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| EDUCATION TRIBUNE | Tuesday, February 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India |
Punjab 2nd in enrolment of women students By V. P. Prabhakar THE enrolment of women students in higher education was the highest in Kerala (53.6 per cent) in 1998-99, followed by Punjab (51.5 per cent) and Goa (51.4 per cent). At the beginning of 1998-99, the total enrolment in universities and colleges was 70.78 lakh. The enrolment in university departments was 11.69 lakh and in affiliated colleges 50.09 lakh. Campuses breed political morons By I.M. Soni IN a sensational case regarding student violence, 25-year-old Anil Bhadana, President of Delhi University’s Satyawati College (Evening) Students’ Union, was recently shot dead by a rival political group. Sometime later, the same assailants came to the residence of the college’s cultural secretary and shot dead his father. Two precious lives lost at the altar of “unions”. Learning levels on the decline By Kulwinder Sandhu A NATION-WIDE survey by the NCERT, reveals a decline in learning levels in primary schools. Though much has been said about primary education, little is being done to improve the quality of teaching in these schools. |
Punjab 2nd in enrolment of
women students THE enrolment of women students in higher education was the highest in Kerala (53.6 per cent) in 1998-99, followed by Punjab (51.5 per cent) and Goa (51.4 per cent). At the beginning of 1998-99, the total enrolment in universities and colleges was 70.78 lakh. The enrolment in university departments was 11.69 lakh and in affiliated colleges 50.09 lakh. Eighty per cent of the total enrolment was concentrated in the faculties of Arts, science and commerce while the remaining was absorbed by professional faculties like law, engineering/technology, medicine, education, agriculture and veterinary science etc. The next came Manipur (43.4 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (40.6 per cent), Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (40.1 per cent each). Other states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal also had women enrolment higher than the national average of 34.6 per cent at the all-India level. Among the union territories, Chandigarh was at the top in enrolment of women students with 53.5 per cent. It was followed by Delhi and Pondicherry with 45.3 per cent each. The enrolment of women students at the beginning of 1998-99 was 24.46 lakhs. At the post-graduate level, it was 34 per cent of the total enrolment. At the dawn of independence there were only 20 universities and 591 colleges, while up to November 1998, the number of universities has increased to 182 and the number of institutions deemed to be universities was 40, besides four institutions established under the State legislative Act. The number of colleges for general education in 1997-98 was 7199 and professional colleges 2075. The enrolment of women students in 1997-98 was 22.81 lakh out of the total enrolment of 62.36 lakh. Among the union territories, Chandigarh had the distinction of topping the list of women students with 54.6 per cent, followed by Pondicherry 49.9 per cent, Delhi 49.2 per cent and Daman and Diu 45.5 per cent. Among the States in 1997-98 Kerala 55 was at top with 59.4 per cent followed by Goa with 58.7 per cent and Punjab with 52.6 per cent. Then came Manipur (47.5 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (37.5 per cent), Gujarat (45.6 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (39.9 per cent), Haryana (40.8 per cent), Maharashtra (37.8 per cent) and West Bengal (41.3 per cent). Assistance is provided by the University Grants Commission, to universities and colleges for setting up centres and calls for women’s studies. The centres/cells are required to undertake research, develop curricula, and organise training and extension work in the areas of gender equity, economic self-reliance of women, girl education, population issues, issues of human rights and social exploitation. These centres/cells are not expected to be like other conventional departments of the universities as these are not required to run courses that lead to under-graduate or a post-graduate degree. The University and Higher Education Bureau in the Department of Education, Government of India, has a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe call to review and oversee implementation of the reservation policy during admission, appointments and allotments of hostel/ accommodation in Central universities and affiliated colleges. The cell coordinates with the UGC and the Central universities and also acts as a liaison for furnishing information to the commission for SCs and STs and to Parliament. During 1998-99, a number of representations received from teaching non-teaching staff and students of various colleges were examined by the cell and the matter was taken up with the authorities concerned. This Cell also monitors the implementation of the reservation policy