EDUCATION

Non-implementation of pact: Teachers to observe black day on Sept 5
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, August 24
Agitated over non-implementation of the agreement reached between the All India Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisations (AIFUCTO) and the Central Government on September 5, 1998, teachers all over the nation would observe the Teachers’ Day as black day on September 5.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of national executive committee (NEC) of the AIFUCTO held here today.

Addressing mediapersons after the meeting, Prof Anil Bhattacharya and Prof B Vijay Kumar, president and general secretary of the federation, said the teachers would wear black badges on the Teachers’ Day.

They said teachers from different parts of the nation would assemble to hold a massive ‘morcha’ in the political constituency of Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, Union HRD Minister in October next.

The NEC deprecated the recent Supreme Court judgement for its observations on the ‘Right to strike’ by employees and teachers without affording an opportunity of being heard, to the trade unions in the country, on such a vital issue affecting the democratic rights of millions of working people in the country.

The AIFUCTO demanded that the apex court should review the observations in the context of various provisions of the Constitution of India, which guarantees rights to the working people in India. The AIFUCTO also called upon all the political parties to adopt immediately a legislation to restore the rights of the working class to strike.

The federation would hold its 22nd statutory conference in Mumbai from 20 to 22 October on the theme - “Higher Education and National Development” and a national seminar be held on the same theme on October 21.

Meanwhile, the Haryana College Teachers’ Union (HCTU) has condemned the ‘dictatorial’ attitude of the Maharshi Dayanand University administration.

Mr K. S. Dhillon and Mr Pawan Sharma, president and general secretary of the union, demanded immediate withdrawal of the official letter addressed to Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers’ Association (MDUTA) in which an ‘evil attempt’ had been made to crush the voice of the teachers.

Goel plans transformation of MCD-run schools
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24
The Union Minister of State and Member of Parliament, Mr Vijay Goel, called upon parents to extend full cooperation in transforming and creating conducive atmosphere of education in MCD run Primary Schools.

Interacting with parents of students studying in MCD Primary Schools in Paharganj, Mr Goel said that he wants to speed up his ‘School Sudhar Yojana’ so that conditions of all the 1,844 MCD schools is improved.

Mr Goel told parents that he wants these schools to resemble public schools and transform them from the pitiable conditions they are in to more conducive environment.

He said parents would have to ensure that proper care is taken vis-à-vis the management of these schools. Better atmosphere can prevail if parents become conscious of it, Mr Goel said.

Mr Goel said that the transformation plan of all the 88 MCD primary schools in the Chandni Chowk area is ready and various institutions and individuals are aiding the project.

Highlighting the work done in some schools, he listed that fans and water coolers are being arranged while desks, repairing and painting job have bee provided for in Bansi Koyle Wali and New Paharganj areas.

SCHOOL BUZZ
Patriotism: Recurring theme in schools on Independence Day
Smriti Kak

Dr Bhupendra Singh, Deputy Director of Education, North- West district, hoisting the national flag in Ganga International School.

LAST week we reported the Independence Day celebrations in some schools in the Capital; this week we have received more inputs from schools which want to share with the readers how they celebrated the 15th of August.

Schools may have differed in their presentation, but the underlying theme, that of patriotism and the desire to serve the nation, was a cementing factor.

In GHPS, Vasant Vihar, the programme began with the unfurling of the Tricolour and the rendition of the National Anthem. Stage shows, conveying the message of national integration and eulogising the sacrifices made during the freedom struggle, were performed by the students.

In Ganga International School, Dr. Bhupendra Singh, Deputy Director of Education, North-West district, hoisted the flag. This was followed by children singing patriotic songs and performing a dandia dance; the French version of 'Sare Jahna Se Acha Hindustan Hamaraa' was also rendered.

In DPS, R K Puram, the Chief Guest, Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Maj. Gen B C Khanduri, unfurled the Flag. The students, dressed in Khadi and Nehru Caps, also staged a march past.

Ms. Sakae Bose, a representative of UNESCO from Odwara, presented a cheque of Rs. 1,57,000 to the Principal for the Anubhav Shiksha Kendra run for underprivileged children. Students put up cultural programmes and young achievers were felicitated.

Independence Day was also celebrated with great fervour in Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa Girls Senior Secondary School. The students put up a cultural show on the occasion.

Krishna & Radha clones

Students of Mother’s Pride celebrating Janamashtami festival.

The students of Mother’s Pride, dressed as Krishna and Radha, participated with glee in Janamashtami celebrations. They sang songs, played on the specially done up jhoolas and also performed pooja.

