The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

‘CBSE psychology book not student-friendly’
Parbina Rashind

Chandigarh, December 9
The new approach in teaching psychology at the class XI level has raised quite a few eyebrows with many questioning the wisdom of the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) in introducing the book “Introduction to psychology”.

The book, which was introduced in the current academic session 2002 -2003, is a modular self-learning styled book which has focused on social and cultural basis of behaviour in the Indian context. But if the reaction of the Psychology teachers of the region who gathered to attend a three-day orientation programme at DAV Public School, Sector 15, is anything to go by, a lot of thinking needs to be done before the CBSE finalises its decision regarding the introduction of the book.

“The book is definitely teacher-friendly and comprehensive but too technical for students who are just beginners,” said Dr Nalini Pant, one of the delegates from Scholar’s Home, Dehradun. And almost all 25 delegates, who were present today on the concluding day of the orientation programme, shared her view.

Contradictory to the claim of Dr Namita Ranganathan, one of the resource persons from the Central Institute of research and Education, New Delhi, that the book adopts a “child centric approach”, a majority find that the book is above the general IQ of students.

“This new book will make the students totally dependent on teachers and to bring it down to their level a few of the chapters have to be deleted,” said Ms Kulwant from Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 18.

“After all it is the students who have to face the examinations, not the teachers,” she added.

The orientation programme, which was the first of its kind for the CBSE to have organised where the subject was concerned, is also going to evaluate teacher’s reactions on this book.

One such programme has already been conducted in New Delhi and others are in the pipeline. The final assessment will be done based on the opinion of the participants and subsequent action will be taken by the authorities regarding the future of the book.

“Once we come to know about what educationists think about the book, we will later introduce something similar at class XII level,” said a source from the CBSE. The four resource persons who addressed the participants were Prof G. Mishra, Head of Psychology Department, Delhi University, Dr Kailash Tuli from Zakir Hussain College, New Delhi, Dr Rekha Arora from DIET, Delhi, and Dr Namita Ranganathan from the Central Institute of Research and Education, New Delhi.

No end to Laws Dept row
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 9
The on, going crisis in the Laws Department of Panjab University over lecture shortage is not yet finished despite the university decision of organising special lectures.

No classes scheduled for today could be conducted due to a difference of opinion among the faculty members. Meanwhile, the ongoing semester examinations were postponed till December 4 during which the department planned to organise special lectures.

Reliable sources said that a sizeable part of the faculty did not agree to holding classes today.

The Vice Chancellor is likely to meet the staff tomorrow, the sources added.

Science Fair-2002

The Young Scientists Association, Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Ludhiana, organized Science Fair-2002 on December 9 in which a science exhibition, quiz contest and chart-making competition were organised. In the science exhibition the students displayed models pertaining to food, health and nutrition, energy, technology and environment, industry and environmental protection, transport and communication and technological aids.

The models of electrostatic smoke perceptors aimed at reducing air pollution was quite fascinating. Similarly presentation of Cloning of genetically engineered plant of cotton BT was very informative. The students had prepared useful items like tiles , pots and statues out of used polythene and sand.

In chart-making competition, the participants highlighted abuse of science and encouraged science and ethics go side by side. In the quiz contest the students answered queries. In these competitions about 100 students from 25 institutions participated. In the science exhibition the students of BCM Public School, Tagore Public School and GGN Public School bagged good positions, while in the college category, local college cornered the glory. In the quiz contest Everest Public School and Government Girls High School, Ramgarh, finished first and second position. OC

COURTS

Court notice to UT in N.K. Jain case
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 9
Acting on an anticipatory bail plea moved by former UT Home Secretary N.K Jain in an alleged Shimla girl rape case, a local court today issued a notice to the UT state to file reply in the case by tomorrow.

N.K Jain alleged in the plea that he was falsely implicated in the case by the UT police, probably at behest of the UT SSP. He further alleged in the plea that the SSP was quite frustrated and now was acting in connivance with M.K Jain who has enmity against him”.

N.K Jain alleged in the plea that he was falsely implicated in the case by the UT police, probably at behest of the UT SSP.

He further alleged in the plea that the SSP was quite frustrated and now was acting in connivance with M.K Jain who has enmity against him”. “ He is prepared to join the investigation and ready to cooperate with the police, said Mr N.K Jain in a plea.

Earlier, while filing the challan in the case, the UT police had levelled allegation of gang rape against four persons—Ram Lal, Baldev, Surinder and Narvir. Mr M.K Jain has been given clean chit by the police.

The UT police has stated that the supplementary challan against N.K Jain, would be filed against him after he join- ed the investigations. Following N.K Jain’s inability to join the investigations the UT police has got arrest warrants against him from a local court.

CULTURE

PROFILE
Art to enterprise
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, December 9
Bindia Bagai has just one passion in life-creating exotic prints through blocks. And by doing so she is not just creating patterns but assimilating different cultures traditions to create something unique. Her collections of suits, bed linen, quilts and other accessories, highlight the art beneath the simple art of block printing.

Into this profession for about 12 years now, for Bindia, life took its own course, otherwise she would not have thrown her high profile travel and tourism career to embrace something so different just on basis of knowledge gathered from a 15 days workshop.

“Though I always had an artistic streak in me, I could not pursue it at professional level as my parents simply would not hear of it, just because artistic world of that era was full of drug addicts and eccentrics,” said Bindia. Though her artistic nature resurfaced on a later stage, she has no regrets about it.

She has held workshops in Rajasthan, UP and Mumbai and travels across the country in search of new material and designs.

Operating from her residence she co-ordinates with three national award winners in block printing who are heading her workshops in UP, Rajasthan and Mumbai.

“Mostly we make our own designs but we do listen to our buyers if they have something special in their minds,” said Bindia.