EDUCATION

SVM staff protest over colleague’s termination
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
Protesting against the termination of services of a teacher, the teaching staff of Sanatan Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines, staged a dharna on the school campus here today.

Classes started functioning normally in the morning till the management members called Mr Ramesh, a mathematics teacher, from his class and told him that his services were terminated. This news spread on the campus and the entire staff boycotted the classes, raised slogans against the management and even smashed the windowpanes. The situation became quite tense forcing the management to ask for the security cover on the campus.

The teachers said the school management was adopting tactics to change the entire staff. They said they wanted to bring fresh staff in the school and were, therefore, playing a blame game on teachers, one after the other.

Mr Mangat Rai, president of the teachers’ union, said they would continue to sit on dharna till the management conceded to their demands and withdrew their decision on terminating the services of Mr Ramesh.

Taking a firm stand on not allowing Mr Ramesh to continue in the school, Mr Prem Chand Gupta, president of the school management, said since the past one year, he had been receiving complaints against the teacher. He said students and their parents had been complaining that the teacher had been beating them in the class for not taking private tuition from him. They had even been complaining that they were being abused by him in the classroom unnecessarily.

Mr Gupta said he had warned the teacher several times but his behaviour did not improve. He said almost one-and-a-half-month ago, he had told the teacher that his services would be terminated from October 31 and that he should look for some new job till that time. But when he came to take his classes today, he had to be told to discontinue. At this, the teachers agitated and boycotted their classes. He said he had announced that the school would remain closed for the time till the matter is solved. On Monday, he said a meeting had been arranged with the parents and final decision would be taken, thereafter.

UBS alumni body institutes gold medal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 1
The Panjab University Business School Alumni Association has instituted a gold medal for toppers that will be presented each year at the alumni reunion.

This was stated by Prof Satish Kapoor, in charge of the department’s alumni relations cell, while addressing a press conference here today. This year, the award will be given to the topper of Master’s in Business Administration (Human resources) in memory of an alumnus who lost his life in a road accident.

The sixth silver jubilee alumni reunion is scheduled for November 8. Although former students have been organising informal reunions at different places over the years, this will be sixth reunion after the practice started formally on the campus. This year, it will be a silver jubilee reunion for the batch of 1978.

The department had 23 students in the 1978 batch and about 20 are expected to attend the function, said Mr Kuldeep Kaul, vice president of the association. Some of the prominent names are Mr Rakesh Sharma, a senior officer in Phillips Limited, Mr Ajay Gupta from Hummingbird, Canada, Mr Rakesh Mohan, Commissioner of Excise and Customs, Delhi and Mr Sanjeev Gupta, an IG of Punjab police.

Mr Kaul said a reunion was an occasion for old-timers to get together and lend inspiration to new students. Professor Kapoor said infact majority of the companies that came for campus placement had old ties with the university through its students on their boards. Prof S.C.Vaidya, in charge, placement cell, nodded in approval.

Professor Kapoor said old-timers doing well in their current jobs were also associated with teaching in the department. Special attention was paid for a direct interaction between the old pass-outs who were placed well and the current batches of students.

Professor Kapoor said the department would release a directory of old students this year which will have e-mail addresses, besides other related information.

BCM students celebrate silver jubilee year
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
The students, staff and management of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, celebrated silver jubilee year here today.

Mr Sudarshan Agarwal, Governor of Uttaranchal, was accorded a ceremonious welcome by NCC cadets and school band. To mark the occasion, a mini exhibition was also put up on the school premises. The exhibition was divided into various sections including gardening, fine arts, mathematics, science, history, textile designing and art and craft. A view of the Punjabi culture and tradition was presented through an item ‘Hasda khelda Punjab’ by students.

The chief guest was then ushered in the school hall amidst the resounding beats of drums, alongwith a bhangra team. The function took off with National Anthem, followed by ceremonious lamp lighting and ‘Saraswati Vandana’. On the occasion, Mr Agarwal released a souvenir of BCM School amidst thunderous applause.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal, highlighted the achievements of the school. A website, ‘BCM Shikshanet’ was also launched to strengthen the bond of interaction among students, parents and school and to move towards more paperless and faster electronic access to information.

