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More marks, more stress
Drawing lessons from life
Studying abroad: IAIS test in Aug Campus Notes
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More marks, more stress One of the greatest problems of our time is that many are schooled but few are educated. — Thomas Moore Perhaps this is truer for India than anywhere else. As we rejoice over our toppers whose scorecards leave us in a tizzy, we forget that amidst the incredulous (if not insanely high) percentages, perhaps the real learning has been forsaken. As students are sucked in the mad scramble for more and more marks, they are unduly pressurised, creating a near-fatal stress level that ultimately extracts a heavy price. So can somebody apply the brakes, please? Well, at least the CBSE has been doing some hard thinking on this and its much-touted nine-point grading scale (closer to becoming a reality) yet another student-friendly approach to learning intends to do just that. Will the proposed move ease the stress on students? Santosh Bhandari, Principal, DAV School, Sector 8, Panchkula, not only thinks that grading system will take off the burden from students lives but also decelerate the rat race of unwanted competition. However, Sushma Gupta, an educationist, doubts its efficacy and wonders aloud: “There is no discounting the fact that grading system can reduce pressure considerably, but since in the entrance exams students will still have to face the old system based on numerical marking, I fail to see its feasibility.” While she demands an overall reform in the examination system, others feel the grading system works against brilliance and hard work. Says Alpana Nehraw who teaches at Sat Pal Mittal School, Ludhiana: “It is not fair to club students in one category for it is akin to rewarding mediocrity and penalising hard working and bright students.” But Santosh is aghast: “The debate is pointless. No one is taking away any credit from bright students. A plus would still mean brilliant. Only there will be more students in the same bracket and rightly so, since there isn’t a yawning difference anyway between a student scoring 90 per cent and one scoring 95 per cent.” Rather she feels the present system where one mark here or there becomes the deciding factor is far more loaded. How leading is the assumption that toppers are actually the brightest? Ranjana Dhanda, kindergarten in charge, KVM, Ludhiana, says: “Toppers are indeed bright.” Santosh pipes in, “But that is not to say that those who don’t are not.” And the grading system could indeed provide a levelling field, even though the obstacle by way of entrance exam will remain. As Alpana puts it: “This is only postponing the inevitable which will anyway manifest after Class XII when students seek admission to professional colleges”. Narayani Mani, a teacher from Nagpur, states: “Students will still have to be sieved. If marks won’t clinch the issue, then each college will have its individual entrance test or some other alternative way of assessment which will further enhance pressure.” In short, with students hopelessly pitted against the limited number of seats available in institutes of higher learning, any talk of absolute competence is bound to be humbug. Sushma points out another lacuna in the grading system, as she opines: “It will not be acceptable to pushy parents who pester teachers even in Class I as to where their ward stands in relation to other students.” But then that is the whole idea to take away the cutting competitive edge of our exam-centric system of education in which learning invariably goes for a toss. Alpana quips: “Indeed, in the present performance and exam-oriented system where teachers are in a tearing hurry to finish the syllabus far earlier than the prescribed time, where is the time for real education?” It isn’t as if the education boards, especially the CBSE, haven’t paid attention to this anomaly. To focus on interpretation and synthesis of knowledge, the CBSE has already incorporated the concept of HOTS i.e. higher order thinking skills and nearly 20 per cent of the paper does revolve around it. Ranjana adds: “In fact, the purpose of education is learning. Understanding basic concepts are far more important than sheer mugging.” Will the grading system put things in the right perspective? That is the million-dollar question. However, there is no denying that the grading system already in place (under the CBSE system) up to Class V is not only a step in the right direction but also inescapable, even though the CBSE has been toying with it for quite some time. More recently it has made announcements about its implementation in Class X from the academic session 2009-2010. Other classes, right up to Class XII, too, will be covered. However, schools have yet to receive any official intimation on this. Not only is the CBSE in earnest about it, other boards like the UP school board, too, have taken a cue. Perhaps, in future, Indian educationists will be able to differ with what Mark Twain said: “That which we do not call education is more precious than that which we call so.” Education may turn into real learning. Let us hope, marks or no marks, students learn to revel in the joy of learning as well as self-learning, which according to Santosh is the key to competence and the stepping-stone towards becoming a real professional.