The student of S D Public School, Pitmapura, and Ganga International School also performed a special programme on the occasion at Janam Ashtami Park, Pitampura.

A Principal on parenting

Dr. Shayama Chona, Principal, DPS, R K Puram presented her book, ‘Nurture Talk,’ to the Prime Minister, Mr. A B Vajpayee recently. The book provides valuable insight into the arduous task of parenting.

Consisting of 54 articles written by Dr. Chona, the books consists of suggestions to parents and seeks to discuss the unending debate between nurture and nature. The book advocates use of common sense by parents while dealing with their children. Nothing, of course, beats the power of love.

Horlicks Kool Skool festival

The Kool Skool Fest was hosted under the auspices of Horlicks Activity 2003 in the Capital recently.

Forty-three schools participated in 40 different competitions held over two days. Each school received a participation certificate. Rukmini Devi Public School was adjudged the collective winner with the maximum number of individual prizes. Savior Convent sent the maximum number of entries, totalling 250.

The national finals will be held in Bangalore.

Test series from Sahil Study Circle

Sahil Study Circle has launched its All India Test Series for Pre medical and Pre Engineering aspirants, which will be conducted on a national level and will help the student evaluate their performance and ranking on national basis. Sahil Study Circle is an institute offering coaching to Medical and Engineering aspirants.

The test papers for the series have been prepared by the expert faculty of Sahil on the pattern of Medical/Engineering Entrance Examinations. This series is helpful for students who are already preparing with other coaching institutes for a year through regular courses or correspondence/ postal course.

The students of class XII and XI from the science stream are eligible for the programme. The applicant can download the form from website.

The test series will start in September and continue till the entrance examination. These tests will be conducted in three series, that is, A-series, B-series, and C-series. The test centres include Solan, Yamunanagar, Karnal, Rohtak, Chandigarh and Dehradun.

PRINCIPALSPEAK
Count your blessings, there are so many

HAPPINESS isn’t about what happens to us, it is about how we perceive what happens to us. It is the knack of finding a positive for every negative, and viewing a setback as a challenge. If we cannot stop wishing for what we don’t have and start enjoying what we do have, our lives can be richer, more fulfilled and happier. The time to be happy is now.

Here is what a cancer patient wrote. “My first question on learning that I had cancer was, “Why did this happen to me? What did I ever do to deserve this?” For these questions there were no answers. And then I realised these questions were getting me nowhere. So, I decided to change my outlook and make cancer give me more than it can take away. It made me strong beyond my years and tolerant of many acts in life, especially those which usually elicit anger. I learned to enjoy, respect, achieve, console, know great fulfilment and gain extreme insight into what is really important in life”.

Life is indeed very precious. Too many people make the mistake of judging life by its length rather than by its depth, or by its problems than its promises. If we remember that each moment happens only once and cannot be retrieved, we would cherish every minute of it. We no doubt cannot determine our fate but we can choose and act to make it the best or worst.

We should ask ourselves after every setback – what did I learn from this experience? Only then will we be able to turn the stumbling block into a stepping stone. Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger and faster man; sooner or later the man who wins is the man who thinks he can. GIGO is a computer term meaning – ‘Garbage in Garbage Out’. It is a good idea to read this as ‘Good Ideas in Good Ideas Out’ for our life is what our thoughts make of it.

Our minds are thought factories and can manufacture either positive or negative thoughts. We have to choose. Those who want to be happy should train their minds to create happy thoughts. All crises can be overcome by being mentally prepared - including death. When we think positive thoughts many things will happen on their own. Thus, very frequently during the day count your blessings, which you will find are plenty. Remind yourself you are lucky that you don’t have a serious illness. If you do, then remind yourself that you have the privilege to go to a good hospital. The idea is to be full of positive thoughts, even when you are going through a bad patch.

So, when you wake up tomorrow, realise that it is the best day of your life ever. Celebrate the unbelievable life you’ve had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings and even hardships that made you stronger. Marvel at God’s seemingly simple gifts: the sun, the clouds, the flowers, the birds. See the miracle in them. Share your excitement for life with other people, make someone smile. Do many acts of kindness; tell someone how special he or she is. Remind yourself that worrying is a waste of time because God and his divine plan insure everything will be just fine. At the end of the day don’t forget to thank the Almighty that it was the best day of your life.

Then, sleep like a child because you know tomorrow is going to be the best day of your life ever!

Mrs Madhu Chandra, Principal, Birla Vidya Niketan