Admn gears up to check copying menace
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, February 3
The district administration has started elaborate measures to curb the menace of copying during school examinations likely to conducted during February and March. As per the directions of the state government, the deputy commissioner has constituted district and block level committees, which will coordinate in framing anti-copying measures as well as suggesting improvements in the education standard.

According to information, the district level committee is headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner and the Zila Parishad Chairman, District Public Relations Officer and the District Primary Education Officer are the members of the committee with the district education officer acting as the coordinator of the committee.

Similarly, in the block level committees, which are to be headed by the sub-divisional magistrate, the block education officer, chairman of the block samiti and representatives of the public relations department are the members of the committee and the sub-divisional education officer to act as the coordinator.

Meanwhile, the police administration have also started preparing itself to put an effective check on the copying menace, which has become the worst evil of the present education system.

The director general of police, Mr M. S. Malik, has reportedly instructed the inspector generals of police ranges in Haryana to obtain lists of the sensitive examination centres from the school and college authorities.

It is recalled that there were instances of mass copying and leakage of question papers in large numbers during last year’s annual examinations, which brought the bad name to the board of school education and universities. And this compelled the authorities of the education department, police administration and of the school education board to take stringent measures so that it was not repeated during this year’s examinations.

It is also worth to mention that such an attempt is being made for the first time after eight years to control copying menace in school examinations.

Workshop on special teaching techniques for
dyslexic children
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 3
Arlene Sonday, one of world’s leading special teaching technique expert and creator of the widely-used “Sonday System”, will conduct ‘READ 2004’, India’s first-ever workshop on special teaching techniques for dyslexic children.

‘READ 2004’, a three-day workshop designed specially for teachers, parents and professionals in the field of special education, will be held at Orkids, The Learning Centre, in Gurgaon, from February 5-7, 2004. It is organized jointly by Orkids and Akshar Foundation, with support from Guinness UDV India and the Diageo Foundation.

The workshop will be a boon for an estimated five to 10 per cent children in each classroom, who suffer from dyslexia, often referred to as “the hidden disability”. Dyslexia causes difficulties in learning to read, write and spell. Short-term memory, mathematics, concentration, personal organisation and sequencing may also be affected.

Because of the general lack of awareness about dyslexia amongst parents and teachers, these children are treated as ones with low intelligence and leads to low self-esteem.

While there are several special teaching and assessment centers abroad, very few schools have recognized dyslexia as a genuine problem. ‘READ 2004’ aims to equip teachers with upgraded instruction strategies for such children, and recognizing the problem.

For students who need to learn to read, spell and write in English, teaching the code of language is the solution.

Reading is talk written down in code. By learning the code, the students have the necessary tools to decode (read) and encode (spell) words. Teaching the sound-symbol connection, blending sounds into words for reading, segmenting words into sounds for spellings and learning the basic rules will integrate reading and spelling instruction. Combined with multi-sensory practice, this cements learning into long-term memory.

English language learners who have dyslexia require additional practice, different pacing and teacher expertise. Hence, the need for Sonday System, a system enabling children with reading spelling and writing disabilities to successfully overcome the obstacles and tap their full potential.

The Sonday System is designed following the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching multi-sensory, structured reading and spelling. This program is unique because it is a complete phonics-based program that is systematic, structured, sequential, cumulative and involves Multi-sensory practice. There is a spelling component because spelling is a multi-sensory activity, which reinforces reading. This programme includes learning plans, video tutor and instructional material needed to implement it. Ms Arlene Sonday is a Founding fellow and the first president of the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators and serves on the Advisory Board of the 32 Degree Masonic Learning Centers for Children, Inc.

CULTURE

GLITZ & GLAMOUR
Capital to play host to global fashion brands
Smriti Kak

Come March and the city will play host to dsyn 04, an international trade event showcasing the exceptional design, textiles and apparel manufacturing expertise and capabilities of the Indian fashion industry. Aimed to be an annual event, it has been established by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and is supported by the Ministry of Textiles.

The event is scheduled to be held towards the end of March and is set to become an important date on the international trade event calendar.

dsyn 04 will present collections specifically developed to showcase the industry’s expertise in design and product development, textile design and manufacture as well as finished garment production across a number of apparel sectors.

It will cover Women’s and Men’s Sportswear and Ready To Wear, Denim & Street wear, Surf/Resort/Beach wear, children's wear, Evening and Special Occasion and Corporate Uniforms.

A unique concept has been developed for dsyn 04: Rather than companies participating purely by being asked to exhibit apparel or textiles that they individually produce, they have been asked to participate as part of a consortium.

