EDUCATION

Students taking to vocational courses
See limited career options in humanities
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 26
Realising the “futility” of doing “plain-simple graduation”, a large number of city students interested in humanities, after passing their class X examinations, are rushing to take admission in government schools offering vocational courses like Fashion Designing and Information Technology.

The reason behind their eagerness to join vocational courses is not very difficult to comprehend. “After doing simple graduation, your career options are limited,” says the Principal of a government model school on the condition of anonymity. “If you do not make it to the Civil Services, get into the Army, join the teaching profession, become a medical representative or an air hostess, feature on the television as a video jockey, or enter the hotel industry, you are nearly doomed”.

He said, “I know a lot of students who take up humanities after passing class X examinations to sit in competitive exams. They ignore their studies while preparing for business and hotel management, besides other competitions, but go into depression after realising that they have failed to make it. In such a situation, they find themselves utterly helpless. In an attempt to avoid this, the students are now-a-days going in for vocational courses”.

Agreeing with him, another Principal says, “Aware of the fact that doing simple graduation in humanities, in a large number of cases, is a bad gamble, students are also doing professional and vocational courses, along with their studies. Little wonder, girls studying in class XI are doing diploma courses in fashion designing, besides health care and beauty culture. Boys are going in for Information Technology courses, besides dabbling in electronics and refrigeration technology”.

Catering to their needs, schools are offering 21 courses, including X-ray technician course, besides auxiliary nursing and midwifery course. The other courses include those in Medical Laboratory Technology and Ophthalmic Techniques, Information Technology, Marketing and Salesmanship, Structure and Fabrication Technology, Food Service Management, Bakery and Confectionary, besides Hotel Management.

Keeping in view the popularity of these courses, the UT Education Department has even increased the seats from 25 to 30 in some of the courses. These courses include, stenography courses in English and Hindi, life insurance course, fashion designing and clothing construction, electrical technology, electronics, automobile technology, refrigeration technology and air conditioning, textile designing dyeing and printing, along with health care and beauty culture course.

A senior officer in the Education Department reveals that a substantial number of students are opting for Information Technology course “because of good career prospects”. “In fact, we are expecting a stiff competition among students for admission to this course,” the officer adds.

For assisting the students, in some school authorities, through their guidance cells, are also providing educational and vocational guidance to the learners regarding the choice of subjects and career growth.

Sources add that after successfully completing plus two under the vocational stream, students can join one-year apprenticeship. “During this period, a stipend of Rs 900 per month is paid to the students,” reveal sources.

AICTE directive on NRI seats
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
A directive issued by the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) regarding seats reserved for non-resident Indian (NRI) students in private engineering colleges has come as a blow to institutions in Haryana.

Sources said since not many NRIs were found interested in availing themselves of the five per cent quota of seats reserved for NRIs in the private engineering colleges in Haryana, the management of such institutions used to accept any student who could pay the course fee and other charges in dollars. In other words, wealthy Indian students were taking benefit of the scheme meant for NRI students.

However, the AICTE had recently issued a directive, asking the private engineering colleges not to take liberty with the five per cent seats reserved for NRIs and allot such seats to only genuine NRIs.

This directive would be able to put an end to the practice of private engineering colleges to offer these seats to rich Indian students, stated an official here.

MA English entrance test postponed
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
Panjab University has postponed the entrance examination for admission to MA I (English) scheduled for July 2, said an official press note here today.

Prof Shelly Walia, Chairman, stated in the note that the fresh date would be announced later. The admission schedule has gone off the track because of complaints of ‘unfair marking’ by students following dismal results of the class. Students have demanded a re-checking in the papers. The matter had gained importance because of a department teacher speaking in favour of the students’ grievance.

The department, however, has denied ‘casual attitude’ in evaluation giving a list of 29 evaluators against a very small number being pointed out in the complaint.

PU results
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
Panjab University will declare results of certain semesters of engineering courses tomorrow.

The papers whose results will be declared include BE Chemical (first semester) and BE( E and Ec) third, fifth and seventh semesters.

Copies of the result gazette will be available at the enquiry counter on all working days.

COURTS

HC lawyers call on Jaitley
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
Continuing with their battle against alleged corruption in the judicial system, an eight-member delegation of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association met the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Mr Arun Jaitley, in New Delhi today.

According to information reaching here, the delegation, headed by its president, Mr Hawa Singh Hooda, reportedly submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister and asked him to withdraw work from Punjab and Haryana High Court Judges allegedly named in the Punjab Public Service Commission recruitment scam.

The delegation also suggested that impeachment proceedings should also be initiated against those found guilty in the scam. Implementation of the transfer policy was also sought. Seeking the transfer of local Judges, a member reportedly told the minister that the same would go a long way in reducing corruption in judiciary.

Regarding the appointment of high court Judges, they emphasised upon the need for improving the system so that meritorious candidates could make it to the Bench.

