EDUCATION

Technical institute seeks deemed varsity status
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
The National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR) here, one of the four pioneer technical education institutes established by the Central Government, is all set to add another feather to its cap.

In a bid to take the technical education in the region to new heights, it is aiming at deemed university status, NITTTR Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Ms Rajesh Kumari, said here today.

“A proposal to this effect has been sent to the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. The deemed university status would go a long way in adding value and innovations to the technical education,” she added.

In fact, Ms Rajesh Kumari, who is the first educationist to head the board in many years, has ambitious plans to take the institute to the rural India. “About 80 per cent of the population lived in rural India. However, it is unfortunate that the benefits of the technical education have failed to reach the teeming millions,” she said.

And with a view to taking the institute to rural India, a workshop for panches and sarpanches was held at the institute premises recently.

“The introduction of the master of engineering and modular programmes at the NITTTR was also a step in this direction.” she added.

Saying that the technical education has a vast potential to serve the rural masses, the noted educationist said a major curriculum revamp was also in the pipeline to make it more suitable to the needs of society.

Principals welcome extra time for students
Tribune News Service

Mohali, July 17
School principals have welcomed the decision of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to give 15 minutes extra to students in examinations.

Ms Veena Malhotra, Principal of Lawerance Public School, Mohali, said, “Students now get the necessary time to go through question papers, specially subjects like Mathematics with internal choice. Students are in a hurry to choose the questions they think they know. But, halfway solving a question they realise they could have done the other question better. Then they cancel the answer and start doing another.

“This causes stress and eats up time. The idea of the CBSE is good but the students have to be trained to make correct choices. Also, it should be ensured that the extra time is given to the candidate and the invigilating staff, which is in a hurry to collect answer sheets and get on with their own paper work should not use it to their advantage.”

“But, while on the one hand the CBSE is trying to reduce examination-related stress, it should also bring about changes in the syllabus with this idea in mind. The board has increased the social science syllabus considerably this year, but at the same time it should remove those bits which are outdated,” she added.

Stating that this would help reduce stress on the child during examination, Principal of Gian Jyoti Public School, Mohali, Ranjeet Bedi said schools should provide quality and stress-free education to students.

“The decision on not to conduct multiple pre-board examinations is also a good step as it was an unnecessary burden for students,” she said.

Welcoming the CBSE decision, Ms Jaya Bhardwaj, Principal, DAV School, Mohali, said these 15 minutes could prove to be vital for the student. “It would give them a breather to relax and concentrate,” she added.

Principal’s conference concludes
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 17
A three-day annual principal’s conference of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region, concluded here today. As many as 58 principals of Kendriya Vidyalayas in the region participated.

During the conference, discussions were held on enhancement of academic excellence and setting up of mathematics laboratories in high schools, as made mandatory by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Besides, discussions on strengthening pre-primary and primary education and improvement in the board examination results were held.

Changes in the examination and evaluation system introduced by the CBSE dominated most of the sessions of the regional conference, besides steps on how to raise the National Cadet Corps (NCC) in the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).

Since the Chandigarh region of KVS will host the KVS National Sports Meet in October here, discussions on arrangements for the same were held.

The concluding function of the conference at Kendriya Vidyalaya- 2, Chandi Mandir, was presided over by Mr D K Saini, Assistant Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh region.

The host principal, Ms Rama Sharma, thanked the principals participating in the conference.

Daily-wage workers of PU to get DA
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 17
Around 200 daily-wage workers and clerks of Panjab University will get dearness allowance soon.

Mr Prabjeet Singh. senator, had demanded for a regular status for the employees at the Senate meeting.

He said a committee was formed under the chairmanship of the Dean University Instruction, Mr J.K. Gupta.

At a meeting of the committee it was decided that daily-wage workers and clerks would get dearness allowance. The daily-wage workers (Class III) will get the benefit of Rs 1,200 and clerks (Class IV) will get the benefit of Rs 1,500.

The committee would represent its reports in the next Syndicate, said Mr Prabhjeet Singh.

COURTS

Motive of prosecution witness questioned
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
Brig Iqbal Singh, who is being tried by a general court martial for professional impropriety in the Tehelka case today questioned the motive of prime prosecution witness, Mathews Samuel, who declined to depose before the court on account of ill health, but gave statements to the media outside the court later.

Stating that such actions are prejudicing his defence, Brigadier Iqbal has, in a representation submitted to the court’s convening authority, sought action against the prosecution officer and prosecution counsel for unjust and unfair practices adopted by them. He has also sought directions to refrain them from making the witness make statements before the media so that his defence is not affected.

He has also pointed out that the court’s judge advocate remained closeted in a chamber with the prosecution officer, prosecution counsel and the deputy government examiner of questioned documents, who had deposed before the court as a witness. Further, the deputy examiner was also shown documents in the prosecutor’s chamber.

Apprehending that the exercise was being done to show documents and original records to the forensic examiner in order to help the prosecution witness, Brigadier Iqbal maintained that the actions of the judge advocate have compromised his objectivity and independence, thereby rendering him ineligible to perform his duties.

CULTURE

Pak honour for K.L. Zakir
Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17
Eminent litterateur Dr Kashmiri Lal Zakir has never had dearth of awards. But this one is somewhat special and the closest to his heart. Not only because it has come in the twilight of his life, but also because it has come from the least expected of all quarters.

Ask the writer-poet what must have inspired the Pakistani chapter of the World Punjabi Congress to choose him for this year’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and he replies in his trademark style, “I write from the core of my heart, from the depth of my soul. My words must have touched them somewhere.”

Sure they must have. Why else would caretakers of the World Punjabi Congress, with scholar Fakhar Zaman in the chair, chose only Zakir of all the poets for this coveted award.

“The last time they came to Chandigarh for the conference, I had released a topical book that reaffirmed hope in Indo-Pakistan friendship. The book, titled “Samundari Hawaon Ka Mausam”, was a big sellout in Pakistan. So was my travelogue on Pakistan which I called “Yeh Subah Zinda Rahegi,”. I write about human pathos and the complexities of human bonds.

Revered for his versatility and style, Zakir has also had the pleasure of company of writers like Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Qateel Shafai, Sardar Jafferi and Sahir Ludhianavi. And he does not mind admitting that the influence of great men inspired his style and blessed it with novelty.

The writer has another new work to his credit. He has emerged as the best votary for the revival of Urdu poet Maulana Hali’s forgotten legacy. Thanks to his efforts, the Haryana Government has begun taking interest in the poetic heritage of Hali who died unsung in Panipat. Hali was a fierce radical and a favourite disciple of Mirza Ghalib. A major share of support which Zakir enjoys in Pakistan stems from his passion for Hali, who is equally revered there.

As in charge, Haryana Urdu Akademi, Zakir is now ready to host the first Indo-Pak seminar on Hali Panipat, who was also the first Urdu critic and the first poet to espouse the cause of Muslim women and widows.

On the eve of the seminar (to be held in Chandigarh on July 20), Zakir said, “The idea is to go back in time and use the knowledge of Indian and Pakistani scholars to trail Hali’s life and evolution. Prof Salim Akhtar from Lahore University will deliver the keynote address.”

Other writer-scholars who have confirmed their participation in the seminar are - Tahir Taunsavi, Director, Education Department, Lahore, senior journalist Bakht Bir Choudhary and poet Munavvar Sultana.