EDUCATION

CBSE to change exam pattern
Arvind Katyal

Chandigarh, January 3
Students of Class X in schools affiliated with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will have a change in evaluation system in subjects like science and technology and mathematics when they sit for their Class X board examinations in 2007.

This was disclosed by Mr R.P. Sharma, Education Officer, CBSE, Delhi. He was here to inaugurate the two-day Science and Technology and Mathematics Teachers Orientation Seminar in the DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8.

In a brief interaction Mr Sharma said now the Class X students would have 60 marks devoted to Theory and 40 marks in practical analysis.

These 40 marks would further be divided into practical examination of 20 marks and the rest 20 marks on a project work. He said the basic idea was to put this subject more on practical lines to give better understanding of the subject.

The students will be asked multiple-choice questions for which a booklet was being circulated to the schools.

On mathematics, Mr Sharma said the new system would have a theory examination of 80 marks and 20 marks for activity-based analysis. These 20 marks would be further divided into project work, assessment and internal evaluation.

He said at many places, Math laboratories concept had been set up which would be utilised for this activity.

The Class X board examinations which are to be held in 2007 would have the above system in operation for both science and technology and mathematics.

He further clarified that the Class IX students who would appear for annual examinations in their respective schools, in March, 2006, science and technology will also have 60 marks in theory and 40 in practical analysis. Similar pattern for mathematics also.

Class IX students who have to appear in 2006, the mathematics paper would have 80 marks in theory and 20 for activity based analysis.

When asked, how the CBSE will train the teachers on the above new system, he said they were conducting regular orientation courses in various regions.

Sample Booklets are also being prepared and circulated among schools to equip the teachers with new methdology being adopted.

Mr Sharma said even teachers of private schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Navodaya Vidyalaya Sangathan are also taking part in these seminars.

Students spread message of road safety
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, January 3
On the second day of the 17th Road Safety Week 250 working women and girl students from various colleges took part in a scooter rally here today. The rally was organised by the Chandigarh Traffic Police in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation.

A spokesman for the UT police said the rally was flagged off by Mr Rajiv Shrivastva, Joint Secretary Finance and DPI (Colleges), Chandigarh, at the Sector 23 Children Traffic Park. The UT SSP, Traffic, Mr Amitabh Singh Dhillon, and other prominent citizens were present on the occasion.

The rally passed through the Yatri Niwas chowk, Lake turn, police Station (east) and following the Sector 19 and 27 traffic lights point route it culminated at the police post near Neelam Cinema. The pillion riders on the scooters were holding placards showing road safety massages like “Always wear safety helmet while driving”, “Do not use mobile phone while driving” and “Do not play loud music while driving”.

The objective behind the rally was to cultivate the habit of wearing helmets among the youth.

Addressing the participants, Mr Dhillon highlighted safety measures and exhorted them to obey traffic rules. 

Sahitya Akademi award for Hans
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, January 3
To promote literary activities in the state, the Haryana Sahitya Akademi will confer state-level literary awards on outstanding litterateurs for their contribution in the field of literature during the year 2005-06.

This was announced here today by the Haryana Education Minister and senior vice-president of the akademi, Mr Phool Chand Mullana. He said while selecting these litterateurs, their contribution in the field of literature was taken into consideration.

Giving details of the awardees, he said these included Mr Udai Bhanu Hans for Sur Purskar, Mr Amrit Lal Madan for Babu Bal Mukand Gupt Puraskar (Hindi Literature), Mr Madan Gopal for Babu Bal Mukand Gupt Puraskar (Hindi Journalism), Mr. Rajbir Singh Dhankhad for Pt. Lakhmi Chand Puraskar and Mrs Sunita Jain for Haryana Gaurav Puraskar.

Mr Mullana said Mr Bhanu Hans would be honoured for his outstanding contribution in the field of literature. His consolidated literary work “Udai Bhanu Hans Rachnavali” is published in four parts. He was also honoured with the title of first State poet by the government.

Mr Amrit Lal Madan has authored nearly one-and-a-half dozen books out of which four books have been awarded under the Haryana Sahitya Academy Pustak Puraskar Scheme. Mr Madan Gopal, who will be honoured with Babu Bal Mukand Gupta Puraskar (Hindi Journalism) has done special work on novel king Munshi Prem Chand.

