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| Sunday,
April 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India
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NCERT books still elude students Chandigarh, April 19 Text books prescribed for Hindi for Class XII, social science text-books for Class-X and maths and science books for some junior classes are still reported to be unavailable in the city even though the academic session in schools commenced about three weeks ago. The reason cited by CBSE officials earlier for non-availability of textbooks was that the publication of the books was delayed due to changes made in the syllabus of some subjects. While NCERT books were yet to arrive, books brought out by private publishers were readily available. Though there are no restrictions on private schools prescribing text books brought out by private publishers, government schools, as a policy matter, restrict themselves to books published by the NCERT. Principals of several government schools spoken to said they do not have the liberty to recommend books published by private publishers. “We cannot replace NCERT books,” the Principal of a government model school said. “We have no choice but to wait,” he added. Teachers said the school authorities’ querries with the NCERT and the CBSE on the availability of prescribed textbooks have not yielded any definite answers. “We have been told that the books would be available ‘anytime’,” a teacher remarked. Several bookshop owners in Sectors 17 and 22 also confirmed that majority of the NCERT books for senior classes, which were not available earlier this month, have started flowing in.  |
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PU may do away with evening B. Com classes Chandigarh, April 19 A recommendation to this regard has been made by a university committee constituted to look into the functioning of the course in the department in light of the new recommendations of the University Grants Commission. The department was found lacking on several accounts, including conforming to the minimum academic standards pertaining to the teaching hours and other related academic activities in the course. The committee is learnt to have recommended phasing out of the commerce course so that the interests of the ongoing classes were not harmed. Reliable sources said during a visit of the team of the Academic Audit recently, the department was asked to supply the timetable which was found wanting on certain accounts. In the B Com course, there are certain “portions that are about real life dealing rather than mere classroom teaching. These included topics like opening a bank account and maintaining cash registers besides others. This component needed interaction over and above the normal classes which was very difficult in case of the evening studies”, a senior teacher said. It was pointed out that under revised UGC guidelines the practical aspect of the entire course had been underlined specifically in which tutorials were expected to be regular and a compulsory feature. However, there was virtually a non-existent status of the tutorials in the course in the department. A teacher said it was embarrassing for the university teachers who were part of inspection teams to colleges where they were told that the university should first improve the working of the courses on the campus before pulling up colleges for any faults. One very important aspect of the course is the minimum number of hours needed in classroom teaching. A rough estimate said that classes would have to be run till at least 11 pm to meet the minimum class work expected under the existing conditions while the department closed down at 9 pm at present. The norms provide that each class can have a maximum of 70 students divided into five batches of 14 students each. It was not being done in the department. The department also does not have the required number of teachers and not even the required number of classrooms at the moment to meet the requirements. The department had only two regular teachers against seven required. Under no condition was the course fulfilling the required conditions. A senior teacher said the course lost its relevance if the quality in teaching was compromised at any step. Minimum academic standards were expected for equivalence of the course at all levels so there was no scope for any concession. The high levelled committee on the issue under the chairmanship of the Dean University Instructions included the Dean Colleges Development Council, the Dean of Commerce Faculty, Chairpersons of the Departments of Commerce, Computer Science and the University Business School and Principal A.C. Vaid, sources said. |
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Single-speciality training
for nurses stressed Chandigarh, April 19 Prof Pathak was speaking on the occasion of 29th convocation of the National Institute of Nursing Education (NINE) at the PGI. "With growing number of single-speciality hospitals, the demand for nurses trained in specialities like oncology, cardiology, orthopaedics and paediatrics is on the rise," he said. He said with growing consumer awareness, it was imperative for nurses to know about all legal
implications. This, he added, had become all the more important with the enactment of the Consumer Act and the MRTP Act. “There is no denying the fact that the profession is losing respect due to lack of commitment and dedication or even proper training," he said. He said with revolutionary changes brought in by information technology, telemedicine and genomics, nurses would have to keep themselves abreast of the enormous expansion in the medical field. Degrees were conferred on 186 graduates and 14 postgraduates. The PGI Director, Prof S.K. Sharma, was also present on the occasion. The Principal, NINE, Dr Indarjit Walia, raised the demand of having separate nursing teachers, as this was essential for improving nursing education and research. She also stressed the need to have a network with other nursing colleges and organisations so as to keep teachers and students abreast of the latest curriculum teaching methods and research. Detailing the future plans of the institute, she said WHO assistance would be sought for offering short-term nursing speciality courses. She added the institute would apply for getting recognition from the university for offering Ph.D in nursing, regulations for which have already been laid down. The Basanti Rai Award for the year 2000 was given to Poonam Sharma, for the year 2001 to Vidya Devi and for the year 2002 to Saritha T. S. |
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Learning
through teaching aids Chandigarh,
April 19 Drawing
from his rich experience of disseminating education at the lowest
social level — chronic slums of Delhi — Shaji has created a
repertoire of aids that he uses to train teachers of public schools.
