LSE courses at Gurgaon
ONE of the world’s most prestigious institutions in the pursuit of academic excellence is the London School of Economics and Political Science. But studying there is an expensive affair as it means that the student not only has to arrange for his passage to England, but also foreign currency for his fee and to be able to live in London.

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Diary

In favour of internal evaluation
By H.K. Manmohan Singh

THE debate on examination reforms, regarded as a sine qua non of overall improvement in the system of higher education, came to a standstill in the late 1970s on the issue of internal assessment. While IITs, agricultural universities and departments of other universities and institutions which impart instruction in professional subjects have quietly settled for internal assessment, universities which have a large number of affiliated colleges continue with external examinations.

Punjabi University is the only university in the region which started with a carefully worked out scheme of internal assessment which was used as a supplement to the external examinations. Unfortunately, the scheme did not work and had to be abandoned in 1967 in the face of a violent strike by students.

The late H.S. Singha in a doctoral dissertation approved by Jawaharlal Nehru University mentions that when the Punjab Government made a proposal in 1868 for establishing a university at Lahore, it wanted tests to be mainly internal. However, the proposal was turned down by the Government of India which passed the following order:

“The scheme under consideration amounts to a proposal that the Punjab Education Department shall be allowed to test the success of its own labour, instead of having it tested by an external body. His Excellency in Council thinks such an arrangement to be very objectionable. It is essential that the results arrived at in the Punjab Colleges should be tested by an external body and that Lahore teachers should not become judges in their own cause.”

At a time when there is fresh awareness on promoting human capabilities as a major instrument of economic development, evaluation techniques have a particular relevance . External examinations, apart from being derogatory to the self-esteem of teachers, are a drag on the system and need to be gradually replaced by internal assessment.

The most important justification for switching over to internal evaluation comes from frightful explosion of knowledge witnessed in every sphere. It was estimated in 1960 that the total content of science was doubling every 15 years. This period came down to 10 years by end of 1965. In the following decade, in science and technology new knowledge available was more than all knowledge acquired over the preceding many centuries.

The rate of growth may be different in different disciplines but there is no denying the fact that all are making rapid strides in view of uniform adoption of scientific methods of enquiry and research.

The external evaluation system is based on stereotyped curriculum which can be updated only at infrequent intervals and serviced through reading material which carries a considerable lag of time between advances in knowledge and their incorporation in textbook material. Thus, there is a built-in tendency in the external evaluation system to impart knowledge which may have become obsolete.

The main purpose of organised education is not only to create new knowledge but also to diffuse it effectively. The process of diffusion calls for testing which, to be reliable, has to be continuos. The external evaluation system is based on identifying achievement at a given moment of time and, obviously, cannot meet this requirement.

There is also the crippling effect of external evaluation system on the moral fibre of our youth. This problem has two aspects. One is the growth of unfair means cases which have increased so menacingly that one can visualise every university setting up a Directorate of Unfair Means Cases in the not too distant future.

The internal evaluation system can checkmate unfair means practices to a considerable extent as the teacher himself is the evaluator and he knows his wards personally. Also, with pressure of numbers abated, the quality of vigilance will improve and we may be able to prevent evil practices which we have shamefully failed to control.

The second aspect relates to the growing apathy of students and teachers towards scholastic obligation. The primary factor which causes disinterestedness in the accentuating gap between the demands of an expanding society and the limited capacity of our course structures to meet these demands effectively. The results are before everybody to see.

Our products are being increasingly rejected by society and they are at peace neither with themselves nor with the society in which they live. The external examination system is not in tune with an environment which is experiencing a whirlwind change and needs to be consigned to the dustbin of history provided we can introduce internal evaluation with suitable safeguards and checks which will ensure that the course coverage increases and becomes socially relevant.

A major drawback of the external examination system is that it tends to be secret as well as arbitrary. Since the examiner’s work is not subject to any scrutiny, he may not bestow much time and effort on his assignment. This is apparent from the large number of examinees seeking re-evaluation and re-evaluated scripts often showing large divergence from the initial marking.

