EDUCATION TRIBUNE

Abolish class VIII board exams
S. S. Kaushal
The Haryana Board of School Education conducts three public examinations and remains occupied with related work throughout the year, while it can easily abolish the middle-standard examination and concentrate on conducting examinations for classes X and XII.

Hacker vs cracker
Rubinder Gill
Not only academics but numerous students’ activities are the hallmark of the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala. The Indian Society of Technical Education, Students Chapter (ISTE) is an active students’ society. On Sunday, the ISTE organised a seminar-cum-workshop on hacking. The students took the initiative of bridging the gap between traditional collage education and practical knowledge.

A college for teachers
R. C. Sobti
Academic Staff College, Panjab University, Chandigarh, established in October, 1987, is one of the 50 such colleges set up by the University Grants Commission for giving in-service training to college and university lecturers.

Campus Notes

  • Himachal University, Shimla

  • Punjabi University, Patiala

  • Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Top









Abolish class VIII board exams
S. S. Kaushal

The Haryana Board of School Education conducts three public examinations and remains occupied with related work throughout the year, while it can easily abolish the middle-standard examination and concentrate on conducting examinations for classes X and XII.

National commissions and panels set up to ensure reform in education have been disapproving the need for holding a public examination for students of class VIII. The National Policy on Education, 1986, modified in 1992, is also against this examination. The National Advisory Committee under Prof Yashpal, had said in its report that: “Learning without burden doesn’t recognise and accept the need for this examination.”

Even the latest document, National Curriculum Framework, has also categorically stated that there is no need for the middle standard examination being conducted centrally by some of the education boards. Only three or four boards in the country, including Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, hold this examination.

The test is not justified. Class VIII is not a terminal stage for education, nor does the certificate get you a job. We are unnecessarily exposing children of such tender age to the evils of copying. This examination can be better managed at the institutional level, without any stress on children.

The board in Haryana has been conducting this examination for three decades now and it has not improved in any way or raised the pass percentage of the matriculation examination in all these years.

The Central Board of Secondary Education does not hold the middle standard examination anymore. Institutions affiliated to the CBSE have been showing much higher pass percentage at the matriculation examination.

When all other states can do without it, why does the test still exist in the region. They who think that abolition of this examination will lower the academic standards and teachers will become non-serious, do they mean that only the fear of this test alone will do the needful. If it is so, we should have board examinations at the end of each class.

The continuance of this examination is doing more harm than good to children. To improve academic standards, we ought to think of some other way. Revenue seems to be the motive behind continuing with the examination. The larger the number of examinees, the more the revenue for the board, but this would only commercialise education and lower the dignity of students if they were to be just milked for money.

The board can hold scholarship examinations for the students of class VIII. There will not be any retrenchment of employees, if the class VIII board examination were abolished in the larger interest of education.

The writer is former Director, Primary Education, Haryana.
 Top

Hacker vs cracker
 Rubinder Gill

Not only academics but numerous students’ activities are the hallmark of the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala. The Indian Society of Technical Education, Students Chapter (ISTE) is an active students’ society. On Sunday, the ISTE organised a seminar-cum-workshop on hacking. The students took the initiative of bridging the gap between traditional collage education and practical knowledge.

Twenty-year-old prodigy hacker Ankit Fadia from Stanford University in the USA was the expert. He has already penned seven bestsellers, the first saw print when he was only 16.

The seminar was divided into three parts—Ethical Hacking, Credit card/ATM card Hacking and Mobile Phone Hacking.

After the introduction by Simran Tiwana and Razul Gupta, Fadia dazzled all with his knowledge, which has made him a computer hacking guru and a computer security expert simultaneously. He started by differentiating between a hacker (good guy) and a cracker (bad guy).

The first part entailed everything about computer security, ranging from Trojans and e-mail bombs to forging of e-mails and cracking password codes. Fadia explained in detail how to do it and not get caught.

Every server around the world has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. It is stored with every host website you visit. Fadia demonstrated how to find IP address of any server and how to hide your own completely, using servers from Russia, Iran and Israel. You can hack a website through someone else’s computer without actually being anywhere near that computer. Fadia even sent an e-mail from billgates@microsoft.com to himself.

He then demonstrated ways to prevent it. Fadia explained the four different ways of cracking the four-digit pin code of an ATM card. He made it look so ridiculously easy that it put a question mark on the safety of these cards over traditional banking.

The third section was on mobile phone hacking, the in-thing these days.

Starting with normal hidden codes for different cell phones, he went on to explain how to control someone else’s phone, switch it on or off using blue-jacking (blue tooth) without the owner getting to know about it.

