The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Board errs in totalling, asks students to reappear
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, May 7
Instead of bringing smiles to their faces, the senior secondary class results declared by the Haryana School Education Board (HSEB) have come loaded with worry for 23-odd students of the Government School, Sector 7.

The board has not added the marks of the practical examinations in the total tally and asked the students to reappear in the examination.

Though their own performance is no cause of concern, the board has goofed up the result for the science subjects, putting their future in
jeopardy.

In the results declared last week, the board has put a reappear tag with the names of the students and had not added the marks of the practical examinations for the science students to the total tally.

In the scorecard delivered to the school, the board has added marks for practical in the first semester even though practical is introduced in the second semester only. Also, while the marks are supposed to be out of 25, the board has given 52 marks, 42 marks and lots more beyond the stipulated marks. For the second semester, no marks have been added for practical.

Agitated students and their parents, who also met the district education officer, said the board should rectify its mistake at the earliest since the AIEEE results would be declared shortly.

“If there is a reappear against my name, I don’t stand a chance in the good engineering institutes. How will the board ever compensate me for my loss?” says Suraj Singh, an aggrieved student.

In-service training for KV teachers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
As many as 60 primary teachers from Kendriya Vidyalayas of Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab and HP are participating in an in-service training course which commenced at Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Chandi Mandir Cantonment, here, today. The training programme would continue till May 18.

J.P. Gupta, education officer, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh, inaugurated the course by lighting a lamp. He urged the teachers to be conscious of their significant role in laying a sound foundation at the primary level.

The broad objectives of organising the course are strengthening of primary education and minimum levels of learning, appraisal of national curriculum 2005, development of communication skills, acquaintance with guidance and counselling, value education, and technology-aided learning.

Varsity holds back registration Nos
Students face uncertain future
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
Dr Zora Singh, chairman of Desh Bhagat Group, has written to the Punjab Governor, Lt Gen S.F. Rodrigues, who is also the chancellor of Baba Farid University of Medical sciences, to intervene and expatiate the issuing of registration to 40 students of the Desh Bhagat Dental College, Muktsar, to let them appear in the examinations scheduled in June. In the letter, he has said the intake capacity of the college was increased from 60 to 100 seats by the ministry of family welfare and by the orders of the supreme court following a court case.

The college represented to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences at Faridkot time and again to fill the seats but, in vain.

The college represented to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, time and again to fill the seats but in vain. Hence the college filled up these seats on September 30, 2006, by invoking the notification by the department of medical education. The college also represented to the state government and the department of medical education and research of the Punjab Government directed the vice-chancellor to register these 40 students admitted by the college in a letter issued on April 10, 2007. Now, the university is delaying the matter to register these students hence causing agitation among the students admitted to the college. On April 20, 2007, the registrar had written to Dr Zora Singh that the matter was in process.

	Notice to absentee headmaster Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 7 The headmaster of Government High School, Hallo Majra, J.S. Lehri, was issued a show-cause notice by the director, public instructions (schools), S.K. Setia, for being absent without getting leave sanctioned. Confirming this, Setia said, “I visited the school on April 3 and found the headmaster absent. On being questioned, he said he had a medical problem and had gone home after leaving an application in the school. However, he could not produce any evidence regarding it. Also, mere leaving an application without getting it sanctioned will not be considered. And, in case of any exigency, some permission has to be taken.”
	No junk food in school canteens Chandigarh, May 7 The education department is taking initiatives to ensure that canteens remain clean and no unauthorised stalls are running in school premises. The education department has also formed special teams which will visit school canteens to make sure that the preparations served are hygienic and of good quality. “No junk food, including cold drinks and toffees, will be allowed to be put on sale in school canteens. The arrangement and state of cleanliness will be supervised by the principal and the canteen-in-charge,” said DPI S.K. Setia. — TNS
	2 city teachers to attend course in US Chandigarh, May 7 Two English teachers — Neerja Jain, lecturer, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 19-C, and Mandeep Merchant, TGT, Government Model Senior Secondary school, Sector 23-A — from the city have been selected for a six-week professional development programme at the University of California, Los Angeles. The bureau of educational and cultural affairs, department of states, USA, sponsors the programme. As many as 13 secondary school English teachers from India will be participating in this programme. — TNS
	From Colleges Mohali RED CROSS DAY: Students of Sri Sukhmani College of Nursing, Dera Bassi, observed International Red Cross Day here on Monday. The students gave presentations on fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service and unity. The Indian Red Cross Society, through its five states and union territory branches and more than 700 districts and sub-districts branches, is engaged in the activities like organising blood donation camps, AIDS awareness camps, providing hospital services etc. Students’ roleplay on “Medical Help during Accident” was well applauded. Dr Saroj Sharma, principal of the college, appreciated the performance. PLACEMENTS: Representatives from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global software giant, visited Shaheed Udham Singh College of Engineering and Technology (SUSCET) for placements. At least 33 students were shortlisted for the final interviews by 14 experts from the company out of which 18 students were selected. These students will be getting a package of Rs 3.15 lakh per annum. Dr D.S. Hira, principal of the college, expressed optimism at getting better placement services for students of SUSCET as compared to other colleges of the region. — TNS