An eventful journey of the school completing 25 years was displayed through a multimedia projector showing a Film on BCM highlighting the phenomenal and monumental success that the school had attained.

A skit ‘Agony on the earth’ conveying a message to have pollution free world was also staged. The governor announced that he would invite the artistes of the skit to Dehra Dun to stage the same show and spread the message of ecological disturbance.

Another item which charged the atmosphere was Haryanvi dance by the school girls. Mr Mahesh Munjal, MD, Majestic Auto, announced a cash prize of Rs 2,200 for the performing students. The programme concluded with the National Anthem. 

Science fair organised
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
Students of Everest Public Senior Secondary School, Moti Nagar, participated in an annual science fair organised here yesterday.

The exhibition was divided into six sections — art and crafts, information technology, food and nutrition, industries, biotechnology, transportation and communication.

In the section ‘industries’, pollution control devices were exhibited. Other models displayed causes and effects of water pollution, air pollution and noise pollution. In the ‘food and health’ section, exhaustive information was given on diabetes.

A model depicting the ill-effects of drugs on human body was also put on display. The other models included photo-cell train detector, traffic control system, emergency light system, solar system, telescope and steam boat.

Mr Tej Parkash Singh, Transport Minister, Punjab, was the chief guest. The students of various schools also took part in the exhibition. Prizes were distributed among the winners.

Among the participants from the elementary section, Sukhwinder, Amrit Pal and Nisha were given the first prize for their model on emergency light. In the secondary section, Vikas Pathak and Jaskaran received the first prize for their model on ‘recycling of water’. In the senior secondary section of the same category, Deepak and Nitesh won the first prize.

In the category ‘information technology’, a model on ‘intercom’ made by Kartik Ranjoth won the first prize. A model on balanced diet by Kushama and Priya won the first prize in the category ‘food and health’. In the category ‘transport and communication’, a model on ‘traffic rules’ by Pankaj Kumar won the first prize. Among the participants from the senior secondary section, Gaurav and Arun, won the first prize in the same category. Under the theme ‘biotechnology’, Navdeep Singh stood first.

Among the participants from Central Model School, Rajiv Davender’s model was declared the best. Rajvir stood first among the participants from Government High School, Ramgarh. From Rajindra Model School, Gurmeet Singh bagged the first prize.

Experts deliver lectures at GNN College
Our Correspondent

Doraha, November 1
Two extension lectures — one on “Emerging world order” and the other on “Dr Ambedkar and his ideas” — were delivered by experts from Panjab University yesterday and today at GNN College here.

The Political Science Association and the postgraduate department of political science of Guru Nanak National College, Doraha, organised these lectures, especially for the students of political science.

Dr Bhupinder Singh Brar spoke about the prevailing unipolar world and its consequences, particularly about the attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan. He analysed the emerging trends in international politics. “If the economic powers emerge in the WTO regime, a tripolar system will emerge, he opined.

Dr Raunki Ram highlighted the multi-dimensional personality of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and his contribution in the political field of India. He said, “Dr Ambedkar emphasised on Dalit politics but was a great nationalist and a highly qualified person of Asia”. Due recognition to Dr Ambedkar is still not given in his own country, he regretted.

ABVP burns effigy of VC
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
The ABVP unit of the Khalsa College of boys today burnt the effigy of Prof K.N. Pathak, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh, for increasing the fee. Harsh, president of ABVM unit of the college, said. “We will make this issue among the students and will start the agitation”

Rajat Sood, president of the Ludhiana city unit, said the Punjab Government has been misleading the students by not taking back the increased fee structure. The government has ditched the student community. Rohit Samra, secretary of the Ludhiana unit of the ABVM, said the students will raise this issue and would create a consensus between them to fight against the false policies of the government.

Farewell party for college Principal
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, November 1
Students and teachers gave a warm send-off to Dr J.S. Cheema, Principal, GHG Khalsa College, Gurusar Sadhar, on his superannuation. He was honoured by the governing council, staff and heads of the allied institutions by presenting bouquets, mementoes, siropas, and shawls on the occasion. Earlier, the Managing Committee of the college appreciated the long and meritorious services of Dr Cheema who had served both as lecturer and Principal for more than three decades. Prof Harbans Kaur Khattra, senior most member of the faculty, was appointed as officiating Principal of the college by the Managing Committee.