The seminar-cum-workshop was a great hit with about 500 engineers. The hacking seminar ended with a young engineer promising to hack Fadia’s website within three years.
Top

A college for teachers
R. C. Sobti

Academic Staff College, Panjab University, Chandigarh, established in October, 1987, is one of the 50 such colleges set up by the University Grants Commission for giving in-service training to college and university lecturers. It offers a four-week General Orientation Course (for newly appointed teachers up to 6 years of continuous service) and a refresher course for teachers who have put in more than two years of service. While the former is open to lecturers of all disciplines, the latter is spread over 3 weeks with minimum of 18 working days.

Lecturers in colleges and universities are required to fill a prescribed form to join a course according to the given schedule.

Although most of the students come from this region, the number of applicants from outside is not small (nearly 25 per cent). In the year 2005-06, four orientation programmes were scheduled.

Since the UGC now encourages holding multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary courses, the ASC is planning to hold many such courses to make training more meaningful. The application forms for joining these courses are available in the office as well as online (www.puchd.ac.in)

The aim is to help teachers develop skills urgently needed in their profession.
 Top

Campus Notes

Himachal University, Shimla

ICDEOL in a shamble: The International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL), which was conceived as an international institution of distance education with full functional, academic and financial autonomy, is in a shamble as it lacks requisite staff, study material and other required facilities. The centre has not only been denied autonomy, but also handed out a second-grade treatment by the university.

The fact that the there is not a single teacher in sociology, music and journalism departments give a fair idea of the prevailing state of affairs. In the Political Science Department, only three teachers have been left following the shifting of as many teachers to the university department.

Recently, the hostel constructed by the ICDEOL from students’ funds for boarding and lodging of students, who come to Shimla to attend the personal contact programme, was taken over by the university for housing the examination wing, girls hostel and office of the Director of Physical Education. Last year, a decision to start the MBA course was taken but it was not implemented. The study material is also not updated and revised regularly, which at times reaches the students just days before the final examination. The university has also failed to appoint a regular director for the past more than eight years. The ad hoc appointees are in no position to safeguard the interests of the centre.

Punjabi University, Patiala

Dialogue with poetry: The Theatre and Television Department, Punjabi University, Patiala, successfully presented an experimental play A Dialogue with Poetry on September 7 and 8 at Kala Bhavan. With the joint direction of Professor Navnindra Behl, Professor Indira Bali and Lecturer Jas Deol, it was a tribute to Amitoj who had left a deep void in the field of poetry and drama. Students of the department acted and it was a dialogue with their own selves through the words of eminent poets like Dhani Ram Chatrik, Amrita Pritam, Shanker Shailendar, Dushyant Kumar, Shiv Kumar Batalavi, Avtar Pash, Surjit PAttar, Indira Bali, Jas deol, Harpreet Singh Hundal and Gagandeep.

The department comes up with three major theatre productions and a TV production annually.

Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan

Student bodies announce panels: Eyeing the forthcoming elections to the students’ central association, the different student organisations have announced their panels for the contest. Promising better academic atmosphere, student leaders are now busy alluring students to procure votes. The Students Federation of India has made a beginning by contesting the elections for the first time. Its panel includes the names of Amit Gautam, Anil Rao, Arvind Gautam and Atul Mishra for the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

The Independent Students Union, which had captured the polls for the record three times, has filed Yoginder Chauhan, Munish Sharma, Pooja Kalmotia and Mithlesh Kumar for the posts of president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary, respectively.

The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad is likely to declare its panel soon. The polls will be held on September 17.

Compiled by Rakesh Lohumi in Shimla, Rubinder Gill at Patiala and Ambika Sharma at Solan
Top

HOME PAGE

ADMISSION DEADLINE

Biological Science

October 17

University of Pune, Bioinformatics Centre Pune 411007 (Mah)
http://bioinfo.ernet.in/bioinfo_cert/index.html

Bioinformatics National Certification Exam
(Instituted by Department of Biotechnology, GoI)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Science, Pharmacy, Engineering, Agriculture, Veterinary and Medical Sciences, Ayurveda, Homeopathy from recognised Indian Universities and Institutions. PGs and Ph.D. in these disciplines are also eligible.

Exam: 12-13 November ‘05

Application Form: Download registration form from the website and send with Rs 600/- by DD favouring "Registrar, University of Pune" payable only to Nationalized Banks in Pune to the The Co-ordinator, BioInformatics National Certification (BINC) Examination, C/o Director at above address.

Details: Employment News (3-9 September)/ Website

September 20

University of Madras, Department of Zoology, Guindy Campus, Chennai 600025 (TN)
www.unom.ac.in

PG Diploma in Immunotechnology (2-year)

Eligibility: Master’s degree in Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Life Sciences, Allied Health Science, MBBS & BDS

Application Form: Send Rs 250/- by DD favouring "Registrar, University of Madras/ Dean, Industrial Consultancy" with stamped (Rs 10/-) self-addressed envelope to the Registrar at above address.

