Patiala, May 20
Though the Punjab education department has introduced a lot of schemes for the betterment of education system, still the recent class VIII results of students studying in government schools are not that good as compared to private schools.

There may be several reasons for this, but the main reason seems to be lack of accountability. While parents blame teachers of neglecting their kids, the teachers on the other hand feel that the only reason for these kids not performing well is the financial situation of their families.

They say that their parents don’t pay any attention towards their kids’ studies due to illiteracy and also because of their busy schedule.

One of the parents of a government schoolchild said: “Government teachers are paid as high salaries as private school teachers, but they have lesser accountability. They take a few classes and feel that their responsibility is over. Our kids are given homework whereas they know that we are incapable of teaching our kids at home. Just like me, most of the parents of kids studying in these schools are either illiterate or less educated. Moreover, we can’t keep a track of what they do because we work for long hours in order to earn our livelihood.”

“There is no strict action against teachers who are either found absent from duty or for not producing good results. Their job is always secure and that’s the reason a few teachers are less dedicated,” added a parent of a private schoolchild.

On the other hand, government school teachers have different views. They feel that before blaming teachers one should consider all factors for low results. “Most kids studying in our schools come from poor background. Though we try to impart them maximum knowledge, but they don’t understand the importance of education as most of them help their parents. Facilities in our schools are no match with that of private schools,” added a few other teachers.

Kharar, May 20
Asking the future teachers to have higher level of commitment at the second convocation address of the Rayat-Bahra college of Education, chief guest Hira Singh Gabria, Minister for Cultural affairs, Tourism, Jails, Archives and Museums, Printing and Stationary called upon youngsters to identify their hidden potentials as teachers.

“Teachers are the builder of any nation and standing true to this saying I appeal youngsters to commit themselves for the cause of education,” Gabria added. He awarded degrees to two hundred students of B Ed and 25 students of M Ed.

The position holders in B Ed final examinations were also honoured on the occasion. First was Shruti Marwah, second Simranjeet Kaur and third position was secured by Varlin Sandhu.

Besides this, position holders in M Ed final examinations, including first place holder Sonu Bala, second Mandeep Kaur and third Baljeet Kaur were awarded for their achievements.

Gurvinder Singh Bahra, chairman, Rayat-Bahra Group, said that Shruti Marwaha had brought laurels to the college by securing 12th position in the university.

Kharar, May 20
Two groups clashed on the civil hospital Kharar road this afternoon, which is a silence zone.

One of the group members entered into a nearby dhaba to save their lives and the dhaba owner pulled down shutters.

Manpreet Singh Manna and his cousin Jagmohan Singh from Ballo Majra village had come to Kharar today to attend a court hearing.

Manna saw that members of a group, which has been on ward with Manna and his friends for past quiet sometime, were moving around.

He called up his companions to the court complex. Seeing heavy rush in court complex, Kharar police told Manna to direct his men to leave.

By 1.15 pm, Manna and Jagmohan came out of the court complex and drove towards their village in their Mercedes car. They observed that three cars were following them. In a bid to save themselves they applied brakes near Happy Vaishno Dhaba on the civil hospital road.

Before they could enter the dhaba’s building, the other cars too stopped and caught hold of Manna and Jagmohan. They were allegedly beaten up and accused even fired five to six rounds that allegedly missed target. Somehow they managed to enter the dhaba.

Sensing trouble, the dhaba owner quickly pulled down the shutter. “I flatly told them that I have just started this dhaba and I do not want a bad name for it,” he told TNS.

The other group members allegedly threw bricks and stones on the dhaba shutter. A group of women customers at the dhaba were terrified.

The police has booked Ravinder Ravi, Billa, Navi, Neetu Badali and others for attempt to murder and under the Arms Act.

Bassi Pathana, May 20
A delegation of executive members of the ETT teacher's Union led by president Gurinder Singh Ghuman held a meeting with DEO(elementary) and ADC(D) here yesterday.

The union leaders in a press note issued here said they discussed the problems being faced by the ETT teachers working in schools of Zila Parishads and Municipal Councils.

Ghuman said they objected to the rationalisation being carried out in these schools as the state government had not issued any directions in this regard and DEO (E) was carrying it out at his own level. — OC

Chandigarh, May 20
The police arrested a Patiala resident last night on charges of abducting and raping a 17-year-old schoolgirl of Khuda Ali Sher village on Monday.

