EDUCATION

Workshop to develop training module
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11
A four-day workshop on development of a training module in environment education began at the Centre of Environment Education here today. The workshop was organised by the State Institute for Science Education of Punjab in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology.

Inaugurated by the Director, SCERT, Mr Sadhu Singh Randhawa, the workshop would develop a module which would be used to provide intensive training to the students.

The scientist in charge, Dr Ram Bhooj, discussed the methodology to develop the module and suggested the areas of adaptation and improvement of the manual. Dr Neelima Jerath from the PSCST and Dr R.K. Kohli, Dean of Environment Department, Panjab University, familiarised the participants with the manual and enumerated various approaches, examples and issues related to Punjab.

The panel of experts in this workshop included representatives of the State Institute of Science Education and the Punjab School Education Board. The workshop is being coordinated by Ms Ravleen and Ms Inderjeet Chawla.

Chairman stands by principal
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 11
Mr Amarjit Singh Sarna, Chairman of the newly constituted management committee of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Senior Secondary School, Sector 35, has reposed faith in the school Principal, Mr Jaswant Singh, saying that he had a good character and the allegations by a woman teacher against him were baseless and false.

Meanwhile, the Principal, flanked by other teachers, yesterday announced at a press conference that he would not settle for a compromise and would pursue the case to its logical end. “Let the law takes it own course. I have been shaken and ruined”, Mr Jaswant Singh told Chandigarh Tribune.

The Principal also produced a signed letter from members of the staff stating that he had a good character. He claimed that he had the backing of the PTA and also issued a release. “I am thankful to my family members, colleagues and friends who have stood by me” said the Principal.

On June 5, a teacher, Ms Manju Sanghi, had alleged that she was being sexually harassed by the Principal. The police had arrested the Principal a few days ago and he was later bailed out. Ms Sanghi has been suspended.

Yesterday, Ms Sanghi again alleged that the Principal was misusing his position by “making” his staff sign papers in his support. She also claimed that the teachers who were accompanying the Principal at yesterday’s press conference were temporary teachers.

Mr Sarna, while talking to Chandigarh Tribune, claimed that he was impartial and was not biased against Ms Sanghi. “The only complaint I have ever received against the Principal is that he was too harsh in his dealings” Mr Sarna said, adding that “I had told him to be polite and had also issued him a written warning’’.

Asked how much damage the allegation had done to the reputation of the school, Mr Sarna said, “It’s a temporary phase. People have faith in the institution and the Principal”.

Meanwhile, the Principal has again pleaded innocence. “My career and reputation, which I had built over the years, have been tarnished by the false allegations”, complained Mr Jaswant Singh.

Asked why the teachers had levelled such allegations against him, he replied: “I am strict administrator and she was quite indisciplined. She had teamed up with two other colleagues against me”. On why a woman would harm her own reputation, the Principal said, “I do not know and only time will prove that I was right”.

Retired teachers air grievances
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11
The annual function of the Punjab Government College Retired Teachers Welfare Association was held at the Government College for Men, Sector 11, here today. Over 120 retired government college lectures, including 30 former principals, participated in the function presided over by Mr Ramesh Dutt Sharma, Minister of State, Punjab.

The general seceratary, Mr B.K. Bhalla, read out the annual report for 2002-03 in which he highlighted the activities of the association . He spoke of the problems of the retired teachers, including their pension and promotions.

During the function, Dr R. L. Singal read out a paper on “Equality of opportunity in education”. Dr Singal observed that the gap in the opportunities given to the urban and the rural, the rich and the poor was widening, and needed serious thought by those in power as well as the educationist and academic administrators.

The chief guest, in his presidential remarks, appealed to the veteran educationists to guide the politicians in their working. He said that the elders, specially the retired educationists, could contribute a lot in creating a value-oriented way of life. He appealed to the educationists to play a key role in eradication of drug menace amongst the youth.

He assured the retired teachers that all their grievances would be removed and he would personally take up all the issues with the Finance Minister. At the end of the function, four retired members, Mr Sarwan Singh, Mr Jiwan Tiwari, Mr M.S. Bedi and Mr S. D. Hans, who had attained the age of 80 years, were honoured by the chief guest.

Summer camp concludes
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 11
A 15-day summer camp for school children filled with fun, joy and excitement concluded at the Lake Club here yesterday.

