School expenses irk parents
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, December 6
High expenditure incurred by the parents due to participation of their wards in routine functions of schools has become a bone of contention between the parents and school authorities here.

Parents of certain students of some reputed schools in the city said they were being forced to spend hundreds of rupees on costumes and other accessories of their children during several events being organised in the school every now and then. They said they wanted their children to participate in most of the events held in the school but it was getting impossible for them to help them do so.

The parents said the schools organised atleast a function or two in every month and the annual expenses incurred by them crossed Rs 3000. They said that few years ago, it was just for the annual day that they had to spend Rs 100 to 300 for getting the dress prepared as other events like Children’s Day, Teachers’ Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti and Janmashtami were held in a very simple way.

However, they said now the school authorities wanted to organise all their functions including zero-budget functions like gurpurab and sports day in a very novel and glittering fashion which forced them to spend more and more. For most of them with two children their expenses doubled, the parents added. They said they did not want to discourage their children from participation but if things go on in the same way, they would have no other alternative.

Presenting her problem, a parent of a child studying at Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School, Sarabha Nagar, pointed out that last month the school levied an amount of Rs 700 for her son who wanted to take part in bhangra. She said that at that time she was a bit reluctant to spend that amount but the school teacher convinced her saying that the dress made would be re-used by the child when he would participate in the forthcoming events to be organised by the school.

The parent said that now when her son had again been selected in bhangra item to be presented on the concluding day of ongoing sports function, she had been told to get Rs 200 for a dress to be hired on rent. When she asked if the dress made last month could be re-used, she replied in the negative as she was told that the new instructor wanted a dress in a new style. The parent said that the same dress was available on hire from the market for Rs 100 but they were specifically told to get it from the school only. She wondered if the school was drawing some commission from the supplier who was giving out at least 850 dresses for students from different classes.

Yet another mother of a child studying in the same school said that her daughter had been told to bring Rs 350 for getting a dress on hire as she was participating in a cultural event at the same function. She said that the next day she was told to get Rs 50 for silver coloured pom-pom that they would be carrying in their hands. She alleged that the cost price of that simple accessory could not be more than Rs 20 in any case and they felt that they were being overcharged. Sister Helima, Principal of the school, could not be contacted despite several calls made to her in the school.

A parent of a tiny tot going to a playway school in Sarabha Nagar also had a similar complaint. He said that it was very difficult for him to bear the monthly expenses for their child who was not even four-year-old. He said the school was celebrating a colour week these days and they wanted all their children to be dressed up in one common colour on a specific day as the school had issued special instructions for them to come up in red dress on Monday, yellow on Tuesday, blue on.

NAAC for promotion of quality education
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
“The entire objective of the National Assessment Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, is to encourage colleges to go for quality education. The educational standards have to improve tremendously with the threat of WTO and GATT looming large. By 2005, according to WTO, many foreign players will enter the Indian educational field and hence our own colleges and universities should produce intelligent human capital of high order. Unless it happens, we cannot compete with foreign education,” said Mr K. L. Johar, Chairman of the NAAC team and former Vice-Chancellor of Jameshwar University,

A four-member team of NAAC, Bangalore, was in the city visiting Government College for Boys for assessment and accreditation. The members are Dr Desh Bandhu, Principal. SD College, Ambala Cantt, Dr Shivanand Hale, Principal of a college of Nasik and Dr G. Srinivas, Deputy Director, NAAC.

Speaking to media at a press conference organised at Government College for Boys, Mr Johar said NAAC was creating awareness to provide our college students good quality education.

He said the process of getting accreditation from NAAC was very simple. The college just had to submit a self-studied report on the performa designed by NAAC. After submitting the performa, the college had to request the NAAC authorities to come and visit for valuation.

Mr Johar said NAAC was neither punitive nor judgemental in its approach. It reached conclusions on the basis of the reports. The NAAC team interacted with teaching, non-teaching staff, students, members of Alumni and parents to get a comprehensive picture. It also took into consideration the support system of the college like library, science laboratories, common rooms, hostels and infrastructre. Only after indepth analysis of resources available, infrastructure the team prepared the report. Probably NAAC was the only body that after writing the report shared it with the Principal. After reading the report, the Principal signed it and was given a copy. The report was submitted to the executive body of NAAC, and the grade was pronounced after some months.

