The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

	From next year, grades for pupils Tribune News Service Panchkula, November 21 The Haryana Government has decided to fill vacancies of teacher in schools soon under its policy to rationalise the Education Department and has decided to introduce the grading system from the next academic session for examinations conducted by the Haryana Board of School Education for classes IX and X. This was stated by the Haryana Education Minister, Mr Phool Chand Mullana, while talking to mediapersons after inaugurating the regional office of the CBSE in Sector 5 here today. The building has been constructed by the Central Public Works Department at a cost of Rs 6.14 crore. He said teachers would be trained before introducing the grading system. He said the semester system was also being introduced so that students might not lose a year. Steps were also being taken to improve the functioning of the education board. The Chairman of the CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguly, who was also present on the occasion, said in reply to a question that the grading system would be introduced for examinations from the next academic session and other boards in the country would be urged to adopt it. A scholarship scheme would be introduced from the next academic session, under which a scholarship of Rs 500 per month would be awarded to 50 students for outstanding performance in sports. He said in another similar scheme, students who ranked at the top in the examinations of the CBSE for medical and engineering would get a scholarship of Rs 500 per month for three years. As many as 1,500 students would be benefited per year for three years. Also, a scholarship of Rs 1,000 would be given to students ranking at the top in undergraduation classes. As many as 1,650 students would get this benefit for three years. A Lok Sabha member, Mr Pawan Bansal, and the Controller of Examination of the CBSE, Mr Pavnesh Kumar, also spoke on the occasion.
	Techno-cultural symposium from November 25 Tribune News Service Mohali, November 21 Chandigarh Group of Colleges will organise a national-level techno-cultural symposium, “PARIVARTAN-2K5” on the college campus. Phoenix Club launched by the computer science and information technology departments of Chandigarh Engineering College Landran (Mohali) will organise the function on November 25 and 26. Giving details about the symposium, Dr G.D. Bansal, Principal, said the function was being organised by students. He said Sachin Majithia was the chief organiser, while Sachin Ghai and Navneet were other members of the organising committee. The techno-cultural symposium will comprise technical events like paper presentation, poster making, hacking wizard, model display contest, on-the-spot programming contest and circuit designing contest and non-technical events like collage making, volte-face, extempore, who dares wins, face painting and a dance competition, etc. A fete will also be organised which will consist of various stalls. A large number of students from various professional colleges and schools are likely to participate in this function. Chairman Satnam Singh Sandhu and general secretary Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal said students of schools had also been invited.
	Inter-school debate by CLA Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 The Chandigarh Librarians’ Association (CLA) today organised an inter-school debate at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Sector 15, Panchkula. Seven teams from different schools of Panchkula and Chandigarh participated in the debate on “Television has spoilt the habit of reading”. The following were awarded prizes: first: Anuj Malhotra (Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 35); and Harsimran (Shivalik Public School, Chandigarh). Second: Manonit (Shivalik Public School); and Akshita (St Stephens High School, Chandigarh). Third: Angel (Mount Carmel, Chandigarh); and Akanksha (Bhavan Vidyalaya, Panchkula). Chief guest Sushanta Banerjee, library manager, British Library, while addressing the gathering said television had become the enemy of students. He lamented that just 1 per cent of students in schools went to the library. He advised the students to read good books to develop their personality. Earlier, president, Chandigarh Librarians Association (CLA), Jaspal Kaur while welcoming the participants and guests said the CLA had taken upon itself the task of promoting the reading habit amongst students in and around the city. Former Principal, Dev Samaj College for Women, Chandigarh, Vimla Bhargava, former professor Dr D.R. Gupta and professor, Government College, Sector 46, Dr Abhilash Naik were the judges on the occasion.
	Students get tips on self-employment Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 A seminar on entrepreneurship and self-employment was organised by M/s Sareen Technos at the Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology at Tangori, near Mohali, today. Addressing the seminar, Mr Amarjit Singh from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC), detailed various schemes of the commission for starting self-employment ventures. Mr Sampuran Singh of the Panasonic India Limited gave tips to the students on the expansion of the business. Career counselling was provided by Mr Parivartan Kaul, Techno Services and Mr Mohit Sareen Sareen Technos. The seminar, which was inaugurated by Mr S.K. Girdhar, Principal of the college, dwelled on various issues relating to entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities.
	Training centre opened Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 In order to focus on vocational courses in education at the senior secondary level, Government Girls Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, has initiated a novel scheme under which a production-cum-training centre has been started on the school premises. It was inaugurated by the wife of UT Administrator, Ms Jean Rodrigues, today. The centre imparts training to the girl students in the field of textile designing, tailoring, beauty culture, cooking and fashion technology. It has been started under the vocational courses and the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan project.
	Firm hires 7 PU students Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 Seven students of the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh — Krittika, Astha, Vishal, Suresh, Rekha, Jaspal and Vijay — have been hired by a pharmaceutical company with an annual package of around Rs 1.5 lakh. Stating this here today, Prof J.K. Puri, Head, Inorganic Section (Placement Officer), Department of Chemistry, said Noida-based Jubilant Chemsys visited the Department on Saturday and selected the students through interviews.
