Coaching centres make hay
while examinations draw near
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, December 25
Since Board Examinations of classes X and XII are drawing near so it is time for teachers running tuition centres and teachers giving private tuitions to make money. The courses are supposed to be finished for both the classes and after Christmas break , provisional or pre-board examinations would be held and the students have to do well.

Since admission to stream of choice in Class XI a student would depend on X class results and admission to a professional college would depend upon Class XII results, the students and their parents want that their wards should get very high percentages. For this reason, tuition centers flourish these days till February. Board examinations begin in the first week of March.

The students mostly take tuitions in mathematics and science subjects. There are two reasons for it. First the students say that these are more tough and, moreover, most of the teachers do no teach them well, secondly these subjects are more scoring than languages. These days students also take coaching in Social Studies. Tuition fee for the teaching of Science and Maths makes is more compared to other subjects.

The students start flocking these centres as early as 5 am. It does not matter if it is foggy, and visibility very poor, the students even girls in their vehicles (either two wheelers or four wheelers) reach the centre while it is dark. The fee is from Rs 400 to Rs 800. Fees vary according to the reputation of the coaching centre. A tuition centre results of which are very good charges more and coaching be goes on till 11pm.

These centres have devised a set of ‘mock examination papers’ based on the Board pattern which they give the students to solve. The students and parents feel greatly satisfied as the students after answering these papers overcome the fear of Board Examination and also come to know their weak areas.

A group of students Rohit, Mandeep, Kashyp, Harsimran, move together from one tuition to another. They said, “Since we have been together for a long time, we have a car pool so we save on petrol. We do not go to tuition centres, but we take tuitions from our school teachers for we feel they are the best. From Mathematics tuition, we go to science tuition and then to social science. We have to spend a lot of time travelling and that time affords us to discuss hundred and one things. Fatigue melts away when we tell each other jokes that we receive by SMS. Though we have to pay a lot of money for tuitions, we know our future depends on our results in the board examinations. Actually the teachers also do not teach so well in the classroom and we are also not very serious. Only when the examinations are near, we get serious.”

The teachers are also careful of Income Tax raids, so they tell the students to park their vehicles away from their homes. One of the teachers said, “We work very hard. Teaching tuition is very taxing and if we make money, it should not make people jealous. It is honest way of making a living.”

School’s annual function held
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 25
‘Annual Function of Everest Public Senior Secondary School Moti Nagar, Ludhiana was held today. Mr Surinder Dawar, Parliament Secretary and Minister of Department of Power and Housing and Urban development, Punjab, was the chief guest. Prof Harlal Singh, former Director, Punjab School Education Board, Mr S.K. Thapar, Manager (PBD), State Bank of India and Mr Sushil Malhotra, Member Sales Tax Advisory Committee, were guests of honour.

Programme started with ‘Saraswati Vandana’. Students presented colourful programme — skits based on discipline and Anti-corruption and folk dances and folk songs. Skits ‘Nimbu Paani’ and ‘Statue skit’ by students were very attractive. A ‘Science and Fine Arts Exhibition’ was arranged on this occasion.

Mr Rajinder Sharma welcomed the chief guest Mr Surinder Dawar.

Group songs such as ‘Chandu ke chhacha ne,’ ‘Gori Gori’ , ‘Jungle Song’ and ‘Azadi Ki Khuli Hawan mein’ presented by tiny-tots were fascinating. ‘Morni Bagan Mein Naache’ and ‘ Ni mein paani bharendiyan’ were also performed by students. Bhangra and Gidda impressed audience.

SMD School: New SMD Senior Secondary School, New Shivaji Nagar’s students dressed in fancy dresses like Santa Claus, Nehu, Fairy, dulhan and fauji.

Founder Director K.R. Bhatt congratulated students and teachers on this occasion of Christmas and distributed sweets. Medals were given to the students who recited poems.

Children’s antakshri: The Ramgarhia Ladies Club organised antakshri for children to celebrate Christmas here today. Beside antakshri, a dance programme was also organised. Teenagers club members participated in antakshri. Host was Aman Bassan. There were several rounds in antakshri that included ‘dhun round,’ gun gunata hoon main’, and ‘Dharkan Punjab Di. Club president Ms Manjit Kaur wished all members well New Year.

Spring Dale: Spring Dale Senior Secondary Public School, Ludhiana, yesterday observed 300th year of martyrdom of Sahibzadas of the Guru Gobind Singh and Mata Gujri. The function started with recitation of Shabad — ‘Sura so pahchaniyen jo larew din ke hait’ by girl students. Jagtaran Singh and Harkiran Kaur spoke on the sacrifices of the Sahibzadas and Mata Gujri Ji.

