Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 30, 2007
St Thomas College of Engineering, Kidderpore is in the eye of educational storm with the Calcutta Diocese of Churches of North India accusing the prinicipal of taking over the college. Not surprisingly, the principal has denied the charge.
The institution has 240 students. St. Thomas College of Engineering offers B.Tech courses in Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering and Information Technology.
The Calcutta Diocese of Churches of North India (CNI) will take out a rally against the principal of St. Thomas College of Engineering, Sailesh Mukhopadhyay, who controls the institution through a trust.
“The Calcutta Diocese of CNI had formed a body named Calcutta Diocessan Education Trust (CDET) of which Mukhopadhyay was a member. After running the college for four years, the CDET had to hand over charge to the management of St. Thomas School. However, Mukhopadhyay formed another trust for the college. So the AICTE has withheld its approval,” said Reverend Biswajit Biswas of Kolkata Diocese.
The CDET and managing committee of St. Thomas School is seeking legal advice. The CNI is taking out a rally on Friday against Mukhopadyay and his allies. “We are worried about the future of students. We would not tolerate an institution bending rules,” said Reverend Abir Adhikari of Kolkata Diocese.
However, Mukhopadhyay termed the decision to rally as unfortunate. No parallel trust is running the college. The CDET is in charge. Bishop Raju was its chairman but when other members of the trust, which includes representaives from All India Council for Technical Euducation (AICTE) and West Bengal University of Technology asked the bishop to clarify his position regarding land allotment, he started calling the panel illegal,” said Mukhopadhyay.
However supporters of Bishop Raju claimed that CDET is not running the college. “These people want to enjoy financial benefits they earn from the college. They have not bothered to help students from Christian community to take admission here, despite the fact that the institution was specially meant for them,” said Biswas.
Mukhopadhyay has hit back by saying that he has not compromised the students’ future. “AICTE has given extension to our affiliation for the 2007-2008 session. This means that students who have taken admission in our college this year need not worry. We want to ensure everyone that students interest is being catered to,” he said.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Women’s cell at Presidency to deal with harassment
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 29, 2007
Presidency College is going to set up women’s cell to deal with sexual harassment.
The first women principal of the college, Mamata Ray, took the intiative to set up this cell. “Though our college has till date has no incident of sexual harassment, but having a women’s cell is absolutely necessary. I do not now why our college did not have a body like this. But now it will be done,” said Ray.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the central government body, which grades colleges and university, suggested that Presidency College should have a women’s cell. “We will be talking to all before coming up with the cell. This would include students, teachers and non teaching staff of the college,” Ray informed.
After discussions, the college will constitute the cell as per directive from UGC. “We will soon work on the modalities of this cell once we reach a consensus. The college has grievance and a disciplinary cell to check any irregularity in the campus pertaining to discipline. But this cell would solely redress harassment of women, if we find any such cases,” said Ray.
Haren Bhattacharya head of the department of geology and general secretary of Government College Teachers Association however does not believe in making a gender divide. “We should not segregate between men and women like this. But then this is the need of the hour and all national bodies related to education are suggesting this. But while on one hand it will help feel women more secure it may even increase he gender divide.”
The students are happy with such an initiative but are not sure how such cells can prevent harassment. “My friends elder sister studies in Jadavpur University. They had raised their voice against a professor but at the end of the day the answer scripts were withheld. Though the women’s cell was helped them but they went through a tense and traumatic time,” said a student of second year physics student on condition of anonymity.
It is not mandatory for all colleges to have a women’s cell. However colleges who do not have the cell forwards the complaint to the Calcutta University’s (CU) sexual harassment cell. “Our cell was set up four years back. We have got only three cases. Such cells cannot work unless women raise their voice,” said Suranjan Das, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the university.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 29, 2007
Presidency College is going to set up women’s cell to deal with sexual harassment.