When knowledge was slow to grow and the textbook material rather limited, it was not difficult to define and interpret syllabi in a manner that would be widely understood, but when knowledge is growing at an ever faster rate this becomes a remote possibility. External evaluation has made the examination system a monstrosity rather than a process to help students to acquire knowledge in a rational and scientific manner.

Mature teachers are not available for examination work and younger people often try to flaunt their own skill and learning in setting a paper than be truly concerned with testing what the students may have learnt, often with inadequate supply of reading material and indifferent teaching.

At a time when the state is gradually withdrawing from the higher education sector, the universities should seriously consider bidding adieu to external examinations which were thought of by the British as a part of general control mechanism. The British wanted “to control the masses through education, and education through examinations” which were institutionalised and conducted by external agencies-boards and universities which had no educational responsibilities other than those of conducting examinations and issuing certificates.

The author is a former V-C of Punjabi University, Patiala.

LSE courses at Gurgaon

ONE of the world’s most prestigious institutions in the pursuit of academic excellence is the London School of Economics and Political Science. But studying there is an expensive affair as it means that the student not only has to arrange for his passage to England, but also foreign currency for his fee and to be able to live in London.The Institute of Technology and Management located in Sector 23-A, Gurgaon, has managed a major coup in the world of academia. The Institute of Technology and Management has the distinction of being the only institution in India to be recognised by The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for diploma in economics leading to a bachelors degree in management of economics awarded by the University of London.

To be eligible for the undergraduate degree at the University of London, a student must necessarily have completed the ‘A’ level examination or a one-year foundation course after Class XII. The diploma in economics has been specifically designed by the LSE as an alternative entry route to be eligible for the B.Sc degree in management or Economics awarded by the University of London in three years. It is a one-year full-time programme and is equivalent to the first year of a degree. On successful completion of the one-year diploma in economics, a student is eligible for transfer directly into the second year of a degree of University of London in the UK. This was a student saves two years as first he does not have to appear for the ‘A’ level and second he also completes the first year while completing the diploma.

The examinations are set and marked in London. The quality of teaching and student support at the Institute of Technology and Management is regularly monitored by the LSE to ensure that it is in accordance with the norms and standards laid down by the University of London.

The core faculty comprises eminent personalities and specialists in different fields. Recognising the pressure of conducting and studying the LSE course in India, both the faculty and students have remodelled their working methods and approach to the programme to ensure its successful completion.

Dedication, long study hours and an agile mine make up the core of this work agenda. Spread across an expanse of 10 acres, the ITM campus is equipped with computer facilities, a hostel, a library, in-house cafeteria and sports facilities.

On successful completion of the diploma in economics, the student is eligible for transfer directly to the II year of an appropriate degree at the LSE or to over 20 other universities/colleges in the UK. Alternatively, the student can complete II and III year at the Institute of Technology and Management, Gurgaon, and is awarded the same degree on successful completion of the course by the University of London.

Only degrees awarded by the University of London, Cambridge and Oxford are recognised by the Association of Indian Universities and Delhi University. Degrees awarded by the University of London are recognised worldwide.

For being eligible to diploma in economics, the applicant should have attained 18 years of age on or before August 31 of the year of admission and must have passed Class XII or equivalent examination. The student must have a good command of the English language and be proficient in Mathematics. Admissions to the ITM are on. The procedure includes an entrance exam, group discussion and interview.

Career hotline
by Pervin Malhotra

After my matriculation, I want to take up commerce. Will it be possible for me to become an Air Force officer? Could you please tell me about the eligibility requirements and the selection procedure.

Sanjay Arora, Bathinda

Yes, you can take up Commerce at the +2 and undergraduate-levels and still find yourself eligible for the officer-level jobs in the various wings of the Armed Forces. Selection is through the Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) conduced by the Union Public Service Commission. Those with graduation in any discipline and aged between 19-23 years are eligible for this exam.

