Samrala, December 2
Under the directions of Col S.S. Saini, Commanding Officer, 19 Battalion, NCC Ludhiana, a team of 47 NCC cadets from Ludhiana group - 10 SD cadets from Government Senior Secondary School, Ghungrali Sikhan; 10 SD from NSP School; 10 JW cadets from Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Bharat Nagar; three SW cadets from Government College (FV), Ludhiana; and four SW cadets from Khalsa College (FW), Ludhiana - attended a national integration camp at Pataudi Rewari (Haryana) from November 19 to 30.

The team was led by Lieut Jatinder Kumar, overall in-charge of the group.

In a press note issued here, Lieutenant Kumar said out of 17 NCC directorates from all over India, the Punjab Directorate got the overall top position (championship) in different events conducted during the camp.

Ludhiana SD cadet Gurjot Singh came first in drill competition. Bhupinder Singh bagged top honours in essay writing competition and Jagdeep Singh in 100m race.

Hemlata Chauhan came first in essay writing competition and Lakshmi in 400m, while JW cadet Pawandeep Kaur finished second in 200m race.

Pardeep Singh of Senior Division came first in volleyball and Binder Gulati stood first in cross-country.

Hardeep Kaur, Simranjit Kaur and Pardeep Singh also participated at the Delhi Parade on November 26 to commemorate the NCC Day.

Ludhiana, December 2
Eminent educationinsts and policy-makers in the district have condemned the move of the state government and the Panjab University of holding mid-term counselling for B.Ed candidates against vacant seats in several colleges in the state.

They feel that all efforts were being made to improve the quality of education but mid-term counselling was not only against norms, it may also force candidates to prepare false documents of their practical training.

Prof Tarsem Bahia, Convener Punjab Education Forum and a member of both Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University, Chandigarh, said seats in leading B.Ed colleges had already been filled in July-August, 2006. The mid-term counselling was being conducted in new B.Ed colleges of the state where plenty of seats were still vacant.

Professor Bahia said majority of managements of private colleges either had political links or money to pressurise the government and the university for fresh B.Ed admissions. "The government and university are custodians of the whole system. They make the rules but when the same rules were being violated by them, how can one expect to get quality education?" he asked.

Another educationist, Prof K.B.S.Sodhi, former president, Punjab and Chandigarh College Teachers Union (PCCTU), said earlier there used be two or three counselling sessions for B.Ed aspirants but now there were five or even more. He said, "Students who got admission in July-August must have covered majority of the syllabus as compared to those who would start their classes in the first week of December. Due to the winter break in schools, it would be difficult for new entrants to get their practical training too".

As per the National Council for Teachers' Education (NCTE) prescribed norms, classes should be conducted six days a week and students must attend at least 200 days in college. The policy makers said while efforts were being made for standardisation of education by organising refresher courses, NAAC accreditation, observing staff efficiency etc, mid-term counseling seemed to act contrary to the above aim.

Amloh, December 2
The development of a country depends on its system of education. In this era of globalisation schools should provide quality education, said Mr Amarjeet Singh Cheema, advocate and chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Vichar Manch, Punjab.

Mr Cheema was the chief guest at the prize distribution function of Sant Farid Public School here yesterday. He donated Rs 21,000 for the development of the school. He advised the students to become good citizens and refrain from drug addiction.

Mr Sandeep Verma, president of the Rajiv Gandhi Vichar Manch, Punjab, also spoke on the occasion. The programme began with the recitation of a shabad by the students. The chief guest lighted the lamp. The students presented Rajasthani, Himachali, Kashmiri, Punjabi and English dances. Giddha by girls wearing Punjabi dress was very impressive. Other cultural items enthralled the audience.

School Principal Vikramjit Singh read out the annual report of the school depicting its achievements in the field of education and sports. Three toppers of each class were given mementos. Ms Harjinder Kaur, Mr Varinderjeet Singh, Mr Baldev Sedha, a former president of the Municipal Council, Mr Manohar Lal, secretary of the Manav Bhalai Manch, Mr Dharamveer, and Mr Ashwani Abrol, secretary of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, were also present at the function.

Ludhiana, December 2
BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School organised its annual science exhibition ‘The Manifestation-2006’ here today.

The exhibition proved out to be an impetus and encouragement to students to try out their ideas and apply their classroom learning into more creative channels. It was a multi-disciplinary show exhibiting various charts, innovative working and non-working models. The exhibition was open to all. The chief guest on the occasion was Lt-Gen V.K. Singh.

Students from Class I to XII participated in the exhibition. Students from Class I to IX showcased their creative skills and talent in their respective classrooms. The students who exhibited their models in the auditorium were from the commerce, gardening, English, computer, political science, arts, crafts, fine arts, home science and fashion studies sections.

In the philately section, the students presented culture and history of the countries through stamps. In maths section, models based on ‘Three dimensional geometry’, which secured the 2nd position in the state Level in the science exhibition held at Amritsar recently, was on display. In the science section, models based upon ‘Bio-diesel’, which was selected for the Intel Science Fair to be held at the Paragati Maidan, New Delhi, won accolades.

Mandi Gobindgarh, December 2
The RIMT- Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), Mandi Gobindgarh, along with Hero Cycles Ltd conducted a joint campus placement for mechanical engineers on its campus yesterday. On the occasion, the Ludhiana College of Engineering and Technology, Ludhiana, and the Ramgarhia College of Engineering and Technology, Phagwara, were present at the placement event.

Dr S.K. Goyal, Principal of the institute, introduced Mr J.S. Butran, Senior General Manager-HRD, Hero Cycles Ltd, members of the HR team and technical staff of the cold rolling division. He said the Hero Group started in 1956 as a small bicycle component manufacturing unit. Today it ranked among the top business houses in India with 50 years of experience in project execution and a well-founded commitment to serve the community.

The procedure adopted for selection was a presentation by company officials followed by a written test and an HR interview. More than 100 mechanical engineering students appeared for the written test.

Encouraging the students, Prof Harsh Sadawarti, Vice-Principal, RIMT-IET, said at the CR division the company had well-qualified people at every level of operation. They work as a team and strive to meet customer’s needs, expressed or implied. He also lauded the effort of placement department, which had already conducted two state level joint campus placement events for Noida-based FCS Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd. and HCL Technologies Ltd in November.

Mr Harmit Singh Taluja, Head Resources, Training and Placement Depart-ment, said selected students would be joining the company in June next year. He claimed that a close liaison with various companies was being developed to help students get better placements. Mr Taluja also said many engineering students had already found placements in various reputed companies, even before the commencement of new academic session.

Ludhiana, December 2
Under the 22nd Students Aid Programme, the Yog aur Sewa Parivar distributed 177 sweaters to students of Education Guaranteed School, Dairy Complex, Haibowal Kalan, here on Wednesday. They were also served a mid-day meal. Mr G.R. Vig, president, expressed anguish at the sad plight of the school and urged Mr Tarsem Singh, Chairman, EGS Schools, to provide basic necessities to the school. — OC