The first women principal of the college, Mamata Ray, took the intiative to set up this cell. “Though our college has till date has no incident of sexual harassment, but having a women’s cell is absolutely necessary. I do not now why our college did not have a body like this. But now it will be done,” said Ray.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), the central government body, which grades colleges and university, suggested that Presidency College should have a women’s cell. “We will be talking to all before coming up with the cell. This would include students, teachers and non teaching staff of the college,” Ray informed.
After discussions, the college will constitute the cell as per directive from UGC. “We will soon work on the modalities of this cell once we reach a consensus. The college has grievance and a disciplinary cell to check any irregularity in the campus pertaining to discipline. But this cell would solely redress harassment of women, if we find any such cases,” said Ray.
Haren Bhattacharya head of the department of geology and general secretary of Government College Teachers Association however does not believe in making a gender divide. “We should not segregate between men and women like this. But then this is the need of the hour and all national bodies related to education are suggesting this. But while on one hand it will help feel women more secure it may even increase he gender divide.”
The students are happy with such an initiative but are not sure how such cells can prevent harassment. “My friends elder sister studies in Jadavpur University. They had raised their voice against a professor but at the end of the day the answer scripts were withheld. Though the women’s cell was helped them but they went through a tense and traumatic time,” said a student of second year physics student on condition of anonymity.
It is not mandatory for all colleges to have a women’s cell. However colleges who do not have the cell forwards the complaint to the Calcutta University’s (CU) sexual harassment cell. “Our cell was set up four years back. We have got only three cases. Such cells cannot work unless women raise their voice,” said Suranjan Das, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) of the university.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
PETA succeeds in getting 'cruel experiments' withdrawn from school
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 29, 2007
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has decided to withdraw “cruel experiments” on animals and birds to demonstrate the necessity of food and oxygen, prescribed for Class VI students, after a campaign launched by PETA.
A PETA release here said on Wednesday that in one experiment, children were told to starve a parrot to death, or deny water to it till it died or seal a guinea pig in a jar till it suffocated. After coming to know of this from a parent last year, PETA contacted West Bengal Minister of School Education, Partha Dey and urged him to direct the board to abandon the cruel experiments, it said.
Requests were also filed under the Right to Information Act.
“After we received the complain from PETA we had formed a committee to review their claim. The panel recommended the withdrawal of all such experiments which were pertains to cruelty against animals,” said president of WBSSE Ujjal Basu.
A circular has already been sent to all the concerned publishers. “From this year we will not be able to take this step as the books for this academic session has already been published. We have sent circular to all our publishers asking them not to print such experiments from their next edition. Hence from next year the students will not find these experiments,” said the sectary of WBBSE Swapan Sarkar.
The board has now suggested new experiments to replace the older ones, which demonstrates cruelty against animals. The board also feels that there is no definite line to define cruelty. “When we kill a fish, chicken and goats every day and have them for food, we do not think about cruelty. However, when we talk about killing a deer or a parrot it becomes a big issue,” said Sarkar. “We want students to love animals and hope that this will help them to change their perception towards them,” he added.
Deputy Secretary of WBSE Jayanta Joy Chattapadhyay, subsequently directed: “In respect of experiments on animals about the necessity of food and oxygen (group C, Unit III of class VI General Science syllabus), the authors must avoid discussion using rats/birds/toads, instead they can use common pest like cockroach or common air breathing fish (cat fish).”
“This is a victory for all the animals who suffer every day in painful, unnecessary experiments and whose stories must be told,” said PETA’s campaign coordinator Dharmesh Solanki. PTI
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 29, 2007
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has decided to withdraw “cruel experiments” on animals and birds to demonstrate the necessity of food and oxygen, prescribed for Class VI students, after a campaign launched by PETA.
A PETA release here said on Wednesday that in one experiment, children were told to starve a parrot to death, or deny water to it till it died or seal a guinea pig in a jar till it suffocated. After coming to know of this from a parent last year, PETA contacted West Bengal Minister of School Education, Partha Dey and urged him to direct the board to abandon the cruel experiments, it said.
Requests were also filed under the Right to Information Act.