	Annual function held Zirakpur, November 21 The fifth annual function was organised at Strawberry Public School in Baltana, Zirakpur, on Saturday. The show was conducted on the school premises. Dance and music, baby show, magic show, qawwali and play “Save Environment” were the main attractions. Baby prince and princesses were elected from the different age categories. Participation certificates were given to the contestants, while the winners in various age categories were awarded special prizes. Principal Sunil Chadha read out the annual report of the school. Vice-president of Zirakpur Nagar Panchayat Manisha Malik was the chief guest. She gave prizes to the participants. TNS
	School donates Rs 45,000 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 21 Staff and students of St Ezra International School, Khanpur village, Kharar tehsil, have donated Rs 45,000 towards the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the earthquake victims in Jammu and Kashmir in response to an appeal by The Tribune. The cheque was handed over at The Tribune office by the school Principal, Ms Eunice, today.
	Hamara School Emotionally strong and happy kids Sri Guru Harkrishan Public School, Sector 40-C, Chandigarh, was started by Chief Khalsa Diwan, Amritsar, in 1986, with a futuristic mission for the social and cultural development of the community and society. Imparting education, running free dispensaries and old-age homes has been a way of life with the Chief Khalsa Diwan started by great visionaries like Bhai Arjun Singh Bagadia, Mr Sunder Singh Majithia, Bhai Vir singh, Bhai Jodh Singh and Bhai Sant Singh. The school was housed in temporary sheds in 1986. Due to the efforts of the school managing committee headed by Mr Harinder Singh Giani, senior advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, president of the local committee, Chief Khalsa Diwan and Mr Chandan Singh, member-in-charge, this institution today stands as a four-stroeyed building with three well-equipped science laboratories, a computer room, an audio-visual room and a library to provide excellent reading facilities to the staff and students. It subscribes to all important magazines, educational journals and newspapers. The school has 40 fully furnished well-lit and ventilated classrooms and a nursery corner for tiny tots of the school. The school also has well-maintained volley ball, basket ball, badminton and a newly constructed ball badminton courts (the only one in Chandigarh). Our students have been winners of ball badminton in UT. Two students of the institution have been awarded the Sports Authority of India scholarship, one student won silver medal at an international level game of tug of war. The school has been winning gold and silver medals for high jumps in inter school UT tournaments for the last five years. Since 1997, 32 students of the institution have represented UT in various streams of sports. Since its inception the board results of the school are 100 per cent and many students have entered different professional streams. The school management arranges money through donations for fees, books, stationery and uniforms for 21 needy students of the institution amounting to approximately Rs 202,000 per year and provides free lunch to them as well. Besides this, 30 merit-cum-means scholarships of Rs 100 per month are awarded each year. The school owes a lot to Mr Chandan Singh, a philanthropist and member-in-charge of the institution, who, along with his family, has contributed in cash and kind for its betterment and kept the torch burning throughout various stages of its growth. A well-organised centre of value-oriented education with an enlightened and secular approach to religion, the school provides an opportunity for growth of every child through instruction, counseling, encouragement and a balanced schedule of daily activities. Expert guidance is provided to them through workshops conducted on topics related to academics, language skills, personality development, time management and art and craft. Students participate in inter school music, divinity, dance, art and craft, essay writing, on-the-spot-painting, cartoon making and slogan writing competitions and win many prizes every year. In the academic session 2003-2004, 50 divinity prizes, 10 music and almost the same number of art were won. Keeping in mind not only the academic progress but also the physical wellbeing of the students and staff, the school has set up an eight-station gymnasium. Also, with the efforts of both the management and staff a good mathematics laboratory has been set up. Keeping in view the ruling of the Supreme Court of India, a fire hydrant system is being set up at a cost of more than Rs 3 lakh. Also to provide assistance to the Principal, in maintaining school discipline, a CCTV system is being set up with 26 coloured cameras and TV at a cost of about Rs 2 lakh. The management has decided to add three classrooms, a toilet block and two verandahs at a cost of about Rs 20 lakh on the top floor. The aim of the management is not to make profit but to provide quality and value education serving to the needs of intelligence quotient, emotional quotient and spiritual quotient of the students. The fee structure is perhaps one of the lowest in Chandigarh so that quality education is not for the privileged but for all and this is possible only with the able work of a well-qualified and dedicated staff of 38 members. A primary school and fee homoeopathic dispensary is being run by the school management at Kurali. The school has a clean environment and great care has been taken to provide good furniture, play equipment, an inverter and aqua guard for the students. Eight students are awarded merit-cum-means scholarships of Rs 50 each per month. The school at Kurali is fast gaining popularity strength of the school, the management has renovated the entire Kurali school building and two rooms and two shops at a cost of Rs 3,39168. The school is looked after by Mr Chandan Singh, member-in-charge, assisted by Mr Dalip Singh Banga, manager of the school. With total involvement and guidance of the management, the institution works with total transparency. Any kind of project is taken up only after proper quotations are received, scrutinised and negotiated. The ethos of the school is an amalgamation of management, staff and the students.