Dastar Bandi: Poshak (dress) competition : Satwinder Pal Singh - VI 1, Avneet Singh VI 2 and Agamjot Singh 3. Gurcharan Singh Rampuria gave away the prizes to the winners.

Mrs Avinash Kaur Walia, Director and Founder Principal, Mr Sukhdev Singh, President, Mr Nirmal Singh, Chairman, Mrs Kamalpreet Kaur, Headmistress and Mr Mandeep Singh, Director Finance were also present.

From Colleges
Ratika gets bronze in MCA
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 25
Ritika Bisht a student of Guru Nanak Institute of Management and Technology (GNIMT), Ludhiana has won bronze medal (overall third position) in MCA 2001-2004 batch. Earlier a student of same institute won a gold medal in BCA. Nidhi Khosla and Kuljit Kaur of the same institute won overall seventh and eighth positions in MCA. Ritika Bisht, Nidhi Khosla and Kuljit Kaur scored (87.31 per cent), (85.87 per cent) and 3336/3900 (85.54 per cent) marks respectively.

Farmers enlightened: The Department of Adult and Continuing Education of SDP College for Women here celebrated Christmas today by enlightening villagers of Jagirpur and Bahadurke about different bank loan facilities of Indian Overseas Bank, PNB and ICICI Bank.

A survey by programme in charge, Ms Ranjana Sood and Ms Shalini Saggar, was conducted to find out various reasons for not availing banking credit facilities. Lack of information on the part of media, cumbersome procedure, role of middleman in providing banking loans, lack of flexibility regarding adjustments in loans, illiteracy of villagers and wrong presumptions about the bank interest rates were found to be major reasons for disinterest in villagers regarding bank loans.

The camp was held under the guidance of president Balraj Bhasin and Principal S. Verma.

NSS Camp: A 10-day NSS camp has been organised at Government College for Women from December 25 to January 2. The camp has been organised by Prof Gurjinder Kaur and Prof Preet Daman. Volunteers are participating in the camp with enthusiasm and fervour.

Ms Kusum Ahuja, principal of the college, today inaugurated the camp. Various cultural activities were presented by the students on this occasion. Prof. (Ms) Puranjeet delivered a lecture on objectives of the NSS. The programme officer Ms Preet Daman thanked the principal and the NSS volunteers who were working with great enthusiasm and commitment for the smooth accomplishment of the task.

Lily Buds School celebrates X’mas
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 25
Lily Buds Pre-Nursery and Nursery School celebrated Christmas by organising a cultural function here today. Mr Arun Atri, president, People for Common Cause (India), presided over the function. His wife, Mrs Arun Atri was also present.

Mr Arun Atri gave away the prizes to winners. He spoke on the importance of Christmas and advised them to act upon the teachings of Christ.

Prof R.K. Gupta, chairman, read the annual report. Mrs (Dr) Tripta Gupta thanked the gathering. Principal Ravneet Kaur appreciated the efforts of the students.

Academic prizes were given to Sarabjot and Muskaan (1), Sarabjit and Kavita (2) and Madhav (3).

In pre-nursery: Jashandeep and Priyanka were first, Vaishali and Aditya second, Narinder and Sania third.

Best dancers among boys were Sarabjot, Aditya and Jashandeep, while best dancers among girls were Deepti, Muskaan and Sanya.

For fancy dress Deepti stood first, Muskaan second and Madhav third and consolation prize was given to Chetan.

Seminar on Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan
Our Correspondent

Samrala, December 25
Under the “Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan”, second seminar of block level Samrala-II teachers was organised at Govt Sen Sec School here. As many as 38 teachers of different schools attended the seminar.

In the closing ceremony, 12 components of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan were discussed and appreciated by the teachers.

Punjabi writer Hamdardveer Nausharvi and Dr Tariqjot Singh, Civil Hospital, delivered views.

SPORTS

School’s athletics meet held
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 25
Students took part in a two-day annual athletics meet at Baba Isher Singh (Nanaksar) Senior Secondary School, Bhai Randhir Singh Nagar, here today. Competition in regular and fun games were held during the meet.

Baba Harbhajan Singh inaugurated the meet and also gave away prizes to winners. Mr Amrik Singh Bansal, Mr Harbhajan Singh Sandhu and Mr Manjit Singh Walia, trustees of the school, were also present on this occasion.

Results: Boys (nursery)- Tri-cycle race- Gurpoor Singh 1, Gurinder Singh 2 and Harsimran Singh 3; LKG- Frog race- Lovepreet Singh Walia 1, Parampal Singh 2 and Prabhjot Singh 3; (UKG)- Jumping race- Simerpreet Singh 1, Pulneet Singh 2 and Manjot Singh 3.