“After we received the complain from PETA we had formed a committee to review their claim. The panel recommended the withdrawal of all such experiments which were pertains to cruelty against animals,” said president of WBSSE Ujjal Basu.
A circular has already been sent to all the concerned publishers. “From this year we will not be able to take this step as the books for this academic session has already been published. We have sent circular to all our publishers asking them not to print such experiments from their next edition. Hence from next year the students will not find these experiments,” said the sectary of WBBSE Swapan Sarkar.
The board has now suggested new experiments to replace the older ones, which demonstrates cruelty against animals. The board also feels that there is no definite line to define cruelty. “When we kill a fish, chicken and goats every day and have them for food, we do not think about cruelty. However, when we talk about killing a deer or a parrot it becomes a big issue,” said Sarkar. “We want students to love animals and hope that this will help them to change their perception towards them,” he added.
Deputy Secretary of WBSE Jayanta Joy Chattapadhyay, subsequently directed: “In respect of experiments on animals about the necessity of food and oxygen (group C, Unit III of class VI General Science syllabus), the authors must avoid discussion using rats/birds/toads, instead they can use common pest like cockroach or common air breathing fish (cat fish).”
“This is a victory for all the animals who suffer every day in painful, unnecessary experiments and whose stories must be told,” said PETA’s campaign coordinator Dharmesh Solanki. PTI
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
State draws up lakshmanrekha for schools
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 28, 2007
Have a proper infrastructure around 30 kottah or half acre of land before thinking of opening schools. This is the diktat from the state school education department.
Earlier there was no specification and 108 schools had obtained a no-objection certificate from the government. However in most cases ICSE and CBSE boards rejected the application because of the land crunch.
According to the rulebook of the ICSE, a school located in an urban hub must have half an acre of land and one acre of land if it is situated in a rural area. CBSE is asking city schools seeking affiliation to have a minimum of one acre of land and double in rural areas.
“We were embarrassed by the developments. The decision was taken early this month. All schools wanting to seek NOC from the state government should have a minimum of 30 acres. It will be one of the main pre requisite criteria,” said R. K. Ray, joint secretary of school education department.
Even after this, if the schools having the mandatory half acre of land gets a NOC from the state it would not be able to apply for affiliation from the CBSE.
“In any case the demand for CBSE schools is less compared to ICSE schools. It is true that getting one acre of land in a city will be difficult. Bu the schools can always apply for affiliation under ICSE. Moreover, these are the rules of the boards. We are just demarcating the minimum requirement,” said Ray.
The other minimum criteria for getting NOC from the state government is a playground and an NOC from the fire department and proper infrastructure, which includes classrooms of minimum 400 square foot and three laboratories. If the school offers computer science then there has to be a computer lab too. Apart from this, the school needs to have a minimum of thirty students per section and have a well-equipped library.
“The NOC from the fire department is a very important criteria. It is also mandatory for schools to offer specified service condition and privileges to teaching and non-teaching staff. We would also ensure that the trusts or the bodies running the schools are not managed by one family,” added Ray.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 28, 2007
Have a proper infrastructure around 30 kottah or half acre of land before thinking of opening schools. This is the diktat from the state school education department.
Earlier there was no specification and 108 schools had obtained a no-objection certificate from the government. However in most cases ICSE and CBSE boards rejected the application because of the land crunch.
According to the rulebook of the ICSE, a school located in an urban hub must have half an acre of land and one acre of land if it is situated in a rural area. CBSE is asking city schools seeking affiliation to have a minimum of one acre of land and double in rural areas.
“We were embarrassed by the developments. The decision was taken early this month. All schools wanting to seek NOC from the state government should have a minimum of 30 acres. It will be one of the main pre requisite criteria,” said R. K. Ray, joint secretary of school education department.
Even after this, if the schools having the mandatory half acre of land gets a NOC from the state it would not be able to apply for affiliation from the CBSE.
“In any case the demand for CBSE schools is less compared to ICSE schools. It is true that getting one acre of land in a city will be difficult. Bu the schools can always apply for affiliation under ICSE. Moreover, these are the rules of the boards. We are just demarcating the minimum requirement,” said Ray.
