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Government schools go all out to woo students
Mohali, April 30 One is not sure if this change has something to do with Punjab Government’s recent proposal to privatise school education in the state, but one thing is certain, government schools, at least in this part of the state, have decided not to go down without a fight. And the results are already showing. The Government Model School in Kharar had opened an year ago has already admitted more than 600 students. Other than the 25 teachers employed by the Education Department, the school has two extra teachers whom they pay through the Parents Teachers Association funds. In the villages too, despite the uncontrolled mushrooming of private schools across Mohali and Kharar, government schools are holding fort. “We are doing our best to ensure that every student that we have in school comes back to in the next session. The drop out rate is kept as low as possible.” Moreover we have children of the poorest of the poor families coming to us for education. If the government were to privatise schools, how are these children going to pay for it.” True enough, the school has over 300 children out of which 298 are from the reserved categories. “These children get books, scholarship and wheat from the school. Will a private school do so much for the students?” asked the teacher. We did not have to go far to understand what the government school teachers meant. Just opposite this school in Sohana is Happy Model School, a small private school being run from a residential house. While students of the government school paid less than Rs 6 a month as fees the students in the private school paid Rs 200 a month as fees and also paid an average of Rs 250 for the books. The school building is worse than the government school’s building and the students drink water from a hand pump. The school had a small “shop” running inside the school that sold eatables to the students. With barely enough accommodation, the school offers education till Class XII. As far as infrastructure was concerned the only thing that the private school offered to its students were chairs. While the government school had children sitting on the floor, private school students were seated on chairs. So are these children paying so much for the chairs.? “No it is the result. We have shown 100 per cent result in our Class V examinations. Can the government school make a similar claim?” pointed out the Principal of this school. Admitting that the government schools attracted the worst students qualitatively, Ms Bachan Kaur, the Principal of Government Model School, Gharuan, however, said model schools admit only those who have scored above 60 per cent marks. “Moreover this year we are aggressively canvassing for brighter students,” she said. However, what is expected to give a new lease of life to the government schools is the recent decision of the Punjab School Education Board to do away with the system of private examinations. “Many small private schools running in competition with the government schools in villages are able to function because they make their students appear as private candidates for Board examination at the end of the year. Once the Board bans the system of private candidates, these students would come to government schools or take admission in the Board’s open school system,” said Mr Sharanjit Singh, Principal, Government School, Kurari.
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Shun tobacco, students show with colours
Mohali, April 30 As many as 519 students from 16 different schools took part in the competition. The topics for the competition were health professionals and tobacco control, passive smoking, films, fashion and tobacco, tobacco and poverty and life with and without tobacco. Mr T.R. Sarangal, Managing Director, Punjab health Systems Corporation and Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, was the chief guest on the occasion. Students of Shemrock Senior Secondary School, Sector 69, presented a song “Yeh adhbhut dharti seehon ki” after the competition. Mrs Amteshwar Kaur, president of the association, said similar competitions were held earlier during the month in which nearly 1200 schools participated. She said the prize distribution function would be held on World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
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Kendriya Vidyalayas celebrate annual day
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 30 Students of primary classes presented a welcome song “Bowing, bowing, bow”. An English skit “A shooting test” saw the Pandavas aim for the bird’s eye. A qawwali “Maro na hamein Mummy, Bachon ka zamana hai” followed. A skit condemning the dowry system, a giddha presentation and a comical English skit were the highlights of the programme. A school magazine was released by the chief guest. A total of 125 prizes were awarded to the students for excellence in sports, academics and co-curricular activities. At the Sector 47 KV, the cultural programme commenced with paying obeisance to goddess Sarswati. The annual report was presented by Principal M.P. Mahajan. He highlighted the outstanding achievements of the vidyalaya in multifarious activities. The presentation by scouts and guides was remarkable with formation of pyramids and presentation of different scenes depicting social service done by them. The cultural programme was the amalgamation of dances of different states. The chief guest, Air Cmdr T.K. Venugopal, AOC Wing and Chairman of Vidyalaya Management Committee, inaugurated an art and craft exhibition. A cultural extravaganza was the highlight of the annual function of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Air Force Station, High Grounds, here on Saturday. Starting with Saraswati Vandana, the programme included Rajasthani dances, puppet dance, western and gypsy dances and Lilliput dance. A hilarious comedy, “My wife, my promotion”, was much appreciated. Group Capt P.P. Khandekar, Commanding Officer of the Air Force High Grounds, was the chief guest and Ms Maneesha Khandekar the guest of honour. The Principal, Ms S.K. Bhatia, read out the annual report. Meanwhile, Richa Sharma and Rajiv were adjudged as the best girl and best boy, respectively. Mr Khandekar also gave away prizes for excellence in sports, academics and co-curricular activities. AMBALA: A scintillating performance was delivered by students of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Ambala Cantonment at their annual function today. Brig G.S. Malhi was the chief guest while Mr D.K. Saini, Additional Commissioner, KV