But for joining the Indian Air Force as a Pilot, a B.Sc with Physics and/or Mathematics or Bachelor of Engineering are mandatory requirements to sit for the CDSE.

For further information, you may contact.

* The Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110011.

* ADPO3 (B), Air Headquarters, Room No. 17, ‘J’ Block, Motilal Nehru Marg, New Delhi 110011.

For complete information about the armed forces, read Careers in Armed Forces published by CARING, 24 Feroze Gandhi Road, Lajpat Nagar-III, New Delhi 110024.

I am a science student of Class XII. Which are the career options open to me after 10+2 in science?

Namrata Kohli, Mani Majra

After completing your 10+2 with sciences, you can choose to pursue almost any field. Those related to sciences include engineering & technology, architecture, civil aviation, merchant navy, computers, medicine and related courses, agriculture, pure sciences meteorology and many others. You can also pursue just about any other profession open to your arts or commerce counterparts. Just try and narrow down choices to one or two options and then concentrate on planning a career around it.

I am studying in Class XII. I want to be an IPS officer. What are the basic requirements and how should I proceed to take this exam?

Sushmita Choudhury, Fazilka

To become an IPS officer, you need to take the Civil Services Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam comprises three stages: Preliminary (Objective-type) Exam, Main (Written) exam and the Interview. You have to clear all the three stages and secure a good rank at the same time to make it to this service.

Eligibility: Graduation, Age 21-30 years as on August 1, of the year of taking the exam. Watch out for the advertisement in Employment News and leading national dailies in the month of December. The examination is held at various test centres (as decided by the UPSC) across the country.

Regarding your preparation for the exam, you should be thorough in two subjects of your choice, preferably the subjects that you specialise in at your undergraduate or postgraduate-level. Besides this, you need to be thorough in General Knowledge and current affairs as well, for you’ll have a paper on General Studies, both in the Preliminary and Main Exams.

For further details, you may contact:

* The Secretary, Union Public Service Commission, Dholpur House, New Delhi 110011.

I am doing a diploma in civil engineering. Could you please tell me about the job prospects in this field and what I can do to enhance these?

Vikas Kumar, Tarn Taran

Job avenues for Civil Engineers are available in both public and private sectors: in the construction projects initiated by the government, particularly those concerning the Public Works Departments (PWD), airports, harbours, railways, water and sewage boards, military, engineering services, private construction companies, consultancy services, etc.

To enhance your prospects, you could consider doing a degree course in this very field or on completion of your diploma, you can get admission to the 2nd year of a regular BE/BTech course at an engineering college or enrol for the AMIE course. An AMIE certification is not only considered on par with a BE/BTech but is even valid for admission to Master’s level courses in engineering.

I have passed Class X. Is it possible to do a course in engineering? Please advise.

Peter D’Souza, Ludhiana

You can take up a BE/BTech in Engineering only after completing Class XII in most engineering colleges in the country with two exceptions.

The following engineering institutes admit students after Class X: The Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology (SLIET), Longowal 148106, Distt. Sangrur, Punjab, is a national-level institution set up by the Govt. of India which offers a unique modular pattern of education in various branches of engineering. It admits students after Class X for the 2 year Certificate programme (75% of the seats are reserved for students of Punjab). On completion of the Certificate course, you can apply for vertical entry to the 2-year Diploma programme (in which 50% seats are reserved for Certificate-holders of SLIET). Thereafter, you can enrol for the 2-year advanced course leading to a degree. Admission to the course is on the basis of an all-India entrance test.

A similar programme is also offered by the North-Eastern Regional Institute of Science & Technology (NERIST), Nirjli, Itanagar 791109, Arunachal Pradesh. This institute offers Diploma courses in Maintenance Engineering (Electronics & Telecommunication), Agricultural Engineering, Construction Technology, Forestry, Civil Draftsmanship, Secretarial Practice & Stenography and Handloom Technology.

Besides, you could also do a diploma in Engineering at government recognised polytechnics.