The victim, Class XII student, in her complaint with the police alleged that 22-year-old Atinder Singh, alias Manna, forcibly took her to a house in Kharar and raped her on Monday night. Next day he dropped her near the PGI.

SHO of the Sector 11 police station Inspector Sukhbir Rana said Atinder’s relative used to stay near the victim’s house. The victim alleged that he got her phone number from her friend and tried to talk to her, which she avoided.

On Monday, she had a stomach ache and left the school early. She found Atinder, along with a boy sitting in a car, when she came out of the school.

She alleged that Atinder forcibly dragged her into the car and drove away. They took her to Sunny Enclave in Kharar, from where his friend dropped them outside a house. Atinder took her inside the house and allegedly raped her.

He threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter to anyone. The SHO said the girl narrated the incident to her mother when asked where she had been during the night. The victim’s mother took her to the police station where they lodged a complaint.

Chandigarh, May 20
Eetee Mehta partnering Vaibhavi Trivedi of Gujrat won the women’s doubles title by upsetting CLTA trainees 2nd seed Ravnoor and Ikttesh Chahal, in final of the All-India Tennis Open Tournament at CLTA in Sector 10 here today.

Eetee and Vaibhavi won the doubles event struggling against Ravnoor and Ikttesh which was decided in a super tie breaker final set 4-2, 1-4 and 10-7.

Ravnoor Kaur and Gurinder Singh made it to final in the women’s and men’s singles event. Unseeded Ravnoor, CLTA trainee, upset top seed Nupur Kaul of Maharastra. Nupur took the first set 6-3. Later, Ravnoor raised her level of game and used variation of her forehand stroke to win the second set at 6-1. Nupur was leading with 2-1 with breakup in final set after that Ravnoor allowed her opponent to win only one more game to win and closed out set and match at 6-3 final set.

Ravnoor was up against Eetee who had a tough three setter win over the 3rd seed Preethi Srinivasan of Tamilnadu.

Mehta won with identical score 3-6, 6-1 and 6-3. In men’s singles top seed former Davis Cup player Nittene Kirtene moved into the final with one sided 6-3 and 6-0. In semifinal Nittene was up against CLTA trainee Gurinder Singh, who was leading 3-0 in the first set when his opponent Allen Gomes of Gujrat gave up due to pain in his knee.

Nittene partnering with Prosonjit Paul won doubles title by upsetting top seed Rubal Sandilaya of Delhi and Parth Indrodia of Gujrat in a one sided 4-2 and 4-1.

Results

Women’s singles

Semifinal: Ravnoor Kaur (CHD) bt Nupur Kaul (MAH) 3-6, 6-1 and 6-3; Eetee Mehta (GUJ) bt Preethi Srinivasan (TN) 3-6, 6-1 and 6-3;

Men’s singles

Semifinal: Nitten Kirtane (MAH) bt Bharat Bhardwaj (HAR) 6-3 and 6-0; Gurinder Singh (PB) bt Allan Aley Gomes (GUJ) 3-0

Men’s doubles

Final: Nittene Kirtene (MAH) and Prosonjit Paul (JHA) bt Rubal Sandilaya (DLI) and Parth Indrodia (GUJ) 4-2, 4-1

Women’s doubles

Final: Eetee Mehta (GUJ) and Vaibhavi Trivedi (GUJ) bt Ravnoor Kaur (CHD) and Ikttesh Chahal (CHD) 4-2, 1-4, 10-7.

Chandigarh, May 20
The first Chandigarh State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament would be organised by Bhawan Vidyalaya, Sector 27, under the patronage of the Chandigarh Table Tennis Association from July 16.

CTTA secretary Patanjli Kumar, while releasing the sports calendar for 2010, said Prof RS Mehta Memorial Open Table Tennis Tournament would be conduced from August 6 to 8.

The second Chandigarh State Ranking Table Tennis Tournament by New Public School, Sector 18, is scheduled from October 1 to 3.

Patajali said the Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championships for juniors, sub-juniors and cadets would be hosted from October 28 to 31, while the Chandigarh State Table Tennis Championships for men and women would be conducted from November 18 to 21.

The CTTA secretary said the association would also field its teams in the Sub-Junior National Table Tennis Championship (Bihar, December 20 to 26), Junior and Youth National Table Tennis Championship (Pudicherry, January 1 to 7) and Senior National Table Tennis Championship (West Bengal, January 17 to 23).

The Chandigarh teams for the forthcoming nationals will be selected during the Chandigarh State TT Ranking Tournaments, he added.