UBS introduces MBA (biotech)

Chandigarh, May 7
University Business School, Panjab University, is introducing a two-year full time management course in MBA (Biotechnology). Disclosing this here today, professor S.C. Vaidya, chairman, UBS, said the following eligibility criteria is required for admission to the course: Any bachelor’s or master’s degree in biological sciences i.e., biology, botany, microbiology, BE/B.Tech (biotechnology) and B.E. (informatics) of a university recognised by AIU with at least 50 per cent marks. Candidates appearing for their final degree examinations are also eligible to apply and can take the test provisionally. Reservations are as per the approved norms of Panjab University. A concession of 5 per cent marks in the eligibility requirements is available for SC/ST candidates.

Admission will be through an entrance test to be conducted on June 7, 2007, at Panjab University. Candidates short-listed will then have to appear for the group discussion and interview. Details of the selection process are mentioned in the prospectus and also available on the Panjab University website - www.puchd.ac.in.

The prospectus, which includes the application form, will be on sale up to 4pm on May 10, 2007, on payment of Rs 1,100 in cash (Rs 550 in case of SC/ST) from the SBI counter, Sector-14, Chandigarh. Completed application forms (both by hand or post) should reach CET Cell, Aruna Ranjit Chandra Hall (near the Post Office), Panjab University, Chandigarh, latest by 4 pm on May 10. — TNS

Tutors made lecturers
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
A 15-member committee, including four syndicate members and both president and secretary of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), today held a meeting under the chairmanship of Prof S.K. Kulkarni, dean, university instructions, Panjab University, Chandigarh, to consider the request of tutor-cum-curators working in the department of correspondence studies.

All tutor-cum-curators were employed long back. Though they were serving on both accounts, they were deprived of promotions. The syndicate and senate had already approved that according to the UGC norms, they were eligible to be on par with lecturers but they were never given their due despite a number of committees tried the same over the past two and a half-decades.

Today, the 15-member committee unanimously decided to give them designation of a lecturer (curator) with effect from 1986. With this decision, justice has been done to all eight such tutor-cum-curators and it is certainly going to benefit them in their pension. However, this designation does not entail any monetary benefits from the back date.

Amrik Singh Ahluwalia and Manjit Singh, president and secretary, PUTA, have thanked all members of the committee for giving their due share to these curators by giving them new designation.

COURTS

HC questions extension to CAT member
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the centre to explain as to how it could give a third term to Jasbir Singh Dhaliwal, judicial member of the Chandigarh bench of CAT, when no other judicial member had, according to the petitioner, ever been granted a third term anywhere in India.

The query was posed by a division bench, comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover, during a resumed hearing of a PIL filed by H.C. Arora wherein the petitioner had sought the review of provisions contained in Section 8 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which restrict the tenure of judicial members to a term of five years.

After the term was over, the judicial members were entitled for another term of five years, the petitioner said, submitting that the two terms did not ensure certainty and security to the holders of the post so they should be allowed in the job till they attained superannuation.

CULTURE

Haryanvi folk theatre fest ends
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, May 7
On persistent public demand, the second ongoing six-day Haryanvi folk theatre was extended for a day to stage "Ban Devi", a popular swang based on a Haryanvi folk legend. The swang, presented by Dharamvir Sangi and sculpted by noted folklorist Dhanpat Singh, was a well-knit bonanza comprising the elements of folk, mythology and modern satirical wit. The presentation, interspersed with crisp dialogues, scintillating folk dances and songs besides forceful narrations by Dharmvir, kept the audience spellbound.

The gripping story involves a tussle between an ugly looking king Hari Mardan resolving to marry a beautiful princess Rukman despite her refusal. Dharamvir Singh, Satpal Singh, Madan and Sahib Singh played key roles.

Talking to Chandigarh Tribune, project director Bhal Singh Ballara, himself a celebrated hero of Haryanvi films, disclosed that the next festival would be held in December next.

The event was organised by the department of public relations, Haryana, in collaboration with the NCZCC, Allahabad.