His area of work spans from slum schools of Delhi (he has a home in
one of these slums) to the most celebrated public schools, including
The Doon, Dehradun, Woodstock, Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, and the
DPS. The aids have been designed under the aegis of an NGO, Jodo Gyan,
which Shaji floated in 1999, assisted by a famous scientist Usha Menon
(working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research), who
offers technical advice. In the workshop, conducted at the State
Library, Sector 34, Shahji employed his own tools like toys, puzzles
and games to make children understand some basic scientific concepts
like thermal equilibrium, earth’s rotation, mathematical
calculations and so on. In Chandigarh, on an invitation from the
Centre for Education and Voluntary Action (CEVA), Shaji will conduct
two more sessions tomorrow and the day after. There is also a
provision of procuring special teaching aids from Jodo Gyan, which is
now the largest supplier of quality teaching materials in the country. |
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VC to get back lecture condonation power Chandigarh, April 19 The Syndicate will consider the proposal of certain fellows and Syndicate members that ‘power of the Syndicate to condone the shortage of lectures be restored’. The power of the Vice-Chancellor and the Syndicate to condone lecture shortage was taken away in the Senate meeting of December, 2001. The issue has once again come to the house because of the ‘uncomfortable’ situation faced by the university while considering cases of lecture shortage of students in the Law Department and two other departments, earlier this session. The lecture shortage had gained a political colour due to involvement of the name of Malwinder Singh Kang, president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council. It was felt that several students had genuine reasons to abstain from classes and hence the university should have a scope for taking a considerate view in such cases. There is another school that says the university should adhere strictly to the attendance norms or there should be no restriction at all. The university will also take up the cases of colleges seeking disaffiliation in certain courses. These include SD College, Moga, for BCom I, Arya College, Ludhiana, for MSc (IT), Dasmesh College, Badal, for BCom (I, II and III) and DAV College, Malout, for BCA (I and II). These cases had even featured earlier, but the issue had been postponed because of a question over the status of teachers who taught these courses. The colleges at Ludhiana, Badal and Malout have said that teachers would not be affected. The Syndicate will also take up the Punjab Government circular specifying incentives for small families. The university’s Department of Physics has received support of the CAS for five years (2003-2008). This includes Rs 73 lakh as non-recurring and Rs 23 lakh as recurring grant. The university plans to allow substitute appointments in the unfair means cases committees. It is learnt that out of the earlier committees at least two members had expressed their inability to carry out the duty. The university plans to shift the BR Ambedkar Chair in the Political Science Department to the Ambedkar Centre for Socio Economic Weaker Sections of Society. The Syndicate will also clear the admission guidelines for the forthcoming academic session. The university plans to give a grace of one per cent marks to the students of the MFC who have secured 54 per cent marks. |
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Jacob inaugurates community centre Chandigarh, April 19 The centre has been constructed in the residential area of Sector 25 in an area of 3,937 sq ft at an approximate cost of Rs 15 lakh. Addressing the gathering, General Jacob said the university was one of the major contributors to the status of the city. Referring to a recent survey by a leading magazine, he said Chandigarh had been adjudged as the best city. Excellent living conditions, good academic environment and sound administrative support were the landmarks that required a special mention, he said. He emphasised the need of giving more importance to courses in biotechnology and nano-technology, besides employment generating courses. Earlier Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor of the university, welcomed the guests and thanked the Administration for helping in securing its share of 60 per cent grant from the Centre. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, Member of Parliament, and Mr Satya Pal Jain, a former MP, who have made contributions out of the MP Welfare Fund for construction of the centre, were also present on the occasion. |
