The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

EDUCATION

University flouts its own norms
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
“The physics practicals scheduled for B.Sc classes for this session that have been received by teachers flout the rules laid down by the university itself”, said Mr Jaipal Singh, senior lecturer, Physics Department GCB College, Ludhiana.

“But the problem arises with the way they have asked us to conduct the practicals. For BSc students we have to conduct practicals of 70, whereas 58 students the physics examination have to be conducted on March 20 and 21. We are supposed to conduct practical examinations of 70 students in four batches and 58 students in three batches. Here is the crux of the problem for, according to the instruction of the university, we can conduct examination of only 12 students in one group. Hence the university is flouting its own guidelines,” said Mr Jaipal Singh.

“If we divide 70 students in 4 groups, and 58 students in three groups, the number far exceeds 12. In that case we cannot do justice to the students. Practical examination carries 50 marks and students do score well in it. It is not possible to examine more than 12 students and guidelines in the syllabus also stipulate that not more than 12 students should be examined in one group. But according to the schedule given by the university, if we conduct practicals of more than 12 students in a batch,, there is bound to be overcrowding in the practical examination and proper justice will not be done to the students and ultimate sufferers will be the students,” he added.

The university should reschedule the practical examinations so that only 12 students” are examined during practical examinations.

12 city schools gear up for CBSE science quiz
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
More than 12 city schools have sent applications of their students for a national-level science quiz to be organised by the CBSE from April.

Keeping in view the designation of the current calendar year as the Year of Science, the Board has launched the quiz for the first time with an aim to bring about academic vibrance among the science students of its affiliated schools. The proposed quiz is being organised in collaboration with Intel India and aims at infusing spirit of discovery and inquisitiveness in school students and to arouse their interest in science and technology.

Even though the Board has yet not finalised the design of the quiz, its academic director, G. Balasubramanian has sent the details of the rules of the contest to its affiliated schools through e-mails and circulars. The board has also invited applications from the interested schools, the last date of which is March 15.

As per the directions, each school will be represented by three students studying in classes IX to XII . The quiz will be held in three stages. The first stage will be a written quiz. The schools selected in the first round will participate in the second round to be held at the regional level. The second stage will be an oral quiz. The schools selected at the regional level will participate in the national-level competition.

Out of the 20 schools affiliated with the Board in the city, nearly 12 have already sent their applications. These include DAV Public School, BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, Tagore Public School, Greenland Public Senior Secondary School, GGN Public School, Kundan Vidya Mandir, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, BRS Nagar, and Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar.

Management students get prizes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
The Institute of Management Studies (IMS), Guru Nanak Education Trust, Model Town, Ludhiana, organised its annual prize distribution function for the BBA, BCA and MBA students here yesterday.

Mr Gurbir Singh, president, Guru Nanak Education Trust, presided over the function.

Mr Deepinder Sekhon, MD, Quest Infosys, and Dr Charanjit Kaur Mahal, Principal, Guru Nanak Girls College, were the guests of honour.

Ms Dilmeet Kaur, director, IMS, congratulated the prize winners. Ms Sujata Sachdev of BCA (V), Ranbir Kaur of BCA (III), Kamaljit of BCA (I), Jaspreet Kaur of BBA (I) and Aarti Jindal of MBA (I) got first positions in aggregate in their respective classes.

Scholars condemn move on retiring age
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
The PhD Students Association at its general body meeting here yesterday condemned the proposed increase in the retiring age of professors in Punjab from 60 to 62.

The students felt that such a step would unnecessarily increase the government’s expenditure. They argued that a professor’s pay at the age of 60 was approximately Rs 35,000 while the salary of a newly appointed assistant professor was about Rs 14,000. How could, then, the government justify an additional burden of approximately Rs 5,00,000 per person in two years at a time when the university was facing acute financial problems, they wondered.

Secondly, it was the obligation of the government to provide employment to all, they said. Sixty per cent of Punjab’s population was under the age of 35, and roughly half of it was unemployed. Denying them employment by benefiting those who were already employed would lead to social unrest, the research scholars said.

The executive committee of the association has decided to take up the issue with other student organisations in PAU.

MBA admission test on May 2
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
The admission to MBA in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for 2004-05 will be made on merit drawn on the basis of the management aptitude test (MAT) to be conducted by the All-India Management Association, New Delhi. The test has been scheduled for May 2 at locations that will be specified in the MAT bulletin.

The prospectus and application forms will be available from the Additional Director of Communication, Centre for Communication, Languages and Culture, PAU, from the first week of May.

Old students’ meet held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, March 14
A general body meeting of the Old Students Association of Khalsa College for Women, Civil Lines, Ludhiana, was held on the college premises yesterday.

Dr Varinder Kaur Thind, Principal of the college, welcomed the old students. The members of the alumni met their teachers and remembered their college days.