Chandigarh, January 1
The Chandigarh education department is introducing some changes in its administrative set up soon. This change will see an additional post of District Education Officer (DEO).

At present, there is one post of DEO who looks after both administrative as well as academic affairs. Now this assignment has been split into two segments. The posts have been allocated as DEO (administration) and DEO (academics).

The DEO (administration) would manage the government schools as well as office affairs only while the DEO (academics) would do the field job. This newly created post will be given the responsibility of inspecting private schools, their policy matters, administrative data collections etc.

Two already existing deputy DEOs, would be an additional hand to them and their liability too would be specified after the new set up would come into being.

The senior most principal, as per the seniority list of education department, would be nominated for this newly created post.

Confirming this, the DPI (S) S.K. Setia said, “This initiative has been taken just to distribute the work and the affairs could be managed more efficiently. Besides this, it would serve dual purpose of abolishing the promotional stagnation.”

Hailing this move, J.S. Basota, head, Chandigarh School Principals’ Union, said, “This would be a double dividend for us. It would be a great succour for those who are awaiting their promotion for long and secondly, with the division of work, the extra hand would now have a thorough check on private schools too. The problems and discrepancies being faced by government schools would also be taken care of in more organised manner”.

Chandigarh, January 1
Chandigarh Education Department today released the date sheet for the annual Middle Standard Examinations to commence from February 4.

The education officials told that extra time of 15 minutes would be granted to the students for reading the question papers except in the subject of English Oral, Drawing and Practical examinations.

However, the extra time already specified for the disable student would be given as per old norms. The details of schedule for practical examinations would be notified through Centre Superintendents.

The date sheet as follows.

February 4: English (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 5: English Oral (9:30 am onwards); February 8: Mathematics; February 11: Science and technology (theory) (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 13: Hindi/Punjabi 1st language (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 14: drawing: morning(9:30 am to 10:30 pm) Group I (11 am to1 pm), group II (1:15 pm to 3:15 pm), group III (3:30 pm to 5:30 pm); February 18: Social studies (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 20: Hindi/Punjabi 2nd language (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 22: Sanskrit/music (theory)/ D.Sc (theory) (9:15 am to 12:30 pm); February 23: science and technology practical group I-III (9:30 am onwards); February 25: science and technology practical group IV-VII (9:30 am onwards); February 26: science and technology practical group VII-IX (9:30 am onwards); February 27: music practical/D.Sc. practical group I-II (9:30 am onwards); February 28: D.Sc. practical group III-IV (9:30 am onwards). 

Chandigarh, January 1
The Department of Evening Studies, which was once counted among the prestigious departments of the university, seems to be losing its sheen, courtesy the dwindling strength of students enrolled in the department.

The department, which started around 40 years back, facilitated the working people to study as regular students. A large number of students used to take admission to the department in various courses. But this is now no more the case.

According to the data available with The Tribune, in BA part (I, II, III) in year 2007-08, the strength of students is 19,86,566 where as last year this number was 22,99,186.

In the postgraduate courses, the situation is worse. In MA-I (English), only 31 students have taken admission this year whereas last year there were 45 students. Even in the second year, the situation is nearly the same. Similarly in MA-I (political Science) this year there are only 18 students whereas last year there were 22 students. In second year, last year there were only eight students and this year the student strength in the department has come down to five.

In MA (history), there were 26 students in part I and eight in part II last year. This year, this number has come down to 10 and seven, respectively. In MA (economics), last year there were 29 students where as this year there are only 11 students. The worst hit is the Department of Punjabi, as MA (Punjabi), which had 13 students last year, has only four students now. Interestingly, MA (Punjabi) was started only last year.

According to sources, the university had decided to start M. Phil classes if the number of students were not be less than 15. Under the given circumstances, the postgraduate classes in the Department of Evening Studies come under scanner, as the number of students was mostly less than the required, said sources.

The dean, university instructions, Prof S.K. Kulkarni, who is also the chairman of the Department of Evening Studies, said the number of arts students had dropped significantly not only in this department but overall in Panjab University, and even in other universities as well. “So the drop in the strength comes as no surprise. Moreover, with the UGC proposing in the 11th plan that the students should be empowered through distance learning programmes, now more and more students are moving toward distance learning.”

Chandigarh, January 1
Prof R.C. Sobti, vice-chancellor, PU urged the employees to have public friendly approach to mitigate the problem being faced by visitors, to work collectively, to make the university a frontrunner in efficiency, professionalism and an ideal institution. He was addressing the gathering of university fraternity at campus today to mark the New Year. The function was organised by the executive body of Panjab University Non-Teaching Employees’ Federation. Entire top brass, including members of the senate and syndicate were present on the occasion.

Prof Sobti announced that almost all demands of the employees had been met with and whatever was pending will be taken care of on priority basis. He however, advised the employees to ensure co-operation instead of confrontation with the government.

The vice-chancellor did not mince words in condemning those who were trying to mislead the employees. He announced to the cheering crowd that pension scheme was not only viable but also for their own welfare and reiterated that he would not endorse any anti-employee move by the vested interests. He also made it clear that disciplinary action would be initiated against those who were trying to sabotage work.