Engineering

October 28

Indian Plywood Industries Research & Training Institute, PB No 2273, Tumkur Road, Bangalore 560022 (Kar)
www.ipirti.com

PG Diploma in Mechanical Wood Industries Technology

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Sc/ Engineering, Age Limit: 28 years (as on 1 December ‘05)

Selection: Merit

Application Form: Download from website.

September 14

C R State College of Engineering, Murthal, Sonepat 131039 (Har)
(Affiliated to MDU, Rohtak)

ME (Mechanical, Electrical)

Eligibility: BE/ BTesh (55%) in relevant areas

Application Form: At counter Rs 600/-

September 21

National Power Training Institute (NPTI), South Ambazari Road, Opp VNIT, Gopal Nagar, Nagpur 440022 (M/o Power, GoI)

Operation & Maintenance of Transmission & Distribution System (26 Weeks)

Eligibility: BE/ BTech (Electrical, Electronics, Power Engineering).

Selection: Merit (% of marks).

Application Form: Send in prescribed format with Rs. 300/ - by DD favouring "NPTI" payable at Nagpur, 2 passport size photographs and 2 self-addressed envelope (5" x 10") to the Principal Director at above add.

IT

September 21

Tool Room & Training Centre, Indo-Danish Project, Wazirpur Industrial Area, Delhi 110052
Ph: (011) 27372618/ 27372615/ 27372745

Certificate in Computer Programming (1-year)

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree/Diploma in Engineering /Class XII (on merit)

Application Form: At Counter: Rs 25/-.

September 21
University of Pune, D/o Electronic Science, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007. (Mah)
www.cadcamguru.com

Diploma in Computer Aided Product Design (1-year)

Eligibility: BE/BTech (Mechanical, Production, Automobile).

Selection: Entrance Exam: 24 September ’05 & Interview: 25 September ’05. Candidates with valid GATE/GRE/CEED score exempted from written test.

Application Form: Download from website.

Details: Employment News (3-9 September)/ Website

Language

September 15

National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, West Block-1, Wing No.6, R.K. Puram, New Delhi 110066 (M/o HRD, D/o Sec & Higher Education, GoI)
www.urducouncil.nic.in

Diploma in Computer Application & Multi-Lingual DTP (1-year)

Eligibility: 10+2 (Sc stream preferred) Age: 17-35 yrs.

Selection: Interview: 16 – 18 September

Application Form & Details: Employment News (3-9 September)/ Website

Management

January 31

September 30

ITM CEO School, 25/ 26, Sector- 4, Institutional Area, Kharghar (E), Navi Mumbai 410210 (Mah)

PG Programme in Financial Management

Eligibility: Graduates with CAT/ XAT/GMAT scores

Details: Contact the above address.

Medicine

September 15

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Department of Accidents & Emergency, Sarita Vihar, New Delhi 110076
emergency_delhi@apollohospitals.com

Fellowship in Emergency Medicine
(Royal College of General Practitioners, UK)

Eligibility: MBBS, MCI/State registration.

Details: Contact the above address.

Scholarships

September 15

Indian Association of Physics Teachers Office, IIE Campus, 128/2, J.P.Naik Marg, Kothrud, Pune 411038 (Mah)
www.hbcse.tifr.res.in/olympiads

National Olympiads in Physics, Chemistry, Biology & Astronomy
(leading to participation in International Olympiads 2006)

Eligibility:
For Olympiads in Physics, Chemistry & Biology: Class XI/ XII Science students.
For Astronomy Olympiad: Junior Category: Class VIII, IX & X (Born after 1 January, 1991)
Senior Category: Class X & XI (Born after 1 January 1991)
Procedure: Participants need to go through the following stages:

Stage I: National Standard Exam in Physics
National Standard Exam in Chemistry
National Standard Exam in Biology
National Standard Exam in Astronomy
Exam: 27 November 2005

Details: Contact Prof. M L Ogalapurkar at the above address or Prof R M Dharkar, 1/22, Devendu, Mithbundar Road, Thane – 400603 or log on to the website.

Schools

February 15

United World Colleges Committee (India), Mahindra Towers, Ground Floor, Worli, Mumbai 400018 (Mah)

www.uwccommindia.net or www.uwc.org or www.muwci.net

International Baccalaureate Diploma (2-year)

Eligibility: Class 10 or 11 Indian students. DoB: 01 Sept '88 - 28 February '91

Application Form: Send Rs. 600 by DD favouring "United World Colleges Committee (India)" payable at Mumbai with a stamped (Rs 50) self-addressed envelope (25 x 12 cm) to the above address by 31 January or download from website

Details: Website.

Top