I am a Class XII student nurturing hopes of becoming a lawyer. I am interested in taking up the integrated five-year law course either from a university in Haryana or Uttar Pradesh. Could you please tell me as to when the entrance test for such a course is generally held?

Ranjita Gujjar, Amritsar

The entrance tests for the Integrated 5-year Law Course are generally held in the month of June, July or August. This also holds true for Lucknow University in UP and universities such as Kurukshetra University (Kurukshetra), Maharshi Dayanand University (Rohtak) and Guru Jambheshwar University (Hisar) in Haryana. For this, you’ll have to be on the look out for notifications published in leading national dailies between January and April.

My son is a British national and he is studying in Class IX in Chandigarh. I would like to know if he will be considered eligible to sit for the All-India (CBSE) Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Exam. I am worried about my son’s job prospects. Please advise.

R.K. Kattar, London

The CBSE guidelines are very clear on this issue (and I have specially cross-checked them for you). Only Indian nationals are eligible to appear for the All-India (CBSE) Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Entrance Examination. However, there’s no cause for despair. All private medical institutions have a provision for enrolling NRI and foreign students on a dollar-paying basis. Upto 15% seats are reserved for NRI/foreign students in private colleges. Of course, the fees are somewhat hefty as compared to the regular full-paying seats for Indian nationals.

Deadline

Armed Forces

Jul 05 Indian Navy, Post Bag No. 04, DHQ Post Office, New Delhi 110011.

• Admission to Naval College of Engineering, Lonavala (Pune)

Elig: Unmarried males born between 2 Dec ‘80 and 1 July, ‘83, 10+2 with 70% agg in PCM and 50% agg in English in Class X or Class XII.

Appln Form: See Employment News dated 15-21 May, ‘99.

Jul 20 Indian Army, Additional Directorate General of Recruiting (Women Entry Section), West Block-III, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066.

• Women Special Entry Scheme (Officers)

Elig & Appln Form: See Employment News dated 12-18 June, ‘99.

Education

July 05 Regional Institute of Education, Ajmer 305004

1. BSc BEd (4-yrs)
2. MEd (1-yr)

Elig: Candidates from Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, HP, J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan & UP. Wards of Central Govt/Autonomous Institution employees posted in northern region can also apply.

1) 10+2 with 45% agg
2) BEd. with 50% agg.

Appln Form: Send Rs 30/- by IPO favouring “Administrative Officer, Regional Institute of Education. Ajmer-305004” along with self-addressed envelope (26x20cm) to the above mentioned address.

Engineering

Jul 05 Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Deemed University) Post Box No. 32, Patiala 147001.

1. MSc (Materials Sc
2) ME
Regular programme in Civil (Structures; Civil (Geotechnical); & (Industrial) Part-time: in Civil (Structures), Environmental, Comp Sc, Electrical (Power & Machines); Industrial & Mech (Heat Power).

3. PhD:
Departments: Chem Engg, Civil Engg, Comp Sc & Engg, Electl & Electronics Engg, Mech & Industrial Engg.
Schools: Basic & Applied Sc, Biotech, and Management.

Elig: 1) 3-yr BSc (Pass/Hons) with 55% agg in Phy, Chem & Maths.
2) ME regular students with GATE qualification.

Appln & Info Brochure: Send Rs 425/- by Dd favouring “Registrar, Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala” payable at Patiala till June 29 or Rs 400/- in cash at counter.

Jul 05 Malaviya Regional Engineering College, Jaipur 302017.

• ME (F/T, P/T) in

1. Water Resources Engg
2. Transportation Engg
3. Environmental Engg
4. CAD in Structural Engg
5. Power System
6. Electro & Communication Engg
7. Manufacturing Systems Engg
8. Non-Ferrous Metallurgy

Elig: 1) 2 & 4 II Class BE/AMIE (Civil) with 55% agg 3) II Class BE/AMIE (Civil/Electl/Chem/Mech/Metallurgical) with 55% agg or MSc (Chem/Geology) with 60% agg.
5) II Class BE/AMIE (Electrical) with 55% age
6) II Class BE (Electro & Comm/Electrical/IETE/AMIE with 55% agg
7) II Class BE/Mech/Prodn/Indstrial Engg). AMIE with 55% agg
8) II Class BE/AMIE (Metallurgy/Chem/Mech)/AMIIM with 55% agg or MSc (Phy/Chem) with 60% agg with PCM at degree-level and with GATE Score. AMIE/Grade IETE candidates should have diploma in relevant branch with I Division.