through a monitoring committee constituted by the UGC. The UGC provided grants for setting up computer centres in 125 universities up to November 1998. Also assistance was provided for upgradation of computer facilities in the computer centres of various universities universities. In addition, the Commission provided assistance to 3,137 colleges up to November 1998 for installing computer facilities. Universities were also assisted by the UGC for introducing computer application paper at the post-graduate level in all subjects wherever there was need for it. As many as 13 universities were assisted under the scheme up to November 1998. A new scheme ‘Technology for Women’ in women universities was introduced in 1998-99 for providing financial assistance for introduction of under-graduate courses in engineering and technology. Under the scheme,
assistance would be provided for recurring and
non-recurring items for a period of five years from the
date of implementation of the course. To begin with, five
women universities have been identified under the scheme
during the ninth plan. |
Campuses breed political morons IN a sensational case regarding student violence, 25-year-old Anil Bhadana, President of Delhi University’s Satyawati College (Evening) Students’ Union, was recently shot dead by a rival political group. Sometime later, the same assailants came to the residence of the college’s cultural secretary and shot dead his father. Two precious lives lost at the altar of “unions”. One major problem faced by our university and college campuses is the growth of student unions. Every political party has a cell in the campus. Educational institutions have been politically polluted. Issues are seen through tinted glasses. Politicians interfere. Principals and Vice-Chancellors are remote-controlled by them. Should students unions, the cause of indiscipline at the campus, be banned? Directly elected student unions are the main cause of unrest and indiscipline at college and university campuses. It is through these unions that undesirable elements often succeed in capturing student bodies which brew trouble. Who are the undesirable elements? These are the ones with political affiliations. They continue to be on the campus year after year of look after the interests of political parties to which they belong. They hop from course to course and become permanent fixtures on the campus. There are instances of stalwarts having spend up to a decade or more on the campus. Some remain “guests” in hostels, others get away with fat arrears. Political interference in college and university campuses is an established fact. It is there for everybody to see. Political parties have student or youth wings. Parties put up their own candidates and finance elections. Fights, squabbles, kidnappings, shootings and slogans on the campus will convince anyone that political hands guide campus elections and many other non-academic activities. The student committed to a particular political ideology may think that he is helping the party to usher in political utopia. The fact, however, is that the seasoned politician uses the naive student as a ladder to his own career and interests. Once the student is hooked, free funds, publicity in newspapers, and the opportunity to rub shoulders with MLAs and MPs make him an easy “addict”. He is too ignorant to understand that the utopia he is striving to achieve through demonstrations and agitations helps his political mentors alone. He falls a prey to political venturism because he believes that the institution is in bad shape and needs to be bettered. He has contributed nothing to the shaping of the institution and he wants to contribute to both. It does not occur to him that he can contribute only slogans. It is becoming increasingly clear that the unions strive more to cater to the demands of politicians than to redress the grievances of the student community. Student leaders learn the dubious craft of intrigue and blackmail. As a university teacher, I can give countless instances when politically motivated students “raided” classrooms to “free” academic captives so that they could join a rally to be addressed by a leader. But I cannot recall a single incident when a call was given for students to come to playgrounds on the annual sports day to cheer the participants. Our universities, ”citadels of rationality”, are turning out political morons. We cannot banish politicians. But student unions certainly can be dispensed with. Unions should be
replaced by indirectly elected central associations.
Undesirable elements should be screened and kept out |
