EDUCATION

Give priority to education, say experts
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 10
Which ever party comes to power, it should give a boost to education. The Punjab Government should restore the dignity of the service sector and make adequate investments on providing quality education to the future generation. Eminent educationists in the city stressed that they would choose the party that will support education wholeheartedly.

Dr (Ms) Varinder Kaur Thind, Principal, Khalsa College for Women, said be it the Congress or the SAD or any other party, the chosen government should know the value of education. Progress in any field is possible if education is given its due. She stressed on making the roots strong. She said only those, who were educated themselves, knew the importance of education. A party, which could curb the social evils prevalent in the society, had the right to rule in the rich state of Punjab.

Prof Tarsem Bahia, convener, the Punjab Educationist Forum said the role of the service sector had increased globally. It was unfortunate that education, being mother of the Service Sector was ignored totally in Punjab in recent years. Nothing had been done for its upliftment. He said when governments in other states were spending more than 6 per cent on Gross National Product (GNP), Punjab was spending less than 3 per cent. "If the trend continuous, Punjab would be considered backward", he said. He also said that demands or no demands of teachers was not an issue, all should work for strengthening education in the state.

Other than education, peace and tranquility were the things which every voter was looking for, said Prof Bahia. Transparency and honesty on part of government was must to improve the existing system, he said. Prof Ashwani Bhalla, a senior lecturer in SCD Government College and general secretary, Punjab Commerce and Management Association here said the government, liberal with foreign collaborations, deserved the right to be in power. Today, no government could afford to adopt conservative policies. More and more Agro-based industries should be introduced in the Agrarian state.

From Schools
100 students take part in maths competition
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January 10
Guru Nanak International Senior Secondary Public School organised an inter school mathematics competition 2007 here yesterday as part of its silver jubilee celebrations. Around 100 students from 20 schools affiliated to the CBSE participated.

The competition was conducted for the students of XII as per CBSE syllabus. The main aim of the competition was to instill confidence and competitive spirit among the students for the forthcoming board exams. The results would be announced within a week and the winners would get cash prizes.

Green Land School champ

A Hindi declamation contest was held at Sutlej Public Senior Secondary School, Rahon Road, Ludhiana, here yesterday. Dr Bhupinder Kaur, HOD, Hindi Department, and Dr Rajinder Jain, a professor from Government College for Boys, Civil Lines, were the judges. In all 18 teams from various schools of Ludhiana participated in the contest.

The individual position holders were - Adbhut Gupta from Green Land School, I, Harsimar from DAV School, II, and Jitender of Spring Dale School, III.

The overall trophy went to Green Land School with BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School as the first runners up and Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, as the second runners up. The consolation prizes were given to Ramandeep of Guru Nanak International School, Siholi of Sacred Heart Convent School, Sarabha Nagar, and Aastha of Tagore Public School.

Poor given woollens

Exhibiting a spirit of selflessness and benevolence, the students of BCM School, Dugri, distributed woollen clothes to slum dwellers. The students were enthusiastically provided clothes to these helpless persons in this harsh winter season. This activity was planned as part of the school’s ‘Life Skills Education Programme’ that endeavours to arm students with necessary life skills to make them more humane and sensitive in a world where selfishness and narcissism reign supreme.

In a special session, teachers interacted with students making them aware of the battles that the poor fight in order to survive. Stirred by this discussion, the students volunteered to contribute their mite in lending a helping hand to the poor. Within a day, they garnered a motley of woollen garments, which were then distributed to the needy.

“Seeing the smile on their faces as they received the woollens from us was the best gift I could ever get. I never knew that such a simple act could bring about so much of contentment and gratification,” said one of the students.

“Our aim was to inculcate in our students the virtues of humanity and charity. After all the ultimate aim of education is to make our kids better human beings”, commented Dr Vandna Shahi, Principal of the school.

Book Week at BCM School

A Book Week is being organised at BCM Model Senior Secondary School from January 8 till January 12. The activities being held include newspaper reading, poster making competition, a quiz based on books, authors, and characters from 40 classic books. Book reviews written by students are displayed in their respective classes. On Wednesday, Aday spoke about various idioms and proverbs and was much liked by the students. The encyclopedia, classic books, new best sellers and science books are displayed and children can browse through them.

150 students get woollens
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, January10
The Ludhiana Welfare Society (regd) distributed woollen cardigans to 150 needy students of the Government School at Dullon Kalan in the presence of panchayat members. Mr Manjit Singh, President of the society, Mr Sadhu Singh, Giani Surinder Singh and many other members of the society were present there.

Mr Manjit Singh said children were the future of the nation but due to privatisation policies of the government, they were suffering as there was shortage of teachers in government schools in the state.

They had also urged the government to fulfil all vacancies in the schools immediately so that the studies of the students do not suffer at all.