The Goofi Kids Club had organised the summer camp for children, of the age group of three to 15 years. About 50 children participated in the camp.

According to the organisers, children learnt various kinds of activities like theatre, dance, art and craft, clay modelling, pottery, etc. They also enjoyed a splash party, besides horse-riding.

The coordinator of the camp, Ms Divya said: “The main aim of the camp was to make children come out of their shells and utilise their energies in a positive manner.”

The camp concluded with a cultural programme.

Making teachers accountable for poor results
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 11
Propelled by poor results of Class XII in government schools affiliated to the Board of School Education, Haryana, the State Education department has decided to clean its backyard by making school teachers accountable for a poor show by students of their respective schools.

The Education Department proposes to introduce a new “monitoring system” for teachers at the district level. Senior officials say that irregular attendance of teachers in most government schools in the state, especially in rural areas, is one of the important factors for the poor performance of these schools in Class XII results declared yesterday. It is proposed that all district primary officers and district education officers will be entrusted with the task of regularly monitoring the attendance of teachers in government schools by conducting surprise checks.

It may be noted that though the pass percentage in the senior secondary (academic) annual examination was 41.45, only 39. 53 percent candidates studying in various government schools had managed to clear the examinations. As compared to this, 46.61 per cent candidates from private schools cleared the examination.

Similarly, schools in rural areas had a pass percentage of 38.96, as compared to schools in urban areas which had an overall pass percentage of 47.76.

In Panchkula district, the pass percentage in government schools is 42.25 as compared to a pass percentage of 43.35 in private and aided schools. The pass percentage of rural candidates and urban candidates was, however, almost same at 39.97 and 39.84, respectively.

Well-placed sources in the Education Department informed Chandigarh Tribune that in their effort to make teaching more responsible, cooperation of community agencies like Panchayati Raj institutions in rural areas will be sought.

These institutions will now be entrusted with keeping a check on the proper functioning of schools in their respective areas, said a senior official in the department.

Besides, teacher training programmes will be regularised and training workshops will include special sessions on “imbibing the old ethics of education”. The teachers training camps and workshops will be made more regular so that more and more teachers can benefit, said Commissioner, Education, Haryana, Mr M.L. Tayal.

He also said that other than this, there would be an administrative improvement in the functioning of the Board of Education, Haryana. “All these steps will be activated during this academic year and the performance will be much better in the next session,” he said.

Yoga camp at PEC
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11
Punjab Engineering College (PEC) has started regular yoga session on the college campus. The purpose behind the move is to help people deal with stress and pressures of daily life effectively.

About 200 persons attended the session today, which will be conducted every morning by a trainer.

The endeavour of the college authorities is to raise the strength of participants up to 1,000.

PU result cards go smart
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 11
Panjab University has introduced identity symbols, not visible to the normal eye, in the result cards of all undergraduate and postgraduate examinations conducted earlier this year to check fake result cards.

One logo is that of Panjab University, which appears as any normal one, but in ultraviolet light gives out radiance in the backdrop. Another logo, reading PU, is visible only in ultraviolet light. The seemingly straight line bordering the box mentioning the roll number of a candidate, in fact, carries a script invisible to the normal eye.

The university is releasing the result cards of the students along with the normal declaration of results, said Dr Sodhi Ram, Controller of Examinations.

Earlier, it happened on certain occasions that despite the declaration of the results by the university, candidates had to face problems in getting admissions due to the absence of result cards and admissions had to be postponed.

The university will declare a majority of the results, including BSc, by June 20. The BA results will follow a few days later.

Sources in the examination branch said the branch had made a commendable progress on several accounts. However, they needed the support of teachers and college principals. Despite university instructions for colleges to send marks of internal evaluation by April, certain colleges had not responded. The tabulation of marks of written examinations of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology was ready, but the final results would get delayed at least till June 27, when the internal examination results will come.

Certain results are held back because of complaints by students that question papers are out of syllabus. The university cannot do anything till the matter is cleared by the Board of Studies. The examination branch had to send repeated reminders to several departments to have meetings conducted at the earliest as the result cannot be declared till such complaints are addressed.

Another problem is that results of certain students are held back because of non-submission of documents and the required examination fee.

MA I results out

Chandigarh, June 11
Panjab University has declared results of MA I (geography, political science and public administration) conducted earlier this year, an official press note issued here today, said.

Copies of the result gazette will be available at the enquiry counter on all working days from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm. TNS