Sangathan, was the guest of honour. A number of dignitaries and principals from other schools were present on the occasion. School Principal Urmila Sharma said the programme started with Saraswati Vandana. A welcome song was sung by the students which was followed by dance based on song `Chun Chun Karti Aayi Chidya’. Senior students gave a glimpse of North-East through Naga dance. The highlight of the programme was the release of the school magazine `Antarbodh’. The magazine has been brought out through the active participation of students. Four students have got merit certificates from CBSE and three students participated in the SGFI games. CHANDIGARH: Celebrated “Water Resources Day” was celebrated by the ‘Sheesham’ Eco-Club of Government Model High School, Sector 36-D, here today with great fervour. A slogan writing competition was also held. Mr Bahadur Singh, Project Officer, was the guest of honour who apprised the students about the importance of water resources. The Principal, Ms Rita Batra, also spoke on the occasion. Later, a rally was also taken out which was flagged off jointly by Mr Bahadur Singh and the Principal. A project for the cleaning of drinking water tanks was also undertaken. PANCHKULA: Dental camp
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Bishop Cotton student adjudged best speaker
Chandigarh, April 30 Naved Tariq Bishop Cotton, Shimla was adjudged the best speaker, Shruti Shukla, Frank Anthony Public School, New Delhi, was the runners-up. The winning school team was Bishop Cotton, Shimla Rally held As many as 300 students of Government Model Senior School, Sector 33, took part in a rally to mark the campaigning week of the Sarv Sikhsha Abhiyan. The rally was flagged off by the District Education Officer, Dr Gulzar Singh. Carrying the banners, students raised slogans to create awareness. Career counselling In its ongoing endeavour to help students a career counselling session was organised at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, here on Friday. The resource person, Ms Rashmi Kakkar, had an interactive session with students on effective communication. Another resource person, Ms Neeru Thapar, spoke on various aspects of SAT examination with special reference to English paper.
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Teachers told to improve quality of education
Chandigarh, April 30 The Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Education and Languages, Mr R.S. Gujral, chaired the meeting. He sought their cooperation in checking the menace of corruption, and the representatives of these unions assured their full cooperation. He exhorted them to focus their attention on improving the quality of education at all levels in the state. Stressing on enhancing the employment capabilities of the students in the state, he suggested to impart such education which could enable the students to express themselves effectively and efficiently in this era of globalisation and liberalisation, besides imparting them education and training in various technical fields like computers, information technology, bio-technology, software, etc. Mr Gujral warned that those teachers, headmasters and principals who were found involving themselves in malpractices of bogus enrolment, contractual teaching and bribes would be dealt with severely by taking disciplinary action against them.
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UIET students’ fast continues
Chandigarh, April 30 The students also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the syndicate members before the start of the meeting. The two students — Manu Sharma and Rajat Jaitley — are on fast to demand a special chance to the student of semester VI whose results were declared late. Meanwhile, the Syndicate has decided to form a committee to look into the demand.
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Film Review Rama Sharma
F
irst-timer director Soham has accomplished what few of his genre can-combating the live and burying the dead. He succeeds in making Bollywood a livewire which can annihilate the stereotype.
In ‘Kaal’ he has mounted frames upon frames full of frightening fare. His execution is deft. Like Hollywood thrillers ‘Kaal’ has its moments which edge you out of the seat. His delivery of shocks is just appropriate. Seldom does he fail to deliver the knocks so must to raze the viewers.
The theory of ultra-natural might is reinforced in a way which is imposing and psychedelic. The descent of unknown forces is accorded a treatment which is not only superb but tantalising too. John Abraham dons the protector’s mantle with a vivacity, difficult to ignore. He makes a mark here and should be watched out as an actor who can evolve. Seasoned Ajay Devgan gives the best here. Vivek Oberoi is a good fit. Esha Deol and Lara Dutta in this drama of abundant scares are a mere peg to hang on. Had they been sent to a holiday tour, it would have made no difference to the fare. Excellent background score and cinematography by Santosh Thundiyil are the hallmarks of “Kaal”. Shah Rukh Khan and Malaika together give a resounding push in the beginning. Though their dance track does not jell with the screenplay, it is lapped up for its sheer exuberance. Riveting spins are never in a short supply here and are inserted appropriately. At many points horror spills out from the screen. It touches you, transforming the viewers psyche, just for a while.
— TNS |
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German film fest from tomorrow
Chandigarh, April 30 Ms Anke Rieffenstuel, cultural counsellor, Embassy of Germany, will be present at the festival on Monday evening at the Government Polytechnic for Women auditorium, Sector 10. The festival is being organised by the Embassy of Germany and Chandigarh Film Society in collaboration with Alliance Francaise. The other films included in the festival, that will conclude on May 11, are Caroline Link’s ‘Nowhere in Africa’, Joseph Vismaier’s ‘Comedian Harmonists’, Tom Tykwer’s ‘Winter Sleepers’, Peter Lichtefeld’s ‘Train ‘N’ Roses’ and H.C. Blumenberg’s ‘One More Kiss and He’s Dead’. The first festival of German films was organised by the Chandigarh Film Society 25 years ago with a retrospective of Fassbinder films. In 2000, Chandigarh was one of the 13 cities where films of the new wave German cinema were screened. Mr Tapesh Sharma, secretary of the society said, “Our next effort will be to bring German films of the silent era.” He added that although ‘Tin Drum had been screened twice earlier, it had been made a part of this festival on popular demand. |
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