Learning levels on the decline A NATION-WIDE survey by the NCERT, reveals a decline in learning levels in primary schools. Though much has been said about primary education, little is being done to improve the quality of teaching in these schools. Of late, there is a shift from vernacular medium schools to English medium schools. Parents are interested in providing quality English education to their children. This is evident from the number of English medium schools that have sprung up in towns and villages. There is no denying the fact that English has been with us for a long time and has become one of the Indian languages. English is an international language, but it is not the spoken language in villages, towns and cities. Is it then right on our part to give our children, who are unfamiliar with English, elementary education in English? The medium of primary education is a much-debated one; our educationists emphatically say it should be in the mothertongue alone. Yet nothing has been done. We have imposed on our children a medium of instruction which is not only unfamiliar to them but may be harmful to their creativity. Primary education should have mothertongue as the medium of instruction and the government should enact a law to ban English in primary schooling. According to the Kothari Commission, pre-primary education should be from 3+ to 6+ years and primary education from 6+ to 13+ years. Even in developed countries like the USA, France, Germany, England and the USSR, primary education starts at 6+ years whereas in India, a child starts formal schooling at 2+ and reaches class 1 at 5+ years, a year ahead of children in advanced countries. We are not clear about the type of primary education we want. What should be the type of our primary education — child-centered, content-oriented or result-oriented? In the name of innovation, children are unnecessarily pressurised with a host of subjects disregarding the ability or the capacity to understand. The syllabus is rigid and the teaching methods are examination-oriented. There is no room for fulfilment of the basic requirements of children. The entire system is so dissatisfying emotionally and mentally that they develop a distrust towards it. The children should be provided with an easy comprehensive and entertaining curriculum which can be the basis for further learning. The school bag is too heavy. Children are made to carry about 5 kg of textbooks and note-books every day from home to school and back. Though the Yashpal Committee suggested that schools get rid of the school bag, helping children come to school without tears, not much has been done so far. A majority of schools give undue importance to reading, writing and numbers at the expense of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The artistic and creative potential of children is neither fathomed nor understood. Dramatics, histrionics, music, sports, games, and value education should be included in the primary curriculum. Classrooms should have all essential facilities to provide a normal, conducive environment for learning. Their daily routine must be short. All learnings is to be at school and they must be given little to do at home. Schools should arrange specific periods for writing work. There should not be any academic or project work to be done at home. All schools, public or private, must have qualified and experienced teachers and be provided with periodic orientation courses. There should not be any pay discrimination between government and government recognised school teachers. Teachers should be made accountable and a periodic review of their performance should be done every year. Tests and examinations
should be made meaningful. By introducing a continuous
and concerted evaluation system, we can do away with the
outdated, laborious and meaningless terminal examination
system. |
CAREER
HOTLINE I am an engineering student keen on joining the Indian Air Force. Could you tell me about the ground duties for engineers in the IAF. — Kamlesh Gulhati, Rajpura The Engineering Branch of the Indian Air Force provides the essential expertise needed to maintain the sophisticated aircraft and equipment. As an engineering officer in the air force, you will deal not only with the aircraft but also with its weapons and communications equipment as well as with the electronics networks of radar and communications. There are two modes of entry to the Technical Branch of the Air Force: * University entry Scheme, and * Direct Entry Scheme (open to engineering graduates, both men and women, in the age group of 18-28 years). Under the University Entry Scheme, the India Air Force recruits final and pre-final year engineering students for Permanent and Short Service Commission in Technical (Aeronautical Engineering) Branch. Eligibility * Unmarried males. Age: 18-28 years. * For Aeronautical Engineers (Electronics Branch): You should be studying for one of the following qualifications with 55% aggregate in all semesters/years of degree examination: * BE/ BTech in Electronics/ Telecommunication/ Electrical/ Electrical Communication/ Electronics & Communication/ Instrumentation/Computer Science & Engineering or a combination of these subjects, or * BTech in Radio Physics & Electronics of Calcutta University, Or * MSc (Physics with electronics) of University of Mumbai, or * MSc (Electronics) of Delhi University. * For Aeronautical Engineers (Mechanical