Similarly, Mr Rajbir Singh Dhankhad, who will be conferred with Pandit Lakhmi Chand Puraskar, has contributed a lot to the fields of art, culture, history, literature and folk literature. Many of his books have been honoured by the akademi. Mrs Sunita Jain, an awardee of Haryana Gaurav Puraskar, has authored more than three dozen books out of which six are novels, four story compilations and 26 poetry compilations. She has also written more than two dozen books in English.

COURTS

Consumer Court
Car dealer penalised for harassing customer
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 3
A local dealer of Ford Motors has been penalised by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum for harassing a consumer.

Apart from directing the car dealer, Messrs A B Motors Pvt Ltd, to pay Rs 34,378 as costs of repair of a Ford Ikon car, the court told him to pay Rs 50,000 as the compensation for harassment and litigation expenses.

Taking up the case of the complainant, Messrs Admiral Impex P Ltd, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I, headed by its president N.S. Ahlawat, has directed the auto company to comply with the orders within 30 days, failing which 7 per cent interest would be payable on the amount.

The complainant had alleged that it had bought a Ford Ikon Diesel Car on August 2, 2002, for Rs 7,05,481 with one year warranty, extended by two years. On the night of January 2, 2004, the vehicle began emitting smoke leading to damage of the front portion of the car.

It asked the auto firm to carry out repairs under the warranty as the damage had been caused due to a defective electrical part. But, the dealer refused to repair the car following which the complainant applied for insurance claim.

The surveyor of the insurance company said the smoke had emanated from the front portion of the car due to a short-circuit and allowed a claim of Rs 36,288 to the owner of the car. The complainant claimed the balance amount of Rs 46,078 (expenses on repair), along with interest, and compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the manufacturer of the car.

The decision was held ex parte as none appeared before the forum on behalf of the manufacturer. However, Messrs Ford India sent a reply by post alleging that the damage was not covered under the warranty. The company alleged that the consumer had got fitted an electrical cigarette lighter locally, which was the cause of short-circuit.

The forum observed that the company had failed to prove their contentions. The insurance surveyor supported the version of the complainant. The forum held that the auto company was required to do repair job on the car free of cost and without putting any financial liability on the complainant.

Travel agent told to pay Rs 75,000

The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Chandigarh, has held a local travel agent responsible for deficiency in service. The travel agent, Messrs Shergill Travels, Sector 17, has been directed to pay Rs 75,000 within one month, failing which 6 per cent interest per annum would have to be paid on the amount. A fine of Rs 2,000 has been imposed on him as the costs.

The commission has observed that “It is well-known that the travel agents do exploit innocent customers. Even educated people are looted by them on various promises and assurances. Such type of practice on behalf of travel agents is required to be curbed with a heavy hand.”

Mr Gobinder Singh and others of Sector 27, Chandigarh, had earlier filed a complaint alleging that they approached Ms Param Shergill of Shergill travels to arrange tickets for their visit to Australia for a period of two months starting May, 2004. The customer was scheduled to leave for Australia on May 7, 2004, and return on July 2, 2004. However, when the tickets were received, they showed the return journey for June 7, instead of July 2.

Upon protest by the complainants, the travel agent assured that the return dates would be got changed and issued five sets of stickers with IATA marking showing OK status for July 2. These could be stuck on the tickets as confirmed.

Then the complainants left for Australia. But when confirmation of return journey was sought from Qantas Airport, they said theirs were no confirmed tickets for July 2 . Mobile, e-mail and fax messages were sent to the travel agent to correct the dates of return journey but no positive response was received. In these circumstances, the complainants had no alternative but to return on June 2, 2004.

Messrs Shergill Travels denied that the complainants intended the tenure to be of two months. On the other hand, the counsel of the complainant contended that the programme of their clients to stay for two months was proved by the fact that they had taken Overseas Medi Claim Insurance policy for a period of two months commencing from May 7, 2004. But owing to the wrong representation by the travel agent they had to return within one month, upon which they were allowed refund of one month premium by the insurance company.

Justice K.C. Gupta (retd), president of the state commission, held that “due to the deficiency in service, the complainants had to cut short their journey which caused them much mental harassment and agony.