EDUCATION

PAU daily-wagers on hunger strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 20
Demanding reinstatement of its eight members, the Daily Paid Labour Union, Punjab Agricultural University, sat on 24-hour hunger strike outside the university gate number 2 this morning.

Raising slogans against the PAU authorities, the members alleged that it was injustice on their part to terminate the services of eight employees who had been working in the university as daily-wagers for the past 10 years. They said no notice was served to any of the terminated employees.

The members who sat on the hunger strike included Mr Dharminder Singh, Mr Satwant Singh, Mr Sikander Singh, Mr Mahinder Singh, Mr Karuna Shankar, Mr Khatinder Pal and Mr Baldev Singh. Other members, including Mr Sandeep Kumar, Mr Gurdeep Chand, Mr Nirbhay Singh, addressed the rally.

The members said they would organise a rally outside the Thapar Hall tomorrow morning and submit a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, demanding reinstatement of the retrenched employees.

School principal resigns amid row
Our Correspondent

Khanna, April 20
The tussle between the office-bearers of AS High School Trust and the Management Society of the school reached its peak when the resignation of the president of the society, Mr J.S. Lotey, was accepted by the managing committee at a meeting held on the school premises today. Earlier, the Principal of AS Modern Senior Secondary School, Khanna, Mr G.S. Bajwa, also submitted his resignation from the post.

The tussle began a few days ago on the issue of beating up of some students of the school by two teachers in a theatre. Following a complaint by students, an inquiry was marked by the president to the general secretary, Mr Vijay Sharma. Mr Sharma recommended disciplinary action against the Principal of the school in the inquiry report submitted by him to the president.

But the president refused to take action against the principal. This irked some members of the management and they launched a campaign against the president to move a no-confidence motion against him. Following the move to bring up a no-confidence motion, Mr Lotey resigned from the post, which was accepted in today’s meeting.

Earlier, Principal G.S. Bajwa submitted his resignation to the president, before the latter’s resignation was accepted. The president forwarded principal’s resignation to the general secretary for necessary action.

While confirming the resignation of the principal, Mr Vijay Sharma said the resignation would be sent to Dr Ashwani Bansal, secretary of the school, who would call a meeting of the management. 

MSc students boycott exams
Our Correspondent

Doraha, April 20
The MSc (Part II) students of SCD Government College for Boys, Ludhiana, who appeared for their mathematics paper today came out of the examination hall after an hour as a protest as they alleged that almost 80% of the paper was out of the prescribed syllabus.

The students said that only one question carrying 10 marks could be attempted and that too if the entire syllabus is thoroughly covered. Rest of the questions were unknown to them and entirely out of their syllabus. They have demanded re-examination of the same. The students were full of resentment as they complained that every time they had to pass through such testing time. They said that last year in MSc (Part I) paper on ‘Number Theory and Complex analysis’ was out of syllabus and a re-examination of the same was conducted on June 16 last.

An examiner said, “Why are we made to suffer every time? Why can’t the university appoint capable paper-setters who are well-versed with our syllabus and the entire course of study?”

Another complained, “Everything seems uncertain in this type of situation. To prepare for the same exam is not an easy job as there is no way out. Rest of our papers are also disturbed in such a situation.”

They said that the paper was beyond their course. Dr Balbir Singh Dhami, senior lecturer in the subject of mathematics, said that even teachers were bewildered to see the question paper and the questions put therein. The teachers, too, will be sending a representation to the university in this connection.

Five schools participate in quiz
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, April 20
Students from five city schools participated in a zonal-level quiz competition organised at CFC Public School, BRS Nagar, here today. It was organised by Cremica Foods.

Students from Class V to X participated. The classes were divided into two categories. In the first category, the team of Ronak, Divya and Narinderpal from BCM Senior Secondary School, Jamalpur, won the first prize. The second prize went to the team of CFC Public School with Hema, Nitika and Manik as its members.

In the second category, the team of CFC Public School represented by Suraj, Sahil and Amandeep won the first prize. The second prize was won by the team of GMT Public Senior Secondary School with Akshay, Shivam and Deepti as its members.