Appln Form: Send Rs 330/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Malaviya Regional Engg College, Jaipur: payable at Jaipur or Rs 300/- in cash at counter. Separate forms for each course.

Jul 05 Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College, Allahabad 211004, UP

• ME in following Departments:

Applied Mechanics
Civil Engineering
Computer Sc & Engineering
Electrical Engg
Mechanical Engg
Electronics Engg.

Appl Form: Send Rs 350/- by crossed DD favouring “Dean (Academic Affairs), Motilal Nehru Regional Engineering College” payable at SBI (Code No. 2580) along with self-addressed envelope (25x30cm) or Rs 300/- in cash at counter.

Hotel Management

Jul 26 Indian Institute of Hotel Management & Catering, 435, Old Station Square, Bhubaneswar-6, Orissa.

Tel: 570484, Fax: 575086

• Diploma in Hotel Management & Catering Technology (3-yrs)

Elig: 10+2 in any discipline, Age: 22-yrs (25-yrs for higher educated/SC/ST/OBC)

Selection: Merit and personal interview.

Appln Form: Send Rs 250/- by MO/DD favouring “Indian Institute of Hotel Management & Catering” payable at Bhubaneswar or Rs 225/- in cash at counter.

Management

Jul 07 Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University Campus, Delhi 110007.

Tel: 7257905, Fax: 7256510

• PG Diploma in Global Business Operations (2-yrs)

Elig: Graduation (10+2+3) with 50% agg.

Selection: Written Test on Jul 25 followed by GD and interview. Reservations for SC/ST and other categories as per rules.

Appln Form: Send Rs 550/- (Rs. 300/- for SC/ST) by cross DD favouring “Principal, Shri Ram College of Commerce” payable at SBI, Delhi, along with a self-addressed envelope (23x30cm) marked “Purchase of Application Form for GBO” or Rs 500/- (Rs. 250) for SC/ST) in cash at counter.

Marketing

Jul 05 Jiwaji University, Vidya Vihar, Gwalior 474011,MP.

Tel: 341896, 341095

1 Master in Chemicals, Sales and Marketing Management (MCSM) (2-yrs F/T)
2. Diploma in Chemicals, Sales and Marketing Management (1-yr F/T)

Elig: 1&2) MSc. BSc with Chem and 50% agg.

Written Test: July 11.

Appln Form: Send Rs 250/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Jiwaji University, Gwalior” or Rs 225/- in cash at counter.

Medicine

Jul 10 A & U Tibbia College, (G/o NCT of Delhi) Karol Bagh, New Delhi 110005

• Ayurvedacharya (BAMS)
• Kamil-e-Tibb-o-Jarahat (BAMS)

Appln Form: Send Rs 70/- by MO to the Office of the Principal till July 2, or Rs 50/- in cash at counter.

Jul 10 College of Pharmacy (G/o NCT of Delhi), Sector III, Pushp Vihar New Delhi 110017.

1. Diploma in Pharmacy (2-yrs)
2. Bachelor of Pharmacy (4-yrs)
3. Master of Pharmacy (2-yrs)

Pharmacology; Pharmaceutics: Hospital Pharmacy; and Quality Assurance.

Prospectus & Appln Form: Send Rs 50/- by crossed IPO favouring “Principal, College of Pharmacy, New Delhi” along with a self-addressed, stamped (RS. 12/- for ordinary and Rs 26/- for regd. post) envelope or Rs 50/- in cash at counter. Separate forms for each course available at Rs 10/- each.

