EDUCATION PU prepares tentative exam schedule

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 20

In view of the Lok Sabha elections, Panjab University (PU) has prepared a tentative examination schedule for the current session. The Controller of Examination (CoE) has issued instructions to all examination superintendents that the date sheet for the examinations would be changed if there was any clash with the polling dates. Sources in the Election Commission of India said during pre-poll meetings with the state government representatives, all such sensitive issues would be discussed and the decision would be taken keeping in view all the aspects. PU Controller of Examinations Dr Parvinder Singh said: After the elections are announced, the date sheet will be changed by the university, if required. At a recent meeting of the screening committee of the university, during which the date sheet of the undergraduate and postgraduate courses was prepared, the CoE was empowered to change the date sheet if the examinations clashed with the polling dates. Sources said the committee also decided that the examination schedule would be officially out by next week, as it was expected that the election dates would be announced by then. The official said to avoid any delay in the result of the third-year students of all courses, the authorities had drafted the date sheet in such a manner that all main exams would be over in April. The records of the university revealed that in 1992, the PU had to conduct examinations in two phases as the Election Commission had directed it to have a compulsory break of 15 days because of the elections.

DPI (S) withdraws FIRs against teachers Chandigarh, February 20

The DPI (Schools) has withdrawn chargesheets and FIRs registered against four members of the Joint Action Committee of Teachers here. The department has taken back the complaints against Kushali Ram Sharma, Savinder Singh, Ranbir Singh and Swarn Kamboj. The FIR was registered against the teachers for obstructing the faculty development programme of the UT Education Department last year. The Joint Action Committee termed the decision of the DPI (S) historic and a step towards winning the confidence of the teaching community. The DEO has assured the delegation that a compensatory leave would be granted to those teachers who would be on duty on the second Saturday of the next month due to Class IX examinations.  TNS

Panjab varsity to introduce one-year LLM course

Proposal to be placed for approval before Syndicate on Feb 22

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 20

Panjab University is going to introduce one-year LLM (master of law) course from the 2014-15 session in the department of law by replacing the existing LLM two-year courses. This proposal will be placed for approval in the coming meeting of the Syndicate, which is scheduled for February 22. The faculty of law has already approved the LLM one-year course under which there will be two semesters rather than four in the previous course. The Dean has also proposed to start the LLM course in the evening. Sources said the UGC had issued directions for the introduction of one-year LLM course in universities. Following the instructions, a few of the national law universities have already started the LLM one-year course. But there is no state university which has introduced this course so far. The Dean (Law) said after getting the approval of the Syndicate, the department of law would prepare the syllabus, course content, fee structure, rules and regulations for the approval of the Board of Studies. Sources said the proposal was mooted in the meeting of the Syndicate held in May last year. But as the session had already started, the authorities kept it pending for the next session. Sources said this year, the department had started the process to get approval from the Syndicate before time so that it would be introduced in the coming session. A senior law faculty said in Europe and America the LLM was of one year, while in India, students had to spend two years for it. Keeping this fact in view, the UGC also introduced the one-year course that would be beneficial for students.

Seminar on Punjabi language begins Chandigarh, February 20

A two-day national seminar on contexts and concern; Punjabi language, literature and culture 21st centurys first decade started today at Panjab University. The seminar is being organised jointly by the Department of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies and the Sahitya Akademi of India. PU VC Prof Arun K Grover, Punjabi University, Patiala, VC Prof Jaspal Singh, Kuruksetra University VC DDS Sandhu, Punjabi University Patiala Prof Deepak Manmohan Singh, eminent Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, scholar Dr Satinder Singh and other eminent personalities participated in the seminar. Dr Satinder Singh, former GNDU Pro-Vice-Chancellor, delivered the keynote address. Dwelling upon the theme of the seminar, he said along with the existing emphasis on historic and development dimensions of Punjabi writing, philosophic and quality cultural dimension could not be ignored in the 21st Century. Similarly, integration of the present century with the past and the coming decades was equally important. DDS Sandhu said Punjabi literature should make room to focus on the contribution made by new writers in addition to acknowledging the contribution made by great writers from the past. Prof Jaspal Singh said the Punjabi language was accredited with international recognition largely due to the liberal, dynamic and enterprising outlook of Punjabis, which was receptive to pluralities and diversities. Prof Arun K Grover said the future of positive growth of the Punjabi language, literature and culture was inextricably linked up with the improvement of standards at PU.  TNS