Chandigarh, January 1
Education Department, Chandigarh administration is organising a laughter session on January 2, 2008, at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16. The laughter session will begin at 8:30 am with the address note of Dr. Kataria, the founder of ‘School of Laughter Yoga’ on the art of laughing. All the students and teachers of the GMSSS16 will attend the session. Dr Kataria stated that laughter as they say is the best medicine.

It has been proved that disesases can be easily dealt with if a person feels internally happy. Laughter generates hapiness which is the key to a healthy life.

Chandigarh, January 1
To equip the students with more job oriented courses, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), under Professional Competency Education (PCE) programme, is introducing new set of courses under general health care and fashion design and garment technology, at senior secondary level for the academic session 2008-09.

For the general health care, the CBSE has allocated the syllabus for class XI and class XII with the help of FICCI, CII, Max Health Care Institute and other leading organisations who deal with health care.

For class XI, the components in health care curriculum would be anatomy and physiology in the preliminary part, health care delivery system in the second part and food nutrition and dietetics in the third and last part.

For class XII, the syllabus has been bifurcated as health education, communication, public relations and public health in the opening part, basic concepts of health and disease and medical terminology would be in the penultimate part, whereas, first Aid and emergency medical care would be the last component.

Besides this, the students of both class XI and XII would have to take one language and biology as compulsory subjects. They would have choice for an additional academic subject too.

Another course under PCE, which is being developed in collaboration with National Institute of Fashion Technology, (NIFT), New Delhi, is fashion design and garment technology.

For class XI, the first section would be basic introduction to fashion industry, the second part would consist of elements of design and fashion and the concluding part would be about garment construction part 1.

For class XII, the opening section would be the fabric study segment, followed by basic pattern development and the last segment would be the second and concluding part of garment construction part II.

Besides this, the students have to take one language and another elective subject from the academic stream. The students can also opt for an additional subject of their choice.

The CBSE officials further informed that this initiative has been taken for making students self reliant. In this direction, the CBSE has already introduced financial market management in class XI from session 2007-08, in collaboration with National Stock Exchange, Mumbai and BLB Institute of Financial Markets. Besides this, the students have been provided with mock trading software at subsidised rates to help the students acquire practical skills in trading of stocks.

The CBSE is preparing manual ‘learning by doing’ specifically for science teachers of class VII. This manual, soon to be introduced, is being prepared with Nehru Planetarium and Delhi University. The board has prepared comprehensive school health manual, to be released shortly. Simultaneously, global health school survey is being done and the results of which would be sent to WHO, India and Geneva for processing.

The board has also finalised the syllabus in world social science for class VI and the process of writing textbooks for the same is under progress.

Chandigarh, January 1
Members of the Nizikaran Virodhi Adhyapak Manch, Mohali, staged a protest outside the Sector 37-A residence of Harcharan Kaur Brar, director public instructions (DPI, elementary), here this evening. The teachers were protesting against the suspension of six teachers, who protested against the seminars held during vacations, and demanded to reinstate the teachers.

The teachers began assembling in large numbers outside the residence of Brar without any warning. The police was informed about it, which reached there and tried to placate the agitators, who were raising slogans against the DPI and state government for their anti-employee policies. They were beating plates with spoons. They remained there for about two hours before dispersing. They even carried out a candle march in the locality. Yashpal, Jasmer Singh, Ranjit Singh, Paramjit Singh, Surjit Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Harnek Mavi addressed the gathering among others.

The representatives threatened that if the authorities failed to fulfil their demands they would be forced to stage a protest outside the office of the DPI on January 7. They also threatened to participate in the state rally being organised at Jalandhar on January 9. 

Chandigarh, January 1
In an exceptional judgement aimed at ensuring the reformation of prisoners, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has reduced the sentence of three youngsters to less than the minimum prescribed punishment.

Even though the minimum sentence prescribed for robbery is seven-year rigorous imprisonment, Justice Ranjit Singh directed their release from custody after they had spent six years and four months approximately

In his detailed order on appeals filed by Ajit Singh and other youngsters in their 20s, Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: “Though the minimum sentence prescribed under Section 397 of the Indian Penal Code, the prayer of the appellant would require consideration. The appellants have undergone a period of six years and four months approximately. They appear to have almost undergone the complete effect of the sentence. They are stated to be of young age living in their twenties. They must have reformed by now.

“A chance can be given to the appellants to further reform themselves. They can be released to society to lead normal life especially so when they have undergone almost complete sentence awarded to them.

“Accordingly, while dismissing the appeals, sentence awarded to the appellants shall stand reduced to the period already undergone. The appellants be released from custody on receipt of the copy of this order.”

The three were booked on a complaint of Amit Arya. In his statement before the police, he stated that on July 29, 2001, he, along-with his brother Rohit Arya, was returning from Rajgarh. They were forced to stop their car by the occupants of an Esteem car. Two youngsters armed with country-made pistols came out of the car and asked the complainant to surrender their belongings.

While leaving, they took away the complainant’s Indica car. They were, subsequently, convicted of the offences and sentenced to seven-year rigorous imprisonment.

Arguing on behalf of the appellants, the counsel said they were in custody since August 1, 2001. During the course of trial they had not been released on bail. In fact, their sentence had also not been suspended after conviction

He added that the appellants had undergone complete rigours of the sentence awarded. If the remission during this long incarceration were to be considered, the appellants would probably have undergone the complete sentence of seven years.