Para-medical Courses

Jun 28 Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005.

• Joint Entrance Test for Bachelor in Physiotherapy (4½-yrs)

Elig: 10+2 (Medical) with 50%

Written Test: 20 July, ‘99.

Appln Form: Send Rs 160/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University: payable at Amritsar to the Asst. Registrar (General) at above mentioned address or Rs 130/- in cash at counter.

Scholarships

Jul 15 National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), 25, Green Park Extn., Yusuf Sarai, New Delhi 110016.

Tel: 91-581445

• Scholarships for PG Degree/ Professional Courses.

Elig: Students with disabilities.

Scholarship: Rs 1,000/- per month.

Appln Form: Contact the In-Charge at the above mentioned address or Shri, Salil Chaturvedi, B-2, Sector 53, Noida 201301. Tel: 91-581445

Social Work

July Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, Haryana

• MA (Social Work)

Elig: Graduation with 50% agg (pass marks for SC/ST).

Entrance Test: July 18 at Kurukshetra

Appln Form: Send Rs 425/- (Rs 225/- for SC/ST) by crossed DD favouring “Registrar, K.U.” payable at Kurukshetra/Thanesar along with two self-addressed slips indicating Code No. MSS-99 to Manager (P&P) or Rs 400/- (Rs 200/- for SC/ST in cash at counter.

July 07 Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra 136119, Haryana.

1, MA in Ancient Indian History, Culture & Archaeology, Eco, Eng, Education, Fine Arts, Hist, Hindi, Music (Vocal & Instru), Maths, Pol Sc, Punjabi, Philo, Psycho, Public Admn, Sanskrit, Socio, Master of Physical Education, Bachelor of Journalism (Practice & Management).

2 MSC in: Biotech, Botany, Bio Chem,Chem, Electronic Sc, Geography, Home Sc, Microbio, Mathematics, Phy, Stats, Zoology, Appld Geology and MTech in Appld Geo-Phy.

3. MCom, MEd, MEd/BEd (Spl Education), Shiksha Shastri (BEd), MLib/BLib & Info Sc.

4. Post MA/MSc Dip in Comp Sc, PG Dip in Electronics

5 Dip in: French, German, Sanskrit, Reasoning.

6 Cert in: French, German, Music, Sanskrit, Ticketing & Reservation, Yoga, Urdu, Persian.

Elig: For 1 to 4): Entrance Test.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 105/- (Rs 65/- for SC/ST) by crossed DD favouring “Registrar, K.U.,” payable at Kurukshetra/Thanesar along with two self-addressed slips marked “HBI-99” to Manager (P&P) or Rs 80/- (Rs 40/- for SC/ST in cash at counter.

Paramedical Courses

HKL School of Nursing & Para-medical Sciences, Guru Har Sahai, Dist. Ferozepore (Pb.)

Tel: 01685-31341, 30832.

• Diploma in General Nursing & Midwifery.

Elig: 10+2 with 50% agg (45% for SC/ST) with Punjabi at Matric-level. Age: above 17 yrs as on 1.9.99.

Appln form: Send Rs. 150/- by DD favouring “HKL School of Nursing & Para-medical Sciences” payable at Guru Har Sahai.

Sciences

June 30 Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085.

• Post M.Sc. Diploma in Radiological Physics (1 yr).

Elig: (II Div) Master’s in Physics. Age: below 35 yrs.

Selection: Selected candidates will be called for interview.

Appln Format: See leading newspapers.

June 30 Institute of Microbiology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal 462026.

• M.Sc. (Microbiol)
• M.Sc. (Biotech)

Elig: B.Sc. with 50% agg (5% relaxation for SC/ST) in Chem & Zool/Bot/Microbiol/Biotech.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 400/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Barkatullah University, Bhopal” payable at SBI (Code No 3537) or Rs. 350/- by DD at counter.

Vocational Courses

June 25 R&D Centre for Bicycle & Sewing Machine, B-38-39, Focal Point, Ludhiana 141010.