NCC cadets, NSS volunteers felicitated

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 20

Jagannath Pahadia, Governor of Haryana, today felicitated 51 youth, including 19 girls, of the state for their performance in various fields. These included 26 NCC cadets and 25 NSS volunteers. The NCC cadets, which included six girls, were from the Ambala and Rohtak NCC groups who had participated in the recently concluded national-level Republic Day Camp in New Delhi. The NSS volunteers are being awarded for the first time. The Governor lauded the cadets for imbibing the good qualities of character, discipline, leadership, camaraderie and the spirit of patriotism. He presented a certificate of merit, a memento and cash award to these young ambassadors of peace and discipline. Jagannath Pahadia urged them to work towards a strong and united India. He appreciated the efforts of the officers and instructional staff in grooming the cadets in preparing for the month-long Republic Day Camp and congratulated the cadets for their achievements at the national level. He encouraged them to further improve their performance as this region had the tradition of producing leaders in different spheres. The Additional Director-General NCC, Maj-Gen GS Chima, said the Republic Day contingent comprising 166 cadets had stood fifth among the NCCs 17 directorates. He said in the ensuing year, thrust would be laid on shooting, mountaineering activities and institutional training.

PU & college notes Workshop on physics, electronics The Department of Physics of the MCM DAV College for Women on Thursday organised a two-day workshop on physics and electronics. It aimed at apprising students of relations between physics and electronics and the applications of physics in research and development. Three-day conference The eminent commonwealth literature scholar and professor of Goethe University, Germany, Dr Jorg- Dieter Riemenschneider, on Thursday addressed a three-day conference at PU on the theme of margins, globalisation and the post-colonial. Participating in the conference, PU VC Prof AK Grover acknowledged the contribution of such conferences in creating an academic atmosphere in the university. Prof Jorg-Dieter Riemenschneider brought forth the social consciousness of Indian English fiction right from Mulk Raj Anands Coolie to Indra Sinhas Animals People.  TNS

From schools Annual function Chandigarh: The annual function of Maharishi Dayanand Public School, Daria, was organised on the school premises on Thursday. The function was inaugurated by spiritual-cultural luminary VPS Rao. Kids of pre-primary participated in a fancy dress show. They recited rhymes, which attracted one and all. Primary students performed folk dance. Students of middle and higher classes presented bhangra, giddha, dandiya and Rajasthani dance. Farewell party Class XI students of Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, organised a farewell party for Class XII students on the school premises. A fabulous show was presented to make the seniors feel special. The programme began with a prayer song to seek the blessings from the God. This was followed by pulsating dances, solo songs and group songs. Mahima Duggal bagged the title of "Ms Sacred Heart". Sayonara party A sayonara party was organised by Class XI students of Shishu Niketan Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 22, to bid adieu to Class XII students of the 2013-14 batch. Students of Class XI gave an enthralling dance performance for their seniors and kept their foot tapping. Show and tell competition To improve the communication and descriptive skills in the children, a show and tell competition was organised for KG students of St Josephs Senior Secondary School, Sector 44-D. Children were asked to bring any object from home like toy, storybook, cellphone, cutouts, etc, and speak a few lines to describe that object. Cultural programme NSS units of Government Senior Secondary School, Mani Majra Town, organised a welcome programme for the cycle rally. A cultural programme was also organised on this occasion. The volunteers of the school performed a Gujarati dance. Community langar A community langar was organised in the memory of Maharishi Dayanand on the premises of MDAV-22. The teachings of Maharishi Dayanand were presented by students in different role play forms. Tiny tots presented poems with enthusiasm. Two-day conference A two-day KVS Head Mistresses/Head Masters conference of the Chandigarh Region was held at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector 31. It was inaugurated by MP Mahajan, Deputy Commissioner of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Chandigarh Region. Farewell party Sri Guru Harkrishan Senior Secondary Public School, Sector 40, organised an eventful farewell party for its outgoing batch of Class XII. Panchkula Interactive session The Gurukul School, Sector 20, organised an interactive session with comedy king Vijay Khayali. The entire session was a bundle of laughter and refreshing titbits. Khayali also encouraged the students to recognise their dreams and work hard to achieve their goals. The students felt that the moments of laughter with Khayali acted as a stress buster and gave them new energy to prepare for the examinations. Mohali Annual function Gem Public Senior Secondary School celebrated its annual function Euphoria with fun and frolic on its premises. About 400 students from Nursery to Class V participated in the event. The children sought the blessings of the Almighty by reciting shabad "de shiva var mohe". The students exhibited their wit, art of articulation, confidence and comedy in an English play, "The Fools". Punjabi play "Dhian Bachao" presented by the young students touched the sensitive issue of Save the Girl Child. Sports Day Sports Day was held at Golden Bells Public School, Mohali. Tiny tots of Play Nursery, Nursery and KG and students of Classes I to V participated in different sports activities. Students of Class I took part in the balloon race, while those of Class II participated in the banana race. The biscuit race, hurdle race and lemon and spoon race saw energetic participation by students of Classes III, IV and V, respectively. Counselling session A counselling session was organised by the director of the St Soldier Group of Institutions, Manhar Arora, at St Soldier School, Dhakoli. In this competitive and contemporary world, students need to opt for a career which is full-fledged. To eradicate this illusion, Arora counselled the students for career orientation. - TNS