EDUCATION

Vocationalisation stressed
Parbina Rashid

Chandigarh, September 6
In a country where talented people are available for managing the pyramidal structure of the organisation but not enough skilled technician, vocationalisation of education seems to be the only answer to fill the void, opine experts speaking on the popularisation of vocational education at a national-level seminar at Technical Teachers’ Training Institute here today.

Though India has evolved the three tier system of technical and vocational education. Training is imparted through ITIs, secondary schools, polytechnics and degree colleges and universities. Many feel that this formal system is very rigid and inter-tier linkages are also weak.

“The objective of vocational education and training is to develop a student in such a manner that he achieves the competency and skill to do a particular type of work consistently and independently,” said Mr Mukesh Kumar Chadha, Government Polytechnic, Adampur. According to Mr Chaddah when a training organisation prepares a module, focus has to be given on family background, society and environment, exposure in related industry and institutional faculty and facilities available to the students. “If proper identification of the vocational course takes place as per aptitude of the individual half of the battle is won,” he said.

Many experts who attended the seminar today felt that in India, unfortunately, the available seats and infrastructure for vocational education in the country are not being fully utilized for developing vocational skills among masses. “In some of the developed countries about 10 to 12 per cent of their population is found to be undergoing training in vocational courses. If India is to catch up with the fast development taking place world over, vocationalisation of education is one area which needs to be taken seriously,” said Dr O.P. Boparai, Principal, Technical Teachers’ Training Institute, Chandigarh.

One of the major failures education planners have suffered from is their inability to break people’s mind set against vocational training, said an expert. “Vocational education is still widely perceived as a poor man’s alternative or an option for someone who has failed to make the grade in the regular school or college,” he added.

However, a ray of hope in this direction comes from the UT Education Department. Ever since Vocational Education was introduced in the senior secondary schools of the union territory way back in 1987, coverage under the vocational stream has risen from merely 164 students in 1986-87 to 1950 in 2003-04. “At present there are 21 vocational courses being run in 17 Government senior Secondary Schools of Chandigarh, majority of which are prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and a few others are locally devised with the assistance of local experts under the guidance of CBSE,” said Ms. Anita Sharma from the department.

Panchkula Diary
Teachers’ Day functions
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 6
The ongoing nutrition week celebrations at Jainendra Public School, Sector 1, concluded today with an inter-house nutritious cooking competition and a poster making contest.

Children had made delicacies using low calorie cereals, pulses boiled vegetables and fruits. The participant-students from Class IX and X-had also displayed the calorie content in the dishes. Other than this, a paper reading contest on “Nutritious Food-A Gateway to Healthy Living” was also held. Lunch was served to all students of the school in the hostel mess.

The results of various competitions are:- Low Calorie Recipe Contest - Patel House- I , Nehru House- II, and Sarojini House - III.

Poster Making Contest:- Group A ( Nursery to Class I ) Priya Sharma- I, Shrishti Verma- II Group B ( Class II to IV) Bhavya Chabbra - I, Sunaina - II. Group C ( Class V to VII) Anu- I, Supriya- II Group D ( Class VIII to IX) Divya Mittal - I, Diksha Chabbra - II.

CBSE team

A team of officers from the Central Board of Secondary Education ( CBSE) today visited the township to see the progress of the construction work of CBSE Regional Office in Sector 5 here. The team included the Secretary, CBSE, Mr B.R. Sharma, Chief Engineer, Mr S.K. Sharma and Regional Director, Mr P.I. Saboo.

The officers expressed their satisfaction with the pace of construction work and said that the building would be inaugurated by June end. The team of officers later also visited Hansraj Public School.

Teacher’s Day

Hansraj Public School today honoured its teachers as part of Teacher’s Day celebrations. The vice president of DAV College Managing Committee, Justice R.N. Mittal, was the chief guest.

The function started with the traditional lighting of the diya, which was followed by a welcome dance by students. The Principal, Mrs Rajni Thareja, welcomed the chief guest and the principals of various DAV institutions from Panchkula, SAS Nagar and Chandigarh. A skit based on the life of Dr S. Radhakrishnan and musical compositions were performed by students.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mittal said that the teachers should strive to imbibe western scientific culture in students while ensuring that they were not driven away from their own culture. He said that DAV institutions had always strived to impart the Vedic education, while infusing scientific learning in students.