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Bus
operators’ claim Chandigarh, April 19 This,
they added, was done to avoid harassment to the children and the
staff. It was further added that the buses, under an agreement with
schools, were properly checked up by officials of the Chandigarh State
Transport Authority. Association president Manjeet S. Saini further
claimed bus drivers were not indulging in overspeeding. |
Mixed fare at Plaza Carnival Chandigarh, April 19 The cultural evening, sponsored by The Tribune, began with a presentation of Punjabi songs by
Pawan. The evening rolled on the wheels of melody, with one singer taking over from another. After the presentation by
Pawan, it was time for Rishi to sing some of the hottest Punjabi pop songs, like Surjit Bindrakhiya’s ‘dupatta tera satrang
da;’ ‘gal mukki na sajan naal meri’ and many others. Then came the real jewel of the evening. As Nanak Shah and Manak Ali from Malerkotla struck sufiana notes, the audience listened in rapt attention. Unruffled by the weather that kept changing moods, the duo rendered beautiful poetry of Baba Bulle Shah and Sai Shah
Hussain. After a long spell of light sufi melodies, ghazals began to hold the fort. The programme earlier began with a colourful dance presented by Jatinder Jot Singh
Khaira, Harmanjit Singh Mani, Lishu, Chirag and Rupinder Kaur. On the artists’ corner, it was the usual routine. Prof Ravinder Sharma, along with his team of students from Government College of Art, Sector 10, spilled the magic of colours. Activities of the day included sketching and painting. Costume characters created by students were seen interacting with people and even distributing sweets among them. |
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Johar begins lessons in bharatnatyam Chandigarh, April 19 The workshop aims at channelising the talent of youths, who don’t have any choice when it comes to acquiring the knowledge of Indian classical dances. Not only will the project go a long way in helping Navtej Singh Johar in building up a team full of Punjabi vitality, it will also enable youngsters of the city to play a vital role in the realm of contemporary dance, which Navtej practises and propagates. The workshop was attended by 15 participants with age ranging between 8 and 26 years. Only one boy was enrolled. Himself a contemporary dancer, who uses tradition as a tool for growth and enrichment, Navtej has a studio in Delhi, where he practises dance as he likes it. Free from the fetters of dead routine, his technique spells energy, vitality and vigour. That is exactly what he wishes to propagate by way of this workshop, which is being organised under the aegis of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Akademi. The first session was engineered to help participants feel at ease with the form. As a trainer, Navtej Singh Johar has worked assiduously to prove that bharatnatyam is not defined by discipline alone. It offers a lot of space for creativity and refinement, only if understood the way it should be. He will train the city youth with these basic principles in mind. The workshop began with introduction to basic postures. Although the workshop was scheduled to progress in two sessions today, from 4 pm to 5 pm and again from 5 pm to 6 pm, it was rounded up in an hour. The idea is to go easy with the schedule. The workshop is open to everyone and so is the enrolment. Monthly fee is Rs 800. Tomorrow’s session will commence at 11 am. |
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Shankar Sahney to play lead role Chandigarh, April 19 ‘Ishq’ also stars Sunil Puri, Mohammad Sadiq, Usha Raj, Gurkirtan, Malkit and Jagtar Jaggi. The music of this film will be released by T. series and the shooting of this film will start from April 25 in outdoor locations of Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla and
Kufri. |
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