Branch): You should be studying for one of the following qualifications with 55% aggregate in all semesters/years of degree examination: * BE/BTech in Mechanical Aeronautical Engineering, Or * BE/BTech in Production/ Industrial Production. Selection is through an initial screening test called Engineering Knowledge Test followed by SSB tests and Interview. Selected candidates undergo 74-weeks training (for Permanent Commission) and 44-weeks training (for Short Service Commission) at Air Force Technical College at Bangalore. On successful completion of training, candidates are granted Permanent and Short Service Commission and inducted into the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force. Candidates must apply in response to the advertisements published in leading national dailies from time to time. I wish to pursue a course in aircraft maintenance engineering. Could you suggest a few recognised courses? — Ravinder Chhabra, Patiala The aviation industry has two main branches: The Flying Branch and the Maintenance Branch. While pilots fly the aircraft, aircraft maintenance engineers are concerned with the maintenance of the aircraft. An aircraft maintenance engineer has to obtain a licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Govt of India. A course in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering is not a degree but a licence course and only those institutes approved by the DGCA can impart training in this subject. Training is imparted for servicing and maintenance of aircraft to ensure 100 per cent flight safety. After completing the course and passing the internal exam, candidates have to clear the licencing exam conducted by the DGCA. The course typically covers 18 topics: Flight aerodynamics, workshop technology, metallurgy/electricity, electronics/jet engineering, etc, as applied to aircraft maintenance. Training in the maintenance of sophisticated appliances such as radio equipment, compass systems, gyroscopic instruments, aviation direction finder, radial and line engineer is also incorporated in the course. The practical course package includes training in fitting, welding, machine and airframe maintenance, aircraft engine and electrical maintenance. Remuneration in this field is very attractive. In Indian Airlines, Air India, Pawan Hans and other private airlines, engineers get a starting gross salary between Rs 20,000-40,000/- p.m. which goes up to Rs 1.20lakh p.m. whereas one’s total training cost is only around Rs 1.25 lakh. Some of the approved institutes offering courses in aircraft maintenance engineering are: * School of Aviation Science & Technology, Delhi Flying Club Ltd., Safdarjung Airport, New Delhi 110003. Eligibility: 10+2 (PCM and English) with 60% aggregate or BSc (PCM) with 55% aggregate. Age limit: 20 years (for 10+2) and 22 yrs for(BSc). Selection Procedure: Entrance test and interview. This institute offers two types of training programmes in aeronautical maintenance engineering, namely the mechanics stream and the other in avionics. * Rajiv Gandhi Memorial College of Aeronautics, Jaipur, * Indian Institute of Aeronautical Science, Jamshedpur. * Hindustan Institute of Engineering Technology, Chennai. * Indian Institute of Aeronautics, Patna. * Hindustan Institute of Aeronautics, Bhopal. I hold an MBBS degree and wish to join the Army. Could you tell me about the selection procedure? — Raminder Kaur, Ludhiana The Indian Army offers Short Service Commission (SSC) as Medical Officers in the Army Medical Corps for civilian doctors who have passed the MBBS examination. The age limit for grant of SSC is 45 years. The candidate must be enrolled/empanelled with State Medical Registrar. Selection is through interview and selected candidates join in the rank of Captain. Candidates should apply in response to the advertisements published in leading national dailies from time to time. caring@theoffice.net |
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Art & Design Mar 15 National Institute of Design (NID), Paldi, Ahmedabad-380007. Faculty Development Programme (Design) Areas: Product, Furniture, Ceramic, Textile, Apparel, Exhibition, Film & Video Commn & Animation (Multimedia). Details & Appln Form: Send Rs. 100/- by DD favouring “National Institute of Design, Paldi, Ahmedabad” along with a self addressed stamped (Rs. 9/-) envelope (12x25 cms). Corresp Course Mar 01 Karnataka State Open University, Manasagangotri, Mysore-570006. Phone: 0821-500871/2/4 Extn: 246 Certificate Course: 1) Teaching of English Diploma Programmes: 9) Management Graduate Programmes: 13) Rural Mgmt Postgraduate Programmes: 15) Dip in Higher
Education Elig: For (1): Bachelor’s