The other minimum criteria for getting NOC from the state government is a playground and an NOC from the fire department and proper infrastructure, which includes classrooms of minimum 400 square foot and three laboratories. If the school offers computer science then there has to be a computer lab too. Apart from this, the school needs to have a minimum of thirty students per section and have a well-equipped library.
“The NOC from the fire department is a very important criteria. It is also mandatory for schools to offer specified service condition and privileges to teaching and non-teaching staff. We would also ensure that the trusts or the bodies running the schools are not managed by one family,” added Ray.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Monday, August 27, 2007
Dream big and work hard
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
Want to have some work experience aboard even when you are in college? Do you want to work for the underprivileged? Do you want to dream big and make most of the opportunities that come your way? Well then AIESEC is the ideal place for you.
AIESEC is a non-political non-profit youth organisation and is present in over a hundred countries. It has 23,000 students from all over the world as members. “This group provides members with a platform for leadership, job opportunities abroad, conferences and an opportunity to work for issues like HIV/AIDS, child rights and corporate social sesponsibility,” said Rohit Adukia, organising committee president for recruitment, 2007 and a second year B.Com student of Bhawanipore Education Society.
Students up to 26 and working professionals up to 36 can become a member of AIESEC. While there is no joining charge, membership form cost Rs 50. Right now the organisation is recruiting members till August 29. “We are looking for young and dynamic individuals who believe in making a difference. Members will be selected on their performance in a group discussion and an interview,” said Adukia, who is currently holding recruitment interviews leading colleges of the city.
The cardinal feature of AIESEC is the “international traineeship exchange programme,” which provides students and working professionals to access interns in countries across the globe. AIESEC currently has more than 700 youth volunteers and close to a 1000 international internship programmes every year where nominees live abroad while working on projects.
“These programmes provide the much requisite exposure to international markets through direct interaction with foreign corporate houses. The combination of a practical work experience in a diverse cultural environment helps an individual to enrich himself. Besides empowering one's CV, it brightens up the career-graph of interns. The icing on the cake is that these exchanges are cost-effective, reliable and hassle-free. Though the student has to arrange for the air fair, their food and lodging are taken care off by us,” said Adukia.
AISEC welcomes students who want to make a presentation of their projects. If approved AIESEC would sponsors the project. For more enquries log on to www.aiesec.org.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
Want to have some work experience aboard even when you are in college? Do you want to work for the underprivileged? Do you want to dream big and make most of the opportunities that come your way? Well then AIESEC is the ideal place for you.
AIESEC is a non-political non-profit youth organisation and is present in over a hundred countries. It has 23,000 students from all over the world as members. “This group provides members with a platform for leadership, job opportunities abroad, conferences and an opportunity to work for issues like HIV/AIDS, child rights and corporate social sesponsibility,” said Rohit Adukia, organising committee president for recruitment, 2007 and a second year B.Com student of Bhawanipore Education Society.
Students up to 26 and working professionals up to 36 can become a member of AIESEC. While there is no joining charge, membership form cost Rs 50. Right now the organisation is recruiting members till August 29. “We are looking for young and dynamic individuals who believe in making a difference. Members will be selected on their performance in a group discussion and an interview,” said Adukia, who is currently holding recruitment interviews leading colleges of the city.
The cardinal feature of AIESEC is the “international traineeship exchange programme,” which provides students and working professionals to access interns in countries across the globe. AIESEC currently has more than 700 youth volunteers and close to a 1000 international internship programmes every year where nominees live abroad while working on projects.
“These programmes provide the much requisite exposure to international markets through direct interaction with foreign corporate houses. The combination of a practical work experience in a diverse cultural environment helps an individual to enrich himself. Besides empowering one's CV, it brightens up the career-graph of interns. The icing on the cake is that these exchanges are cost-effective, reliable and hassle-free. Though the student has to arrange for the air fair, their food and lodging are taken care off by us,” said Adukia.