(UNDP/UNIDO Assisted Punjab Govt Project)

• Trades Quality Assurance Inspector ( 2 yrs)
• Skilled Technician (Machinist) (2 yrs)
• Skilled Technician (Machine Maintenance) (2 yrs).

Elig: Matric with Maths and Science: Age: 20 yrs on June 1 ‘99.

Selection: Written test and interview Jun 27.

Appln Form: Send Rs. 120/- by DD favouring “R&D Centre for Bicycle & Sewing Machine, Ludhiana” or Rs 100/- in cash at counter.

July 15 Model Industrial Training Institute (M/o Labour, Gol), PO Kathgodam Distt., Nainital, UP.

• Craftsmen Training (2-yrs)

Elig: Matriculation with PCM. Reservation for SC/ST/PH, Age: 14-25 \-yrs as on August 1, ‘99.

Selection: Merit in matriculation.

Appln Form: Send Rs 5/- by IPO/DD along with self-addressed stamped (Rs. 3/-) envelope (10x23cm) favouring “Drawing & Disbursing Officers, Model Industrial Training Institute, PO Kathgodam, Distt Nainital 263126, UP, or in cash at counter.

Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms.

CARING (Career Information & Guidance), New Delhi.

Diary

Character education
US public schools are undergoing pressure to offer ethics instruction as a way to promote safe learning free of harassment, says a report in The New York Times. The pressure on schools for what the National Association of School Boards describes as “character education” has been building through the 1990’s because of the increase in the number of working parents and concerns about the influence of television and music. Recent school violence and the Supreme Court ruling on sexual harassment by students have given the issue more urgency. Esther F. Schaeffer, executive director of the Character Education Partnership, a six-year-old nonpartisan coalition in Washington that promotes the teaching of values, says opinion surveys show that Americans overwhelmingly want their schools to teach basic values like honesty, respect and responsibility. Objections about the nature of public moral education used to come most often from liberals who objected to the conservative Christian influence they detected. But in recent years it has come more from conservatives who say schools are promoting values like feminism and one-world government.

Resegregation in US Schools
Forty-five years after a Supreme Court ruling forced the desegregation of the US schools, a process of school resegregation is advancing across the USA, especially for blacks in the South and for Hispanic Americans everywhere, according to a new Harvard University study, reports The New York Times. Researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Civil Rights Project found that at a time when non-white represent a rapidly growing segment of the school-age population, their contact with whites in school has been diminishing yearly for a decade. Moreover, the researchers found, there is a close correlation between school districts with few whites and those with high rates of poverty, which is linked to lower educational achievement. The study, “Resegregation in American Schools” by Gary Orfield, a Harvard professor of education, and John T. Yun, a doctoral candidate in education at Harvard, places the blame for the shift on court decisions freeing school districts from desegregation orders and growing public indifference to the role of education in racial integration.

Study business via Internet
Thanks to the Internet, the number of employees chasing MBA and other business degrees via distance learning is showing “phenomenal’’ growth, says a Reuters report. Many of these students are business professionals who have come to dead ends in their careers and who need an MBA or other credential to advance but cannot take time off from work to study full-time. “At least half’’ of the estimated one million distance learners today are getting business-related degrees, says Vicky Phillips, a Waterbury, Vt.-based authority on the subject. She is the chief executive officer of of geteducated.com, an educational consulting firm. In 1990, distance-learning “was barely a blip on the screen’’ with about 100,000 students enrolled in all courses of study. Since then, she reckons the field has experienced a phenomenal 1,000 per cent enrolment jump, much of it since 1996 via the Internet. At least 195 accredited graduate schools now offer degrees or career credentials to students who never have to appear on campus, yet whose course work is as demanding, and whose degree is just as valuable, as students who do. Distance learners need to recognise that it will take two or three times as long to get an MBA than the 18 to 24 months usually required by full-timers. Adding an MBA degree to one’s resume can result in an annual salary boost of $20,000 to $25,000 a year, Phillips pointed out.

— K.B.