The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Hamara School
Emphasis on studies, sports and spirit

I.S. Dev Samaj Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 21-C, Chandigarh, school has a spacious and well furnished building with sprawling lawns, play fields well-equipped library, laboratories and computer centre. The lawns are well maintained with decorative plants and flowers adding to the beauty and ambience of the campus. A new wing will be added soon.

The school has an N.S.S. unit. The objective of the N.S.S. is to develop personality of N.S.S. volunteers through community development programmes. Camps are being held in villages to make the village women aware about personal hygiene, nutrition, sanitation and education. The unit helps in celebrating functions like Independence Day, N.S.S. Day, World Aids Day, Tree plantation during Vanmahotsav, a workshop on blood and sexually transmitted diseases.

The school has extensive playgrounds. There is provision for table tennis, basketball, kho-kho badminton, judo, and cricket: The school has a coaching centre for basketball. Two beautiful basketball grounds (junior & senior) add to the ambience of the institution.

* Aims and objectives:

— To develop sound foundation in academic along with active participation in sports.

— To ensure all round development of students.

— To inculcate in them a sense of discipline and strength of character.

> To impart high standard of moral education to students which can help them to settle down as useful member in families and society.

Principal Speak
Education empowers

EDUCATION is the key area that should be given due importance if any country or society has to progress. The developed naions have achieved their current status by laying special emphasis on education. It not only helps in broadening the mental horizon of the students but also leads to overall development of their personality. It is process of empowerment that enables the students to achieve different things in life according to their latent talent. In the present age, new areas of education are opening up giving more opportunities to the students to display their talent as also offering them more options to choose their careers. But the education has also become very competitive thus putting more stress on the students from their early childhood. Along with their heavy bags, the students also have to carry a heavy burden of expectations of their wards. This has become a major cause of stress for adolescents and needs to be checked by the educationists.

Children are the future leaders of the any society and schools are important centres of learning for them. During their early impressionable age apart from the family, the school plays an important part in the development of a child. Therefore time and resources spent on education can not be measured in real terms.

The schools must provide maximum facilities and a healthy atmosphere to the students in which, they can develop and realise their latent potential. Due to commercialisation and job orientation of education, the present education system has become curriculum-oriented and puts enormous pressure on the children by way of competitions and entrance examinations. The process starts at a very early stage when the young minds are not even aware what they are going through. Excessive pressure leads to long hours of ‘after the school studies’ by way of tuitions and coaching classes. This leaves very little time for the children to pursue any hobbies and follow extra-curricular activities that are so vital for development of good social values and leadership qualifies in them.

In our school we try to tackle these problems in our own way. Efforts are made to ensure that the education is not limited to the curriculum alone. The scope is extended beyond the books and the stress is on all round development of the children so that they can become useful citizens when they grow up. Social emphasis is laid in the school on development of good moral values, which was the basic aim for which Bhagwan Dev Atma, founder of Dev Samaj, had started numerous educational institutions in the beginning of the 20th century. An equal attention is given to sports and other extra-curricular activities, for which Saturday is observed as ‘activity day’. We take a special pride in preparing the children to face the examinations without resorting to external help from tutors. Extra classes are conducted by the staff within the school hours. The school has been achieving outstanding results in various board examinations over past 40 years that can be compared with the best schools in the city.

	MFA course for Govt Art College approved Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 21 After a delay of four years, the proposal to start Masters in Fine Art (MFA) course at the local Government College of Art, Sector 10, has finally been cleared. The course is all set to commence from this academic session, and it will provide 10 seats in each of the four disciplines of painting, printmaking, applied art and graphics. Confirming this news yesterday, Mr Vivek Atray, Director, Technical Education, UT, said that all arrangements for the commencement of the course had been made. “We have taken all significant decisions with respect to staff recruitment, equipment provisions and space allocation.” Initiated by the efforts of principal of the college, Prof Brahm Parkash, the course would go a long way in offering better avenues to BFA students, who had to otherwise go out of the region to take a masters’ degree in fine art. Prof Brahm Parkash said interviews for admission to MFA would be held after due consultations with officials concerned. He added that the syllabus for the course had also been approved. Crediting UT Administration for this success, Prof Parkash said, “I did not face the so-called bureaucratic hassles even once. In fact, sometimes it was the bureaucracy which pushed me to pursue the case of my college.”
	Quality education in govt schools on anvil Tribune News Service Mohali, July 21 The ‘School Education Plan-Mohali 2004’, a prospective outline plan for quality education through government schools in Mohali, will be prepared by the Department of Education, Punjab. The first meeting for the purpose is scheduled to be held on July 27 at the office of the Principal Secretary, School Education, Punjab, Mrs Tejinder Kaur. This was stated by Mr Bir Devinder Singh, MLA, Kharar at a press conference held here today. Mr Bir Devinder pointed out that while the Chandigarh Administration had provided over a 100 government schools for a population of about 10 lakh persons, there were only four government schools for the 3 lakh population of Mohali. ‘‘There was only one senior secondary school and one high school. There were two elementary schools,’’ he said, adding that the Education Department had planned some more government schools in Mohali and PUDA had even earmarked specific sites for them. ‘‘But since no construction was undertaken by the Education Department on these sites for years, PUDA had resumed all of them. They were now thinking of giving these sites to private educationists for schools,’’he added. Other than drawing a complete plan for the enhancement of government educational facilities in Mohali, a decision regarding the Education Department’s response to PUDA’s resumption of sites would also be undertaken. ‘‘We have also asked the Additional Chief Administrator, PUDA, to attend the meeting so that a comprehensive view of the matter from both sides could be taken. Our aim would be to save these sites from being sold to private educationists, Mr Bir Devinder pointed out.
	Stenographers’ exam on Oct 10 Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 21 The northwestern regional office of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will hold the stenographers’ examination on October 10. According to Mr N.K. Virdi, Deputy Regional Director of the SSC here, the examination will be organised in Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar, Shimla, Jalandhar and Ambala. While the last date for the submission of applications is July 23, the candidates hailing from the remote areas can apply till July 30. The candidates with a minimum qualification of matriculation and between the age group of 18 to 27 years will be eligible to appear for this Grade “D” examination, Mr Virdi added. Earlier, the SSC used to conduct a combined examination for the posts of clerk and stenographers. Several thousand candidates, having non-technical background, appeared for the examination from the region. However, since last year the commission had discontinued the test for the clerical posts. Sources said in the wake of the downsizing of the Central Government departments, there was no demand for recruitment to the post of the clerks.Moreover, the decision to give an “officer-oriented” look to the departments had also contributed the discontinuation of the clerks’ examination.
	Schools to have consumer clubs Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 21 On the directives of the Union Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies, consumer clubs would be established in the local government schools. About 25 such clubs are to be established in the city schools. The move was aimed at promoting consumer rights awareness among schoolchildren, said an official of the Chandigarh Administration. As per the ministry’s guidelines, each school has to appoint 50 students and a teacher for the activity, for which an annual grant of Rs 10,000 will be given. For every 20 clubs, one non-governmental organisation (NGO) will be appointed as a nodal agency to monitor their functioning. The nodal agency will receive Rs 2,000 from each school as charges.