A Teacher’s Day celebration was also held at Vijay Public School, Sector 17, yesterday.

Office-bearers

The following have been elected as office-bearers of the local unit of Haryana Roadways Workers Union (No. 1,) during a general body meeting of the union held at Yavanika Open-Air Theatre today: Mr Lal Chand Gujjar- president , Mr Gajjan Singh-senior vice-president, Master Chajju Ram-secretary, Mr Dharam Pal Khokkhar- treasurer, Trilochan Singh- joint secretary and Mr Shrabvan Kumar Jangra and Mr Brij Wasi Kataria — vice presidents.

FROM SCHOOLS
Freshers' party at DAV school
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, September 6
Monika Arora was declared Miss Fresher of the Nursery Teacher Training course run by Sector 15 DAV Model School. A freshers' party and a talent search contest was also held. Monika Sharma was declared the first runner-up with Amandeep Kaur and Ragini Sharma second runners-up.

Addressing the gathering, school Principal, Ms Rakesh Sachdeva, encouraged the students to excel in academics and co-curricular activities which were the essential qualities of a nursery teacher.

The Nursery Teacher Training in charge, Ms Sweety Bahl, highlighted the role of a nursery teachers in a school. "It is the kindergarten teachers who play an important role in building a strong base of academic as well as curriculum activities in a child," she said.

Teachers' Day

Songs, folk dance, recitation, skit and quiz were presented during the teachers' day celebrations held at the Kendriya Vidyalaya No 2, 3 BRD . The Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Mr M.L. Kakkar, was the chief guest on the occasion. A volley ball match between teachers and students was also held. A symposium on the topic “Coping up with the slow learners” was also organised.

COURTS

DISTRICT COURTS
Babu Mann files reply
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh September 6
Punjabi singer Babu Mann today filed a reply in a public interest litigation(PIL) filed against him pleading for a stay on his song “Chak lau revolver badla lena hai” in album “Saun di Jhadi”.

In a reply filed through his counsel Babu stated that the complainants had no local standi to file case against him.

Suit adjourned

A defamation suit filed against Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, alleging that he had defamed former Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal, by publishing defamatory advertisement during Assembly elections was today adjourned for September 30. The case against Capt Amarinder was filed by a local Akali leader, Mr N.S. Minhas.

An another defamation case filed by Sukhbir Badal against Capt Amarinder Singh, also came for hearing in a local court which was also adjourned for September 30. Mr Sukhbir Badal had alleged that Capt Amarinder Singh, after becoming the Chief Minister had published advertisement and false reports about assets and properties owned by former CM Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal.

CULTURE

Navtej’s latest ‘Ranjha turda jaave’
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 6
Navtej Singh Johar, the bharatnatyam dancer, who took the world of classical dance by storm by entering the female bastion in style, shared his experiences with art lovers at Punjab Kala Bhawan in Sector 16 this evening. Talking about his journey through various forms of art, Navtej said that bharanatyam was the closest to his heart.

After holding yoga and bharatnatyam classes for the aspirants in the city, Navtej is now also planning to set up a permanent base of his Abhyaas studio here in Chandigarh. The idea has been on his mind for long. Already being run successfully since many years in Delhi, the studio may be opened in the city any time. Apart from lending instruction in bharatnatyam, the studio will also have everything for those into meditation.

Navtej, who has learnt yoga for as many years as he has learnt dance, talked of the discipline as a way of life. Likewise he referred to dance as a complete medium that satisfies his expressions. Navtej Johar always took the road less trodden by. Years ago, he caught the world of Indian classical dance unawares when he started dancing bharatnatyam. Years later, he is still doing things new and exciting.

Apart from other things, the reputed co-director of the Commonwealth Parade on the occasion of Queen’s golden jubilee in London, Navtej mentioned another masterpiece he has created in association with Madan Gopal Sharma, a famous sufi singer and composer. Titled “Ranjha turda jaave”, the piece traces various wanderings of Ranjha. It has been staged once. The next presentation will be made at a mega scale, said Navtej.

Vocal about his Punjabi inclination, he said that he always wanted to have a bharatnatyam company with people of Punjabi sensibilities. And if you ask him why Punjabis?, he smiles back,”Because they are blessed with an innate sense of atheleticism. Also because they get inspired easily — by words, by images, by movements. This energy is very conducive for bharatnatyam which is all about passion.”