ordination. This follows a resolution of Mr Satya Pal Dang to “avoid duplication of work and also ensure that chairs are started for research and not for extraneous reasons”.

The resolution comes up for detailed consideration before the university’s forthcoming syndicate meeting. The coordination committee will look into work more specifically in Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University and Panjab University.

A university committee has suggested that appointments on the chairs already available should be specific with clear-cut aims instead of regular long-term appointments, as has been the practice in the past.

The syndicate will consider the resolution of Dr Rabinder Nath Sharma and Prof P.P.Arya saying “the charge in absence of regular head of the institution or department of Panjab University should go to the next person in the line in the line of seniority and it should not be given to the DUI or DSW or any other official of the university who is not a specialist in the field concerned.”

The university will declare results of BA, B.Sc and B.Com (first year) examination of those students who have cleared their compartment in plus two in a special chance given by the UGC. These examinations (compartment) are conducted by school education boards and not the university.

Replying to a question of a syndic about the university claim to giving financial aid to university students, the university says “in the Department of Correspondence Studies a total of 147 students were given financial assistance of Rs 2,000 each (annually).” Besides, the university has given financial assistance of Rs 3,000 each (annually) out of Poor Students Aid Fund. This aid was given during the last financial year.

Computer Applications and fashion designing top the list of vocational subjects for which the university has granted affiliation to as many as 15 colleges. The university Grants Commission approves these courses. The university also considers the guidelines for incurring expenditure out of funds provided by the Bhagyatara Educational Foundation.

It’s ‘branded’ schools vs local giants
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, November 10
This time it will be a clash of titans. With a number of country's top public schools having franchised out education from the coming academic session, it is going to be their "brand value" against the local giants.

With Shemrock Fort here becoming a franchisee of Delhi Public School and a branch of Delhi Modern Convent, Dwarika, appointing a franchisee here, it will be a close fight between the schools here for admissions to play-way and nursery/pre-nursery classes. While these two schools are counting on their brand value as the USP, the already-established schools are dealing with the challenge by promoting their cost-effectiveness and established infrastructure.

As these schools vie with each other for their share of the proverbial pie, most of them have thrown open registration during this month itself for various classes — courtesy the new competition. Parents are already queuing up at various schools and reportedly getting their children registered for admission to at least three to four schools, irrespective of the expense being borne in the form of registration fee, which varies from Rs 400 to Rs 500.

At the time of admission to any of these schools, parent's will have to shell out anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 17,000. But then, nobody really seems to complain.

One of the main features of Delhi Public School will be distance education through satellite. This means the best teachers of Delhi Public Schools will prepare the lessons, which will be beamed to other DPS students. As many as eight laboratories, including three science labs, Mathematics, computer science , social science and home science laboratory, will be established here.

Academic and human resource support will be provided by the Education Management Centre of Delhi Public School along with Environment Education Council for children, which creates environment awareness amongst students, says Dr D.S. Arora of Delhi Public School.

Similarly, the local franchisee of Delhi Modern Convent-Tiny Tots promises customised animated lessons on CD ROMs and books, fully air -conditioned classrooms and conveyance, CCTVs in each classrooms for parents to watch the progress of their wards, mineral water and proper mid-day meals and snacks, and a mini zoo.

Established schools like Hansraj Public School, Satluj Public School, DAV School, Sector 8, DC Model School and Chaman Lal DAV School are also wooing parents by promoting their infrastructure. From air-conditioned buses with wireless connectivity to the state-of-the-art multi media theatres and from electric joy rides to lessons taught on CD- ROM's, schools here have come a long way. Rickety wooden chairs and tables are things of the past and have been replaced by specially designed chairs and tables in all shades and colours.

Meanwhile, a number of parents and tiny tots are facing the ordeal of getting admission by leaving no stone unturned for ensuring admission to the "right schools." From buying latest volumes of encyclopaedias for the toddlers provided special sessions on etiquette, kids are being equipped by their parents for their admission.

While most of the schools take interviews of children to assess their mental development, there are others like Hansraj and The Gurukul that have introduced an "informal interaction with students." From checking their cognitive and motor skills to checking their reactions after receiving instructions is what is now being assessed. We prefer children with a uniform IQ level and this helps us in dealing with them in upper classes," says Ms Rajni Thareja, Principal of Hansraj Public School.

HAMARA SCHOOL
DAV MODEL SCHOOL SECTOR 15
Swami Dayanand is their guiding spirit
Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service
To imbibe knowledge in the form of learning has always been a motivating force of DAV Model School, Sector 15, ever since its inception in 1966. The school, run under the auspices of DAV Managing Committee, is guided by the principles and teachings of Swami Dayanand, following them to the letter.

Gaganpreet, class XI

Affiliated to the CBSE, the school is co-educational and the medium of instruction is both English and Hindi. The campus, sprawling over four acres of land in the heart of city provides for academics, sports and a girls’ hostel on the premises which has an accommodation for 125 students.

The school has risen from strength to strength since it began with 40 students on its rolls in 1966 and, it has at present, about 1600 students till the senior secondary level. Amongst the first ones to start senior secondary classes as soon as the system was introduced, the school, however, caters to girl students at this level. Beginning with a primary school, it was later upgraded to middle, secondary and senior secondary level keeping in view the demand of the parents and children.

Charu, class XII

Providing education in all the three streams of humanities, commerce and science, computer education is compulsory right from the formative level. While computer-aided learning is a new dimension they have added to the school, the focus throughout the sessions has been on harmonious education.

The school abounds in the latest education technology and highly qualified and experienced staff, has well-equipped modern laboratories and a library with a collection of over 8000 books, journals and magazines.