LIFESTYLE

Bike boys on adventure trail

The team of TVS motor company and “Out there Adventurers” have joined hands to set a world record on their FX 150 CC four-stroke bike. En route to Marsimik La, the highest motorable pass in the world, the expedition members passed through Chandigarh after being flagged off from Delhi on Wednesday.

The real ascend to the greater Himalayas will kickstart in the morning of July 31 in the freezing winds of Leh. They will complete 600 km plus the distance between Leh and Pang while crossing the five passes in 24 hours. If achieved, the team will mark their entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. The Indian Army will extend full support to the expedition members.

The president of Out There Adventurers, Mr Chandan Lahiri, will lead the team. Other members of the expedition are Patrick Kerr, Michael Williams, Burgess Cooper, Sarosh Cooper, Indar Mohan Singh and Saurav Gupta. Mr Lahiri currently holds the world record of travelling across the three highest motorable roads in 14 hours and 44 minutes. The five passes to be covered are, Marsimik La (18,652 feet), Khardung La (18,380 feet), Tanglang La (17,582 feet), Chang La (17,350 feet) and Wari la (17,300 feet).

“An altitude of almost 18,000 feet is considered the beginning of the death zone. Lack of oxygen, rugged terrain, melting snow, raging rivers, landslides and avalanches are some of the challenges which our team is going to face,” says Mr Lahiri.

Patrick Kerr said “I am very passionate about the outdoor activities and there is no fear in me. The only thing I am bothered about is if my friend gets injured in way then will I save my friend or go on to set the record. Still I have not decided anything about it.”

Burgess Cooper and Sarosh Cooper two brothers, are of the opinion that “you have to believe in yourself and live life to its fullest.” OC

Eating Out
Dining the ‘Ambassador’ way
Harvinder Khetal

The ongoing Asia Cup is just one reason to visit Ambassador, the fine dining restaurant-cum-bar lounge of Hotel Sunbeam, Sector 22. The giant screen takes you close to the excitement in Sri Lankan stadiums. Varinder Sehwag’s strokeplay acquires an additional punch as you down a chilled mug of beer in an air-conditioned grandiose ambience.

But the ladies at a kitty party on Wednesday afternoon insist that it is the quality of food that brings them to the joint. The group of wives of judges drools over exchange of gossip as much as their platters.

The proprietor attributes the success and repeat clientele to strict standards of quality and hygiene. They recently refurbished the interiors to give the place a brighter look. The food and beverages manager, says that his endeavour is to provide consistency in services.

For those wanting to go on a safari of cocktails, the fact that liquor is served at club rates should be tempting.

During dinnertime, you are entertained by a live band that belts out popular numbers from old and new films. Keeping the sentiments of those averse to smoke and smokers, the area has been divided into smoking and no-smoking zones. So, no more ‘smoky neighbour’ blues.

You have a wide range of delights to choose from. The heady mocktails, wines and whiskeys apart, there is an attractive array of goodies classified as starters, snacks, soups and the main course.

Perhaps, you could opt for bites of the sweet-and-salty honey chilli cauliflower or spring rolls to get you rolling into the generous portions of Szechwan style vegetable delight and lemon chicken complemented with hakka noodles or fried rice, if you prefer.

In the Indian category, their special is aloo chutneywala. The potato is scooped and filled with panir and tangy chutney to give a unique finish. The murg karahi or tikka is the favourite with non-vegetarians. A bowl of raita, some salad and missi rotis complete the picture.