Dr G. Srinivas, Deputy Director, NAAC team, keeps in mind seven points while evaluating the college. These are: 1. Curricular aspect 2. Teaching, learning and evaluating 3. Research consultancy 4. Infrastructure and support services 5. Student progression 6. Organisation management 7. Healthy practices of the college.

Asked what are the healthy practices according to the team, Dr Srinivas said in different colleges and universities, it could be different depending on the location. Giving example, he said “like in one college the students took up teaching of English in a slum area school, while other colleges organised blood donation camps. ”

“There is no scope for concealment for the colleges. Since Government College for Boys was established in 1920, it has to modernise it and take to computerisation. The Alumni Association should be there so as to have linkage with its former students. Some of its old students are Satish Dhawan, Sahir Ludhianvi, M. S. Gill, K. P. S. Gill, General Raina etc. ” 

Cultural bonanza by Sargodha students
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Students, staff and management of Sargodha National Public Senior Secondary School, Field Ganj, organised its annual prize distribution day here today. The students who had excelled in academics, sports and cultural activities were given prizes by Dr Kehar Singh, Chairman, of the Punjab School Education Board. The students presented a cultural programme, including skits, western dance, mono-acting, and Punjabi folk dance and songs.

Primary section children danced to “Sayina dil mein aana re”. Class IX students enthralled the audience with their humourous skit titled, “Khichdi”. Ms Parminder Chauhan, Principal, presented the school report, highlighting the achievements of the students. Mr Gian Singh, secretary of the school committee, presented a vote of thanks to the chief guest and parents. Mr Manjit Inder Singh, school president, was also present.

90 students given prizes
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, December 6
Nearly 90 students of Sant Kirpal Singh Educational Institute, Salem Tabri, received prizes during the annual function of the institute here today. Top three position holders of each class were honoured for their academic achievements. Palwinder Kaur was selected as best overall student of the year while Orush Jafri was declared the most well-mannered student. Kulwinder Singh won prize for full attendance.

The students presented a cultural programme that included patriotic songs, dances and Hindi, Punjabi and English plays. Ms Rajinder Kaur, Principal, read out the annual report.

Chaudhary Madan Lal Bagga, councillor of ward number 4, was the chief guest. Mr Bindu Mohan Singh, President of the school committee, other members of the committee were also present. 

Gurdas Mann to sing for Yash Chopra’s film
Asha Ahuja

Ludhiana, December 6
“It has been my constant endeavour to be more creative. Hence, I am making a film ‘Political Afflym’ (in English) which will be titled ‘Des Hoiya Pardes’ in Punjabi. Like ‘Shaheed-e-Mohabbat’, this film too will be based on a true story of a person during the time of 1984 riots,” said Gurdas Mann at a press conference held at Maharaja Regency, here today.

Gurdas Mann is in the city to perform in a programme by the Ludhiana Sanskritik Samagam. He said his untitled album would also be released in the beginning of the new year. He evaded the question about ‘kabootarbaji’. When asked the secret of his looking so young and energetic, he said, “Positive thinking is my mantra. Even Gita says whatever is happening is happening for good.”

When asked if he was doing any playback singing he said he was going to sing for Yash Chopra’s film. He also said playback singers were generally different from stage performers. Probably Kishore Kumar was the only exception. He was not only a good stage performer but also an excellent playback singer.

Gurdas Mann dared to dream and his determination in pursuing his goal has earned him the status of a ‘living legend ’ in the sphere of Punjabi folk singing. That he is the heart throb of millions of Indians, is indisputable. His inimitable singing style and clean lyrics have moved people cutting across age and creed for over two decades. Having arrived on the music scene more than two decades ago, he is still holding on to his seat. The credit of taking Punjabi music from the regional level to the national level and then to the international level goes to Gurdas Mann indeed.

Recalling his childhood in Malout, he said one thing he could recall vividly was his passion for singing. After his basics, he was shifted to Patiala for further studies and took his masters in physical education. At that point he was set to be a coach but destiny had something else in store for him. He looked athletic as he always paid attention to his health and was deeply interested in sports. He even earned a black belt in judo.

But he says he continued to write as well as stage plays. He says, “Since I was writing my own plays and lyrics, a TV producer appreciated me for my song ‘Dil da mamla hai’. He put the song on air on December 31, 1980. It was a hit and created quit a stir. In this era of ‘instant recoginition’, I was an instant success. I cut my first music album in 1983 and since then I have never looked back.”