EDUCATION

Upgradation for this govt high school remains elusive
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 2
Despite assurances from all Chief Ministers of the state the government high school of Gohana which was opened during pre-Independence period has not yet been upgraded to the senior secondary level so far.

The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, during his visit to Gohana town before announcement of the elections, reportedly promised its upgradation from this academic session. Residents of the town and school staff waited anxiously up to March 31 for the government orders of upgradation in vain.

It is the first government high school in the Gohana region which was opened during British rule in the country. Many generations of thousands of families of the town and villages of the region have received their high school education from this school. And many students of this school have gone on to claim high posts in civil, defence and judiciary services but hardly any one had made efforts for its upgradation.

Another factor which stresses the need for its upgradation is that there is no government higher secondary school for boys in the town whereas there are two government senior secondary schools for girls.

Under the new upgradation policy of the government there is requirement for a sports ground for the students but in this case the plea taken was that its playground was acquired by the government for developing a sports stadium. As the stadium is located just in front of the school it can easily be used as a playground by the school.

Even after this relaxation and repeated directions of the Chief Minister in the past since 1999 upgradation has proved to be a distant dream.

For want of upgradation of the school which had given outstanding results in the matric examinations in the past regularly the students are forced to seek admissions to private secondary schools in the town, a costly affair for the students of poor families.

Teachers can breathe easy for two months
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, April 2
Teachers of private colleges of education have heaved a sigh of relief after getting information that the state government orders for stopping government grant to these colleges had reportedly been deferred for two months on the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.

The Commissioner of Education, Haryana, during a function here on February 22 had hinted about the government plan to cease grants to these colleges from this academic year. Later, on February 28, the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Education, Mr M. L. Tayal, gave clear indications of the government plan and asked the college managements to get ready for it.

These clear indications from the authorities perturbed the teachers of these colleges. The teachers tried to meet Mr Ajay Singh Chautala, INLD MP and son of the Chief Minister, but when they did not succeed they pleaded with Mr Tayal during his February 28 visit here to Hindu College. However, they failed to get any assurance from him.

For the perusal of their demand, the teachers sought the support of the Haryana College Teachers Union. A delegation of the union called on the Chief Minister but they could not get any satisfactory response from Mr Chautala.

Meanwhile, with elections being announced a delegation of the teachers of the colleges of education again met the CM. According to a member of the delegation, the CM has directed deferment of the implementation of the government plans for two months, saying that it would be considered later on. The teacher also informed that verbal orders had been received from the Director of Higher Education about receiving the salary amount in the shape of government grant.

NCERT felicitates 47 teachers

New Delhi: An awards ceremony to felicitate 47 teachers and teacher educators was organised on the concluding day of the seminar on “Innovative Practices and Experiments for School Teachers and Teacher Educators” in NCERT here today.

More than 400 entries were received for the year 2002-03 from across the country for the awards. 

A day of fun & magic at SOS Children’s Village
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 2
Fun, laughter and giggles were the order of the day. Children from SOS Children’s Village, Bawana, and SOS Children’s Village, Faridabad, flocked together for the fun fair organised by Herbalife International India Pvt Ltd today at SOS Children’s Village, Greenfields, near Delhi. On the request of the National Director, SOS CVI, Mr Pradeep Singh, many distributors of Herbalife from Delhi and NCR came to interact with children here.

Mr Pradeep Singh and the mothers, co-workers of SOS Children’s Village welcomed the guests from Herbalife International India Pvt Ltd. The National Director expressed his gratitude to the organisation for making an effort to bring a smile on the children’s face. He extended his special thanks to the SOS mothers whose constant endeavour had helped the children bond with the large SOS family system. He reiterated that SOS Children’s Village brings home a child who has lost his nest a world of peace and solace.

The regional manager for Herbalife International India Pvt Ltd, Mr Jossy Sebastian, applauded the efforts of SOS for providing the abandoned children with a family, brothers and sisters and above all a loving and doting mother. He visited the family homes and was indeed impressed with the infrastructure and the networking of SOS CVI in various parts of the country. The organisation is also supporting family houses of SOS Children’s Villages in Bangalore and Kolkata. He expressed his desire for a long-term association with SOS CVI.

There was magic in the air indeed as the awestruck children were hypnotised to a whole new world of fun and frolic. The magic show had tricks like disappearing ring, Water of Ganga and many other colourful antics. A giant

Mickey Mouse passed by every now and then and shook hands with the children. The adults were equally amused and some even participated in the magic show.