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MANY children of rickshaw-pullers, domestic helps, migrant labourers, and single or abandoned mothers in Amritsar have found an unusually young guardian who wants to transform their lives. At first sight, the 22-year-old Pearl Jasra looks a bubbly, vivacious and the girl next-door. However, there is much more to her. After losing her mother when she was just 12 and her father soon after, Jasra made up her mind to develop strength and grit in life and help others like her. Today, this orphan girl is motivating and shaping up careers of various deprived children. It is because of her initiative that these once neglected children in Amritsar today have something to smile about. “The people in urban society still look down upon the backward classes. Nobody cares about their needs and expectations from life. They also want to play with toys, go out and wear good clothes. The urban society has never lent a helping hand to them in their studies and education. Their attitude is changing,” said Pearl Jasra, who runs a special school for deprived children. She enjoys teaching children about numbers, reciting poems and celebrating their birthdays and other festivals with them. It is a gala time when about 92 children converge at her house in the evening to get their homework and share their feelings. With the little resources that she has and her uncle’s help, Pearl persuaded some affluent families of the city to financially support children’s education. Five years ago, she decided to organise the set up—Initiative for Viable Education. Children, belonging to underprivileged class, comprising house maids, rickshaw-pullers and daily wage labourers, have been coming to her in increasing numbers. Most of them are illiterate and come from a slum colony, located near her house. She carefully monitors their homework adding special emphasis on improving their communication skills. Her organisation, Initiative for Viable Education, has identified many families, comprising widows and other underprivileged, who would like to send their children to schools. “She is doing a good work by helping poor people. There is nobody to teach them and her job is totally humanitarian. She even teaches kids who are poor and deprived,” said Tarachand, a local resident. Her story finds a display in the K. S. Durlabhji calendar for 2009, published from Jaipur in Rajasthan. —ANI
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Studying abroad: IAIS test in Aug Assessment dates for IAIS (International Assessments for Indian Schools) have been announced for the year 2009. The assessments will be held from August 28 to August 29 at more than 5,000 schools all over India. Over two lakh students from Class III to Class XII participate in these assessments held annually. Students appearing for these assessments get an in-depth diagnosis of their strengths and weaknesses in core subjects like mathematics, science, English and computer skills. IAIS also provides students with an opportunity to benchmark themselves among other students of their class, school, state and country. They also get an indication of where they stand internationally. This is very useful for students who aspire to study abroad and appear in exams like SAT, Cambridge ESOL exams, TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE, etc. This programme is conducted in India by Macmillan Publishers India Ltd in association with Educational Assessment Australia, University of New South Wales, Australia. Students who wish to participate can contact their schools or visit the IAIS website http://iais.emacmillan.com.
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Campus Notes Teachers should understand their social responsibility for bringing equality in society by getting rid of castism, regionalism, etc. This was stated by legendary dramatist and eminent director Gursharan Singh while inaugurating a three-week refresher course in Punjabi at the Academic Staff College of the university. Addressing the participants, he said only teachers could play vital role in spreading awareness among the masses. He said it should be the duty of teachers to inculcate moral values and self-belief in the coming generations. He called upon the teaching fraternity to change whatever was erroneous and push the society backward. He said teachers had the capacity to change all negative elements prevailing in society. Speaking on the occasion, Dr H. S. Bhatia, director of the college, said the great theatre personalities always wrote and gave a message against social evils and degrading moral values in society. Among others who spoke on the occasion include Dr Kanwaljeet Kaur Jassal, coordinator of the course, Dr Dharam Singh, head, School of Punjabi Studies, and Dr Paramjit Singh Sidhu. The refresher course, which is being organised by the Academic Staff College in collaboration with the School of Punjabi Studies, will culminate on June 9. More than 35 teachers from various colleges and universities are participating in the course.
Campus placements
Nestle, a leading food company from Moga, has selected two students from the Department of Food Science and Technology during its campus placements. The students have been offered a salary package of Rs 1.20 lakh per annum. Dr Sukhdev Singh, professor and in charge, said the students would join their jobs in June this year after their final exams. He said more companies were expected to visit university for campus placements.