Class I- Banana race- Amardeep Singh 1, Taranjit Singh 2 and Gurmilanjit Singh 3; Class II- Obstacle race — Sukhmandeep Singh 1, Rupinder Singh 2 and Jaspreet Singh 3; Class III- Sack race — Jiwanjot Singh 1, Moonpreet Singh 2 and Harmandeep Singh 3; Class IV- Lemon and spoon race — Ranjit Singh 1, Pardeep Singh 2 and Jaspreet Singh 3; Class VI- Back race- Simranpal Singh 1, Tegbir Singh 2 and Livjot Singh. Class XI- Long jump — Gurdeep Singh 1, Gurpreet Singh Jhaji 2 and Gagandeep Singh Panesar 3.

(Girls) Nursery- Tri-cycle race — Bhupinder Kaur 1, Sukhleen Kaur 2 and Arshnoor Kaur 3; LKG- Frog race — Ishmeet Kaur 1, Simerjeet Kaur 2 and Sunpreet Kaur 3; UKG- Jumping race — Meet Sirjana 1, Manmeet Kaur 2 and Maninderjeet Kaur 3; Class I- Banana race- Anmolpreet Kaur 1, Diksha 2 and Harvir Kaur 3; Class III- Sack race- Babanjot Kaur 1, Ramanpreet Kaur 2 and Savneet Kaur 3; Class V- Obstacle race — Jaspreet Kaur 1, Manjot Kaur 2 and Karamjit Kaur 3; Class VII- Three-legged race — Dipenjit Kaur and Gaganpreet Kaur 1, Manpreet Kaur and Anupreet Kaur 2, Satish Kumari and Harleen Kaur Bedi 3; Class IX- Long jump — Ramandeep Kaur 1, Gurpreet Kaur 2 and Rajwinder Kaur 3; Class XI- Long jump — Gurleen Kaur 1, Gurpreet Kaur 2 and Rajwinder Kaur 3. 

Bodybuilding competition at Khanna 
Our Sports Reporter

Ludhiana, December 25
The Ludhiana Amateur Bodybuilding Association will organise the Punjab Classic Bodybuilding Championship at the A S Model School, Khanna on December 26, according to Mr Ravi Kumar, general secretary of the association. During this championship, top 10 position holders will be awarded with prizes.

In the weight groups of 55 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg and above 80 kg, competition will be held for the Senior Mr Ludhiana title and top three bodybuilders will be selected to represent Ludhiana in the Senior Mr Punjab Competition to be held at Phagwara in February. Similarly, competition in the weight groups of below 55 kg, 60 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 70 kg, 75 kg and above 75 kg will be conducted for the title of Junior Mr Ludhiana.

The participants (below 21 years) in this category have been asked to bring with them their age proof certificates.

Junior powerlifting meet on Dec 29

Sant Isher Singh Powerlifting Club under the ageis of the District Ludhiana Powerlifting Association (LDPA) will organise the Punjab Junior Powerlifting Championship at Jagraon on December 29 and 30, according to Mr Sushil Kumar, secretary of the LDPA.

On the basis of performance during this two-day meet, Punjab team will be selected for the forthcoming Northern India Powerlifting Championship and Junior National Championship scheduled to be held at Lucknow from January 23 to 26, Mr Sushil said.

Grewal Sports Academy in semis
Our Correspondent

Doraha, December 25
The 2nd All-India Gold Cup Hockey Tournament is being organised under the presidentship of Prof Vikramjit Singh and patrons, Mr Anil Parbhat Mehta and Mr Tarvinder Kumar Bobby, at Guru Nanak Hockey Stadium here.

The chief guest for today’s matches were Mr Tejinder Singh Dhaliwal, SDM, Payal and Mr Amrik Singh Minhas, DSP, Payal.

The first match of the quarterfinal was played between the Grewal Sports Academy, Kila Raipur, and the Punjab and Sind Bank Academy, Jalandhar, which was won by Grewal Sports Academy by 4-2.

The second quarterfinal was played between SAI, Orissa, and Sansarpur which was won by SAI Orissa with 2-nil.

The third match was played between Punjabi University, Patiala, and Shahjahanpur, UP, which was won by the university with a score of 4-0.

The last match of the day was played between the Jagraon police and SAI, Chennai, which was won by SAI Chennai.

The semifinals will be played tomorrow between SAI, Orissa, and Punjabi University, Patiala, and between the Grewal Sports Academy, Kila Raipur, and SAI, Chennai.

The finals will be organised the same day.