degree/10+2 with 2 yrs teaching exp. Appln Form: Send Rs. 150/- by crossed DD favouring “Karnataka State Open University Account, Manasagangotri, Mysore-570006” drawn on any nationalised bank mentioning the course and your postal address to the Deputy Registrar (Academic) at the above address. Also in cash at counter. Feb 25 Andhra Univ, Sch of Distance Educn, Visakhapatnam-530003 BA, B. Com. Elig: Intermediate/PUC or Equiv or Pass in Entrance Exam conducted by this school. Appln Form: Send Rs. 40/- by DD/MO favouring “Director, School of Distance Education, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam-530003,” to the Director at above address. Write your name, address and course on the reverse of the DD/MO coupon. Engineering Feb 28 Union Public Service Commission, Post Bag No. 2, Dholpur House, New Delhi-110001. Engineering Services Examination, 2000. Civil Exam: June 28 Appl Forms: Available at Head Post Office & Designated Post Offices all over India on payment of Rs. 20/-. Elig, Detailed Info & Subjs for exam: Employment News 29 Jan — 4 Feb. Mar 16 Faculty of Technology, (University of Delhi), Mechanical Engineering Block, Old Delhi College of Engineering, Kashmere Gate, Delhi-110006. Combined Entrance Exam (CEE) for Admission to BE Courses in: Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) & Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT). DCE: Electron & Commn, Elecl, Mech, Civil, Prodn & Indl, Comp, Poly Sc & Chem Tech, Environ Engg. NSIT: Electron & Commn, Comp, Instru & Control, Mfg Process & Automation Engg. Entrance Exam: 21 May. (Delhi only). Elig: 10+2 from CBSE or equivalent with 60% agg in PCM (50% for SC/ST). Those appearing in qualifying exams may also apply. Min Age: 17 yrs on or before 1 Oct. 2000. Appln Form & Exam Fee: Send Rs. 250/- by DD/Banker’s Cheque favouring “The Registrar, Delhi University, Delhi” drawn on SBI Service Br. (Code 7687), to the Assistant Registrar at above address. Also available at the following counters with DD/banker’s cheque (write your name and add on reverse of DD): DCE, Kashmeri Gate, Delhi-6 DCE, Shahabad Daulatpur, Bawana Rd, Badli, Delhi-42 and NSIT, Sector 3, Dwaraka, Pappankalan, New Delhi-45. Fire Engineering Feb 25 National Institute of Fire Engineering, S-331, Greater Kailash II, New Delhi-110048. Ph: 6425238 1. Diploma in Fire Engineering (1 yrs.) 2. Certificate Course in Fire Engineering ( 6-mths) Elig: For 1): Class XII, For 2): Class X. Appln Form: Send Rs. 125/- by DD favouring “NIFE” payable at Delhi to the above address or Rs. 100/- in cash at counter. Sciences Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012. Homepage: http://www.iisc.ernet. in Research Programmes a) Regular: 1. Science Faculty — Ph.D 2. Engg Faculty — Ph.D & M.Sc. (Engg) 3. Engg Faculty — (Ph.D) Integrated Ph.D: Math, Biological Sc, Chemical Sc, Physical Sc. External Registration programme (ERP) Science Faculty: Ph.D Programme Engg Faculty: Ph.D & M.Sc Masters Degree Programmes: 1. ME (1½ yrs): Internet Sc & Engg, Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Comp Sc. & Engg, Electrical, High Voltage, Mfg Engg, Mechanical, Metallurgy, Microelectronics, Signal Processing, Systems Sc & Automation, Telecomm. 2. MTech: (1½ yrs): Electronics Design & Tech, Instrumentation, Satellite Tech & Applns, Computational Sc. MDes (2 yrs): Product Design & Engineering. MBA (2 yrs): Management Studies. IISc Entrance Test: May 14. Appl. Submission Deadlines: 1) Int. Ph.D Research (those wanting to take IISc Entrance Test), Sponsored ME/MTech/MDes: Mar 15 2) For regular ME/ MTech/ MDes/ MBA: Apr 07 3) For Research (with GATE/ UGC-CSIR NET/NBHM): Apr 28. Appln Form: Send Rs. 400/- by DD favouring “Registrar, Indian Institute of Science, B’lore along with two self-addressed stickers, mentioning details of qualifn & Prog to which admission is sought, to the Asstt. Registrar, Admissions Unit, at the above address before 10 Mar ‘99. Also available from Canara Bank branches: DS market, Amritsar; Sector 177C, Chandi; Karolbagh, RK Puram, F-19, Connaught Circus, Delhi. Mar 24 National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Post Box 1234, Bangalore-560012. Integrated Ph.D — 2000 Elig: B.Sc. in Phy, Chem, Maths or any branch of Biol with a good aggregate. Appln Form: Send Rs. 250/- by crossed DD favouring “National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore” along with a self-addressed, stamped (Rs. 6/-) envelope (10x12 cm), to the Administrative Officer at the above address. The fee may be waived for economically backward students if supported by a letter from the H/o Dept or Principal. Statistics Mar 31 Indian Statistical Institute, 203, B.T. Road, Calcutta-700035. 1. BStat (Hons) (3 yrs)
Stpn: Rs. 500 p.m. State/Maths, Economics, Psychology, Demography, Comp & Commn Sc, Discrete Maths & Theoretical Comp Sc, Theoretical Comp Sc., Phy & Applied Maths, Geology, Biochem, Anthropol, Lib & Info Sc 8. Spl Development
Programme in SQC & OR (2 yrs) Stpn: Rs. 5600 p.m. Elig: Employment News Jan 29-Feb 4. Appln Form: Send Rs. 250/- by DD favouring “Indian Statistical Institute” payable at Calcutta (Proper) to above address from Head, ISI, 7, SJS Sansanwal Marg, New Delhi-16, before Mar 10. Unless otherwise specified, the dates mentioned above are deadlines for receipt of completed application forms. CARING (Career
Information & Guidance), New Delhi |