The minister, after meeting the delegation at about 4.30 pm, reportedly assured them that the matter would be thoroughly looked into. He also asked the members not to take any action which would tarnish the image of the judicial system, as per sources.

The delegation, according to the sources, comprised president Hawa Singh Hooda, vice-president Sukhjinder Singh Behl, secretary Sanjeev Manrai, advocate Bhim Sen Sehgal, Ms Daya Chaudhary and three others. 

DISTRICT COURTS
PUSU president granted bail
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, June 26
The president of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), Malwinder Singh Kang, who has been arrested by the UT police in connection with an attempt to murder case, was granted bail on furnishing bail bond of Rs 15, 000 by the UT Additional and Sessions Judge, Ms Sneh Prasher, today.

The police registered a case against him on March 8 following the clash that took place between supporters of two main organisation — the SOPU and PUSU — under Sections 147, 148, 159, 324 and 307 of the IPC. Two other students’ leaders alleged to be involved in the case, Santokhwinder Singh Nabha, a former president of the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC), and Harveer Singh had already been granted bail.

GMCH employee remanded

An employee of the Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Rajesh Kumar Sharma, who was arrested by the UT Vigilance Department on April 24 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, was remanded in judicial custody by a local court on Wednesday. The accused was produced before the UT Judicial Magistrate (First Class), Mr S.S. Bhardwaj, who remanded him in judicial custody till July 10.

Rajesh Kumar was arrested for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income and for submitting a false affidavit giving false information to get allotment of government accommodation in the city. PO remanded

An accused, Ramji Lal, who surrendered before a local court on June 22 in a case of sedition registered against him in 1992, was remanded in judicial custody by a local court on Wednesday. Ramji Lal, an activist of a Hindu organisation, had been declared a proclaimed offender in connection with the case registered against him for having promoted communal violence after participating in the Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992.

Fake ration card scandal

An accused, Vishwas Nayak, who has been arrested by the police in a case of fake ration card scandal, was granted bail by a local court on Wednesday. The police had recovered a number of fake ration card and forge stamps from the accused.

Bail plea dismissed

An anticipatory bail plea moved by Ashwani Kumar, vice-president of the anti-corruption cell of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee, was dismissed by a local court in a case of cheating registered against him in the Sector 39 Police Station. The UT police had registered a case against the accused under Sections 419, 420 and 120-B of the IPC on June 7, 2001.

CULTURE

Magic of ghazals rides high on melody of waves
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
Visitors to the Lake Club were today treated to a musical evening with a difference. Way apart from a routine show, this evening of ghazals organised by Udaan...beyond the horizon, was all about promotion of local talent. It was even more distinct in that the artistes sung from a pedestal erected inside the Lake to create a vibrant effect. The music that emanated thus was more melodious than the normal, mixed as it was with soothing sounds of water.

The evening begun with Munish presenting “Kafir gesu waalon ki raat basar yoon hoti hai”...and then “Gam-e-aashiqi se keh do rah-e-aam tak na”...Then came Shalu with her rendering of “Ishq ki baat chal ragi hai kahin” and “Ashar mere yoon to zamane ke liye hain”. Sujata presented the “Ghulam Ali favourite “Hum tere sheher mein aaye hain musafir ki tarah”. She also presented “kitni hasrat se teri yaad ka badal barsa”. Muktesh Diwan’s rendering of Shiv Batalvi’s “raat gayi kar tata tara”...was highly applauded.

Jayatshri was another ghazal singer for the wonderful evening, which was organised by Mr Rajesh Ahuja.

Music for the show was composed by Mr Virender Bachan. Accompanists included Gautam Dhar on tabla, Suresh Nayak on dholak, Vijay Chauhan on flute, Munish on guitar and Subhash on percussion.

Tiny feet capture nuances of bharatanatyam
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 26
Watching children as young as five years of age chant shlokas in the purest Sanskrit was a sheer matter of delight this evening. As bharatanatyam danseuse Suchitra Mitra conducted the grand finale of the month-long workshop in the dance form which she conducted at IMA Bhawan, Sector 35, nuances of the art form unfolded before the audience.

The beauty of today’s presentation was that every expression and every technique was embodied by Suchitra's students, who more than did justice to their guru's discourses.

The function began with the guru herself taking the lead and offering floral tributes to the Lord of dance, Nataraja. After the “pushpanjali” by Suchitra Mitra, her disciples entered the space of performance and purified it with their balanced handling of the oldest Indian classical dance form.

From the “navarasas” stipulated by Bharat Muni under the Natya Shastra to the various “bhedas”, the students demonstrated all that they imbibed during the workshop.

They conducted themselves as if they were in class, by first offering prayers to the Lord and then to their guru. The “bhoomi pranam” was followed by a demonstration of the 28 single-hand gestures and 24 double-hand gestures. Then there was the “Shirobheda” (head movements), “parshavabheda” (side movements), “padobheda” (foot movements) and much more. The depiction of nine emotions was well-received by the audience.