Over 160 teams, each comprising of at least a fashion designer and a textile/apparel manufacturing company, many working together for the first time, have been asked to respond to a brief to produce a special collection for a specific apparel sector.

The collections developed for each apparel section will be the basis of the event as they will be showcased in thematic fashion shows and exhibitions.

The concept underscores the fact that the Indian fashion industry is globally competitive on price and quality. Participation in dsyn 04 is by invitation only. Companies have been selected on their outstanding credentials and specific expertise relevant to the apparel categories that are being showcased at the event.

The event would provide a resource to domestic and international retailers, fashion brands and ready to wear designers looking to secure manufacturing partners that can provide global competitive advantages across design development, cost and quality. Among the participants will be Selfridges, Marks & Spencers, David Jones, Myer Grace Bros and Sportsgirl. Fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler, Next, Diesel, Liz Claiborne, DKNY and Polo and International Ready to Wear Designers, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Collette Dinnigan, Issey Miyake, Gucci and Louis Vuitton would also be part of dsyn 04.

dsyn 04 has been conceived and established by NIFT in India with the help of Ministry of Textiles. It is produced and marketed by Australian Fashion Innovators, one of the region’s leaders in fashion event development.

Another John Abraham in the making

From Aaryabhata Polytechnic, Delhi, to Asha Chandra Acting Institute, he has travelled a long way. For this 22-year-old resident of Janakpuri area of Delhi, the switchover from mechanical engineering to acting came quite naturally due to his obsession and passion. His cousin sister, super model Jessi Randhawa, has been a constant source of inspiration for him. Right now he is doing the lead role in the Vikram Chadha movie, ‘Nazar Na Lage’. He had also acted in the popular Doordarshan serial ‘Abhiman’. He has done seven videos with Venus, HMV and Times. He has done many fashion shows with different choreographers like Kaushik Ghosh, Nanak Rony, Manoj Awana, Manava Gavy, Raj Malhotra, Ritu Singh, Shancy Doman and Simran. He has done still shoots for Singapore Collection, Mumbai, Excel Shirts, Oxemberg Jeans, Vintage Club, Crown watches and Pepe jeans. His mother, the councillor of Janakpuri area, Mrs. Daljeet Kaur, is very supportive. He is an ardent fan of John Abraham and wants to act in movies apart from handling modelling assignments. Last year, he was also short listed for the 9th Grasim Mr. India contest.

Nalini Ranjan

Antique desires

Crafted pieces of jewellery are hard to resist. And that is what duo Manish and Nikhil have in mind while designing pieces that will stand out for their design and craftsmanship.

Launching their new line, ‘Antique Desires’, the duo claim that the inspiration behind the pieces has been drawn from the Victorian era and is “imbued mainly with floral and natural motifs”.

Made from multicoloured stones, it also comprises of diamond jewellery. The coloured stones, they claim, offers a variety to pick from. Coloured stone Tourmaline, for instance, has 80 colours. All stones are single cut and have been crafted into necklaces, ear rings, bracelets etc.

Manish and Nikhil have also launched ‘Bedazzled’, which is aimed at women who prefer the western look. Created in white gold studded with cognac and white coloured diamonds, black pearls, amethysts and rubies, the collection can burn a hole in the pocket.

“We have kept in mind the fact that women have become increasingly conscious not only about their clothes, but also about their jewellery. Our emphasis is on creating the right balance between tradition and modernity while giving our designs that extra touch of exclusivity,” offers, Manish.

American director visits AAFT

Renowned American film producer and director, Karl Bradosh, has given an ‘A’ to the infrastructure available in India. While visiting the Asian Academy of Film and Television (AAFT), he said the facilities for filmmaking and television production in the country were ‘world class”.

Bardosh and his associate, Teri McLuhan, are shooting a film in the subcontinent. He also teaches films at New York State University and at the Tisch School of Arts.

Addressing the queries of students, Teri said that neither good ideas nor good equipment automatically produce a good film. Good films are visualised in the mind. Teri also advised students to work with conviction and said that research and the ability to write for the screen are a part of director’s work.

Shetty at Esthetix

Suniel Shetty at Esthetix

Actor Suniel Shetty, accompanied by his wife and director Mahesh Manjrekar, were in town recently. The trio visited Esthetix, a designer furniture showroom. The owner of the store claimed that not only does Shetty buy stuff from his store, but they are also planning to open multiplexes and food restaurants in town.

As for the store, the owner, Mr. Dhingra says: “Esthetix combines the ordinary and the unique, the everyday and the idiosyncratic, for instance, a wooden Gujarati side table beside a beautifully designed sofa”.

Apart from filmi clients, the store’s other claim to fame is having let out furniture for films, including Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Mohabbatein and Gadar.