13-member Pak delegation for COA alumni meet
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 20
Dr M.S. Tiwana, Dean, College of Agriculture and President, COA Alumni Association, today said a 13-member delegation from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, lead by the Vice-Chancellor will arrive for a four-day visit to the PAU from February 24.

The team comprises Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Dean, Animal Sciences, Dean, Basic Sciences, and other alumni from different fields of specialisation. A senior alumni, Dr Hafiz Abdul Qayyum and Dr Saeed Ahmad, would be taking part in the two-day fete. The visit is being organised under the patronage of Dr K.S. Aulakh, Vice-Chancellor of the PAU.

A technical symposium on “global agricultural scenario visa-a-vis national and Punjab agriculture” will be the highlight of the tour. Many reputed agricultural scientists, including Dr G.S. Kalkat, Dr S.S. Johl and Dr Atwal, are participating in the symposium and eventually an effective interaction among the alumni to the benefit of both countries is expected.

The event has been arranged to redefine the academic and research strategies to meet the aspirations of the farming community in the changed scenario of globalisation following the WTO regulations and equip ourselves accordingly without being complacent over our previous accomplishments.

Dr Tiwana informed that the alumni association of the College of Agriculture has a rich history dating back to its formation in 1919 in Lyallpur, with Sardar Labh Singh elected as its first Secretary. Mirza Nazir Ali Beg used to present a welcome poem which would be reciprocated by one of the old boys. The annual gatherings of the association continued even after the partition.

Systematic agricultural advancement, which lead to the establishment of the college in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), was initiated in 1890 when a consultant chemist to the Royal Agricultural Society, Dr J.A. Voelkar, was sent to India to advise upon the techniques of agricultural chemistry to Indian Agriculture. In 1890, he made the recommendations in the Agricultural Conference held at Shimla to teach agriculture in vernacular languages.

Another expert, Dr W.J. Leather was also appointed as agricultural chemist to the Government of India for guiding agricultural research. The Famine Commission of 1901 called for strengthening of agricultural departments in each province and promote the development of agricultural research, demonstration and education in the states. Following this policy, six agricultural colleges at Pune, Kanpur, Nagpur, Lyallpur, Coimbatore and Sabour were established between 1906-1908.

140 primary teachers attend workshop
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 20
Aimed at bringing the syllabi of government elementary schools at par with public schools, a state-level workshop of elementary teachers was held at Government Inservice Training Centre (GITC) here today.

Nearly 140 teachers from elementary and primary schools all over the state put forth their suggestions and amendments for distribution of lessons term-wise and month-wise based on house tests and weekly tests, which had already been formed by the Directorate of Elementary Education, Punjab.

The workshop was presided over by Mr Dalbara Singh, Deputy Director of Elementary Education. Speaking on the occasion, he said the newly evolved system would bring uniformity in the syllabus and in examinations. He said such workshops and seminars were necessary for timely interaction with the school teachers. The suggestions given by the school teachers in the day’s workshop would be helpful in making changes in the syllabus of the forthcoming session, he added.

The Deputy Director said evaluation cards, parent-teacher meetings, uniformity in time tables, updating of academic record of students in weekly tests, continued evaluation, weekly tests, monthly tests and terminal tests would certainly bring quality improvement in the education system.

Ms Sarabjit Kaur, Principal, welcomed the guests and teachers. Senior lecturer, Mr C.H. Puri, stressed on the need to upgrade the standards of government schools. Dr Shashi Trehan, another subject expert, Sarb Sikhya Abhiyan, emphasised on the need to have continuous, comprehensive evaluation and overall development of the school students based on scholastic and non-scholastic activities of the students.

Ms Harvinder Kaur, District Education Officer (Elementary), Mr Major Singh Sandhu, Deputy DEO (Elementary), Ms Usha Sidhu, Principal, District Institute of Education and Training, Jagraon, were also present on the occasion. 

Class VIII exams begin

Ludhiana, February 20
Class VIII students from government, affiliated and private schools appeared for their final examination conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), that began here today.

The examination was conducted at 360 centres set up by the District Education Department. The students took their examination of English for which the board had prepared five sets of question papers so as to avoid any chance of copying.

The examination started well on time. However, there were a few complaints of overcrowding in the centres from a couple of schools. At Arya Senior Secondary School, Old Sabzi Mandi, nearly 468 students turned up to take the test. Since the school was holding the examination for other non-board classes, it was finding it difficult to accommodate them all. The primary classes were forced to sit on mattresses and Class XI students were sent back home for there was no space vacant for them. OC

City girl is best NCC cadet
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 20
Vibhuti Jain, a student of the local Sacred Heart Convent School has bagged the best NCC cadet, Junior Wing, (Girls) award. She was declared the best cadet by the Directorate of Combined Annual Training Camp, Jalandhar, recently.

The award was conferred upon her after she attended six NCC camps organised at Phillaur, Doraha, Jalandhar, Chandigarh and New Delhi within a span of four months. Elated at her success, Vibhuti, a student of Class IX has decided to join the Indian Defence Services.

She said she wanted to become a veterinary doctor before joining NCC at school. ‘‘During the camps we saw that life was hard work coupled with fun. I got a chance to dine with higher officials of the Indian Army after bagging the award. I was impressed with the Army life. So I have decided to dedicate my life to the country.”

Equally good at studies, Vibhuti has always scored O grade in her academics. She said she was inspired by her teacher Ms Kiran Sharma to join the NCC and when she joined it she was introduced to an altogether different life. She got a chance to meet the Vice-President Chiefs of Army and Naval staff and the Punjab Governor.

Being daughter of a PFA activist, Dr Sandeep Jain, Vibhuti said she had a special love for animals and had reared two squirrels at home. She had been looking after some injured stray animals who were rescued by her father.

She said her parents had given her freedom to choose her own career. Her father and especially her mother had helped her to be a good cadet. She said while her father used to be apprehensive about her going to different places to attend the camps, her mother made it easier for her to get his permission.

Lecture on history of Hindi literature
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, February 20
The postgraduate department of the SDP College for Women organised an extension lecture on ‘History of Hindi literature’ in college seminar hall here today. The resource person on the occasion was Dr Suresh Chander Vatsayan, national and international award winner, former professor and head of Department of Hindi, Government College for Boys, and retired Principal, Government College, Dhudike.

Dr Veena Gian Singh Maan, head of the Department of Hindi, along with other members of department welcomed Dr Vatsayan. She highlighted his academic achievements as teacher, poet and a writer.