Admission schedule
The university has released the admission schedule for the Centre for Distance Education for the ensuing academic session 2009-10. According to Dr Raghbir Singh, registrar of the university, the normal date for admission will be August 31. With the approval of the coordinator of the college and with the late fee of Rs 50, the students can be admitted from September 1 to 8, he said, adding that the students could also be admitted with the approval of the Vice-Chancellor with a late fee of Rs 100 and Rs 500 from September 9 to 26 and from September 28 to October 26, respectively. —
Contributed by P. K. Jaiswar
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ADMISSION DEADLINE Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University
of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan 173230 (HP) MSc: Eligibility:
BSc in Forestry / Horticulture / Agriculture (60% or OCPA 6.0 /
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Indian males, 10+2 (PCM, 70%; Class 10 / 12: English, 50%) Selection: SSB Interview; Medical Exam Application Form: Send in prescribed format by ordinary post with all required documents to the above address. Superscribe "Application for 10+2 (Tech) – Jan 2010 course" on the envelope to the above address. Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website. Application Deadline: 29 June 2009 Art & Design Central Footwear
Training Institute, 65/1, GST Road, Guindy, Chennai 600032 (TN) (M/o
MSME, GoI Society) 1) PG Diploma in
Footwear Technology (1 year) Eligibility:
For 1: Bachelors degree Age Limit: For 1, 2, 3: 35
years Application Form: Download from website Details: Website Application Deadline: For
1, 2, 4: 15 July 2009 Engineering North Eastern Regional
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1: BE / BTech in corresponding fields with min 60% / CGPA of 3.25
on 5.00 point scale with valid GATE score. Selection: Written Test / Interview: 4 – 8 July ‘09 Application Form: Download from website. Details: Employment News (23 - 29 May 2009) / Website. Application Deadline: 19 June 2009 ABV - Indian Institute
of Information Technology & Management, Morena Link Road, Gwalior
474010 (MP) (D/o IT, GoI) Training for Professionals (Programme for Engineering Graduates): 01 August 2009 – 31 October 2009 Eligibility: BE / BTech / MCA / MBA / MSc (CSE / IT) Application Form: Download from website Selection: On academic merit / Test Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 15 July 2009 Indo-German Tool Room,
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(MP) (GoI Society) 1) Advanced Diploma
in Tool & Die Making (4 years) Eligibility:
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Technology Jamshedpur, PO RIT, Jamshedpur 831014 (Jhar) MTech / PhD Programmes Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 15 June 2009
Birla Institute of
Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani 333031 (Raj) BITSAT-2009 1) Integrated First
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central boards will get direct admission to the subject of their
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21, K G Marg, Connaught Place, New Delhi 1) PG Diploma in
Financial Planning Eligibility: Bachelors degree Selection: Entrance Test: IET-09; high CAT or MAT score Details: Website Management Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Centre for Distance Education, Post-Manas Mandir, Panchteela, Wardha 442001 (Mah) www.hindivishwa.org 1) BBA (Finance /
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1: 10+2 Application Form: Download from website. Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 10 June 2009 (with late fee) Pandit Deendayal
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For 1: 10 June 2009
ABV-Indian Institute of
Information Technology & Management, Morena Link Road, Gwalior
(MP) (An Autonomous Institute of Govt. of India) MBA Eligibility: BE / BTech / MCA (60% / 6.75 CGPA on a 10 point scale) Selection: CAT / JMET scores; Interview: 13 June ‘09 Application Form: Download from website. Details: Website Application Deadline: 06 June 2009
University of Petroleum
& Energy Studies, College of Management, Energy Acres, PO Bidholi,
Dehradun 248007 (Utt) 1) MBA (Aviation
Mgmt / Port & Shipping Mgmt / Infrastructure Mgmt / Information
Systems Mgmt / International Business Mgmt / Logistics & Supply
Chain Mgmt) Application Form & Details: Website. Application Deadline: 15 June 2009 Punjabi University,
School of Management Studies, Patiala 147002 (Punj) MBA
(Correspondence) 2 years Eligibility:
For Business Employees / Others: Bachelors degree / Masters degree
(50%) / CA / CWA / CS with 1 year work experience, 50% Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 15 June 2009 Indian Institute of Materials Management, SCO 19-B, 2nd Floor, Swastik Vihar, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula 134113 (Har) 1) Graduate Diploma in Materials Mgmt (2 years, Full Time / 3 years, Distance) 2) PG Diploma in Materials Mgmt (3 years, Distance) Eligibility: For
1: Diploma in Engg / any degree Selection: Entrance
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Textiles, GoI) 1) PG Diploma in
Management (Textile / Apparel) (2 years Full Time) Selection:
CAT / MAT / JCCAT /
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Mentally Retarded Children, Sector 32, Chandigarh Diploma in Vocational Rehabilitation (Mental Retardation) 1 year Eligibility: 10+2 Application Deadline: 10 June 2009 Scholarships Parliament of India,
Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliament House, New Delhi 110001 Dr. S Radhakrishnan
Chair and Rajya Sabha Fellowships on Parliamentary Studies Eligibility: Academics
/ experts with suitable qualifications Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 15 June 2009 D/o Women & Child Development, Porta Cabin II, 1 Canning Lane, KG Marg, New Delhi (M/o Women & Child Development) National Child Awards for exceptional achievements in 2009 Eligibility: Children
with exceptional abilities and outstanding caliber in different fields
such as Academics, Arts, Culture & Sports Details: Website. Application Deadline: 12 June 2009 M/o Social Justice &
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Science Education & Research, Mohali, MGSIPA Complex, Sector 26,
Chandigarh 160019 (Punj) (under M/o HRD, GoI) Integrated MSc at Bhopal, Kolkata, Mohali, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram (5 years) Eligibility: 10+2 (science) + qualifiers in: IIT JEE 2009 merit list / Kishore Vaigyanic Protsahan Yojna 2008 SA Batch (www.iisc.ernet.in/kvpy) Fellowships: On merit basis Application Form: Send application on plain paper with your and your school name, address, Ph. Number, e-mail address, parent’s name, Class X mark sheet, qualifying exam (IIT JEE 2008 / KVPY 2009-2010 / Olympiad 2008 with roll number and registration number to the Director at the above address. Superscribe the name of the qualifying exam on envelope Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 19 June 2009 Sciences Biology Rani Durgawati
University, D/o PG Studies & Research in Biological Sciences,
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(Biotechnology) Selection:
Written Test: For 1: 23 June ‘09 Application Form: Download from website Details: Employment News (23 - 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 19 June 2009
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limited, 5th Floor, Anuvrat Bhawan, 210, Deen Dayal
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for Population Sciences, PO Box No 8307, Govandi Station Road, Deonar,
Mumbai 400088 (Mah) (Deemed University) 1) Master of Population Studies (2-4 years) 2) Diploma in
Population Studies (1-3 years) Eligibility: For
1: Masters degree in (Any social science subject / Mathematics /
Statistics / Health or Medicine Sciences) Application Form: Download from website Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 31 July 2009 Sciences Physical University of Delhi, D/o
Physics & Astrophysics and D/o Chemistry, Delhi MTech in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (3 years) Eligibility: BSc General or Honors in (Physical Sciences / Chemical Sciences / Biological Sciences) with at least 1 year course in Maths, JAM 2009 qualified Selection: Interview Scholarship: Rs 3,000/- pm Application Form & Details: Website Application Deadline: 30 June 2009 Sports
Teaching & Education National Council of
Educational Research & Training (NCERT), Regional Institute of
Education, Bhubaneswar 751022 (Ori) 1) BSc BEd (PCM
& CBZ) (4 years) Eligibility:
For 1: 10+2 (PCM/ PCB, 50%) Application Deadline: 30 June 2009 Travel & Transportation Institute of Rail
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Rail Transport & Management (1
year) Eligibility: Bachelors degree / Diploma Application Form: Send Rs 50/- (per course) by DD favouring "Institute of Rail Transport", payable at New Delhi with stamped (Rs 15/-), self-addressed envelope (11" x 5") to the above address. Write your name and address on reverse of DD. Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 30 June 2009 Indira Gandhi Rashtriya
Uran Akademi, Fursatganj Airfield, Raebareli 229302 (UP) (M/o Civil
Aviation, GoI) Ab-initio to CPL Course (2 years) Eligibility:
10+2 with English and (Physics & Maths; 55%). Selection Written Test: 02 August ’09; Pilot Aptitude Test: 19 August ’09 onwards; Interview: 08 September ‘09 Application Form: Apply online Details: Employment News (23 - 29 May 2009) / website Application Deadline: 20 June 2009 University Mahatma Gandhi
Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Centre for Distance Education,
PO Box No 16, Panchteela, Wardha 442001 (Mah) 1) Creative Writing
in Hindi Eligibility: For 1:
10+2 Application Form: Download from website. Details: Employment News (23 – 29 May 2009) / Website Application Deadline: 30 July 2009
Maulana Azad National
Urdu University, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500032 (AP) MEd Selection: Entrance Test Application Form: Download
from website. Application Deadline: 25 June 2009 Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla 171005 (HP) 1) MA (Hindi /
Translation / Sanskrit / Performing Arts / Economics /
Business-Economics / Sociology / Public Administration / Geography /
Political Science / Psychology / History / Painting / Yoga). Application Form: Send Rs.160/- by DD favouring "Finance Officer, HP University, Shimla-171005" to the Dean of Studies at above address by 15 June 2009. Application Deadline: 22 June 2009
Kurukshetra University,
Kurukshetra 136119 (Har) 1) Master of Tourism
Mgmt (2 years) Eligibility: For
1, 2, 3 & 4: Bachelors degree (50%) Selection: Entrance
Test: For 1 & 2: 05
July 2009 Application Deadline:
For 1 & 2: 22 June 2009 Pervin Malhotra, Director, Career Guidance India (CARING) (www.careerguidanceindia.com)
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