Gitu, class XII

While academics are central to the school’s educational agenda, co-curricular activities and sports are equally focused upon. To encourage students to take up sports, the school has hired professional coaches to train them in basketball, kho-kho, volleyball among others. In addition, the school runs a Nursery Teachers Training Course recognised by NCTE. This is the only D.A.V. School in India to get the affiliation.

Working together as a family, DAV-15 has proved that it is only a distance between one’s origin and one’s final achievement as they strive to achieve much more with a positive mind attuned to the realities and gear to meet the challenges of the new century.

‘Disparity in board and competitive exams to blame for tuition menace’

Alive to the changing academic scenario around her, Principal Rakesh Sachdeva holds that the present system of imparting education is more discouraging to the students. Stiff competition and focus on studies has not only taken the fizz out of the system but also limited the all round development of the child. The emphasis is on encouraging the child to come out of his shell while teachers are trained to spend “quality time” with them.

The school endeavours to establish a well-equipped hostel on a popular demand from far and wide. Besides, a new floor is being added to the building and the playgrounds would be done up all over again. Making of separate state-of-the-art computer labs for the staff, junior and senior students. — GG

Poems by students

Mom

My school

“An infrastructure of Absolute development". This is the first thought that comes to mind when I sum up my school-DAV Model-15. DAV stands for Dayanand Anglo Vedic-an institution that has moulded many young minds with great futures.

The ship of our school is steered into the right direction by the Principal and a perfect administrator. The school staff is one of the biggest assets of the school, comprising excellent teachers in various subjects. On the one hand, the school provides excellent facilities for board and lodging for the hostellers, it puts even greater effort in inculcating and pandering to various interests of the students.

This co-educational institution has also been excelling in inter-school, state level and national level activities. My school has been successful in imparting indispensable education to every student and the education here has left an indelible mark on my mind.

—Iti Sharma, class XII

CULTURE

Folk tale made contemporary
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
Living upto its tradition of bringing some fine theatre to the city, Sandli Pairan Kala Kendra today presented an outstanding piece of drama, conceptualised and structured by none other than the famous Girish Karnad. Blending two folk tales of Karnataka, the playwright touches upon the basics of life, in the process identifying the cause of pain, suggesting social means to handle stress and finally achieving what one calls the real freedom.

Unfettered by the weight of technique or performance, director Rahul Joshi seems to have understood the sensitive subject tacked by Girish Karnad with immense sensibility. Using the elements of theatre with precision and perfection, the director does a good job of emotion, as it trickles from every word of the production. The sutradhar of the play fits well into the scheme, carrying the subjects forward and narrating tales of dejection and passion simultaneously.

Interestingly, for the first time effort of director Rahul Joshi as also of the entire cast of the play, the production was fairly convincing. The lead characters lived the roles well, merging technique with performance and delivering the goods well.

As for the subject — the play is a combination of two folk tales that reflect life at the grassroots level. Drawing from the rich folk heritage of Karnataka, Karnad has offered a contemporary touch to a traditional theme that explores the relationship of a beautiful woman Rani, who is continuously despised by her wedded man. Her desires assume the form of Nagappa, who lends form to her dreams by offering love and affection to her. In the backdrop rests the essential stigma of accepting the love of a man who is not a socially accepted subject in the life of Rani.

The story is a beautiful reflection of the point where reality meets illusion. Often we mull our own desires in order to gratify the so-called social and moral obligations. However, the urge to break free presses upon the mind and weighs heavily until succumbed to.

The playwright makes a powerful cinematic and social statement through his work. Using “naga” as a symbol of individualism, he interprets an age-old theme to suit a very modern set up.

Basic elements like love, jealousy, death, power, hatred remain juxtaposed in the script which is brought home with the powerful performance by Mohit Verma who plays the role of Apanna (Rani’s estranged husband) and Nagappa (the snake who assumes a human form to load Rani with love), Aman Bhogal, who plays Rani, Kapanna (played by Akshay Maurya) and Andhi Ma (played by Rubina).

Taking off from point where a playwright is shown struggling for breath, cursed as he is to bear the brunt of his own creation and its consequence, the play progresses to translate dreams into reality.

CHANDIGARH SANGEET SAMMELAN
Zenith of pleasure on wings of melody
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 10
The concluding day of the 25th Chandigarh Sangeet Sammelan was made worthwhile by a delightful santoor presentation by Balwant Singh, who was supported in the affair of rhythm by renowned vocalist of Gwalior gharana Ulhas Kashalkar.

Taking off from where he left the melodies last night, vocalist Ulhas Kashalkar picked up the strings to weave a magical experience for the gathering at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan this morning. Beginning his wonderful vocal recital with a morning raaga “Ramkali” in which he sung the composition “Rut baar baar tujhe milan ki saiyaan”, he went on to reflect his solid base in vocal music. He graduated to raaga “Gaur Sarang” singing a beautiful piece “Pal na lagi bhari akhiyaan...”

After the soothing melodies of raaga “Gaur Sarang”, it was time to create the magic of thumri in raaga “Gujri todi”. With every presentation, Ulhas Kashalkar proved his worthy lineage. Also a master of the Jaipur gharana, Ulhas was extremely strong with layakaris. His voice modulation, his powerful exposition and elaboration of the raaga were highly appreciated.

The beginning of today’s programme was, however, marked by the santoor recital by Balwant Singh who presented raaga “Miyan ki Todi”. Harpreet Singh on tabla gave him a wonderful accompaniment. Balwant Singh reflected the raaga in great detail as he presented alaap, jod, jhala. With absolute command over the instrument, Balwant Singh went on to impress the audience with his tantrakari ang. The synchronization of tabla and santoor was amazing, so was the rendition that took the gathering to the zenith of pleasure.

After presenting vilambit in rupak taal, Balwant Singh offered drut in teen taal, absorbing the audience completely in his creation of rhythms that were rapt with perfection.