AISEC welcomes students who want to make a presentation of their projects. If approved AIESEC would sponsors the project. For more enquries log on to www.aiesec.org.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Minister’s thumbs down to anti-salwar brigade
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
THE OFFICIAL line on the sari-salwar tussle is out. School education minister Partha De has told Bakrahat Girls’ High School management committee members: “Let the teachers wear what they want to”.
The minister’s observation comes after the managing committee members of the school had objected to teachers wearing salwar-kameez.
Eight schoolteachers had reported for duty in salwar-kameez on August 21. This “break from tradition” had enraged the school’s managing committee, guardians, locals as well as students. In fact, policemen had to rescue the teachers, who were locked up in a room and hurled abuses.
The unseeming row made headlines and the minister had to intervene. After meeting the teachers soon after the incident, De held talks with the managing committee members to put across his stand on the issue
Present at Monday’s meeting were managing committee president Tapan Samanta, secretary Anup Ghosh, headmistress Saswati Das, guardian and teachers’ representatives and a police officer from the local police station.
Emerging from the meeting, De said: “ We have discussed the issue. Salwar is OK and I have asked them not to object to it. The teachers can wear anything they want as long as it is not obscene.”
The eight teachers, who had been advised by the minister to skip school after the incident took place, will return to take classes from August 30 in outfits of their choice.
The managing committee members, however, told De that wearing salwar-kameez was not the issue and they had problem with the behaviour and teaching technique of the teachers. There were several complaints against them, they said. “We have not stopped them from wearing salwar. The teachers had raked up the dress row to avoid charges brought against them,” said a member of the delegation on condition of anonymity.
De, however, refused to buy their argument and asked the managing committee to convene an academic council meeting to resolve the problem.
The teachers also refuted charges levelled against them. “All eight of us have very good academic background. Some of us have been teaching here for eight years. There is no complaint with our teaching technique or behaviour. The entire row is over dress code,” a teacher told HT on condition of anonymity.
She added: “At secretary Anup Ghosh’s Future Gems School teachers are permitted to wear salwar, but it was opposed when we wanted to.”
The minister also hauled up the managing committee for involving locals and students in the dispute.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
THE OFFICIAL line on the sari-salwar tussle is out. School education minister Partha De has told Bakrahat Girls’ High School management committee members: “Let the teachers wear what they want to”.
The minister’s observation comes after the managing committee members of the school had objected to teachers wearing salwar-kameez.
Eight schoolteachers had reported for duty in salwar-kameez on August 21. This “break from tradition” had enraged the school’s managing committee, guardians, locals as well as students. In fact, policemen had to rescue the teachers, who were locked up in a room and hurled abuses.
The unseeming row made headlines and the minister had to intervene. After meeting the teachers soon after the incident, De held talks with the managing committee members to put across his stand on the issue
Present at Monday’s meeting were managing committee president Tapan Samanta, secretary Anup Ghosh, headmistress Saswati Das, guardian and teachers’ representatives and a police officer from the local police station.
Emerging from the meeting, De said: “ We have discussed the issue. Salwar is OK and I have asked them not to object to it. The teachers can wear anything they want as long as it is not obscene.”
The eight teachers, who had been advised by the minister to skip school after the incident took place, will return to take classes from August 30 in outfits of their choice.
The managing committee members, however, told De that wearing salwar-kameez was not the issue and they had problem with the behaviour and teaching technique of the teachers. There were several complaints against them, they said. “We have not stopped them from wearing salwar. The teachers had raked up the dress row to avoid charges brought against them,” said a member of the delegation on condition of anonymity.
De, however, refused to buy their argument and asked the managing committee to convene an academic council meeting to resolve the problem.
The teachers also refuted charges levelled against them. “All eight of us have very good academic background. Some of us have been teaching here for eight years. There is no complaint with our teaching technique or behaviour. The entire row is over dress code,” a teacher told HT on condition of anonymity.
She added: “At secretary Anup Ghosh’s Future Gems School teachers are permitted to wear salwar, but it was opposed when we wanted to.”
The minister also hauled up the managing committee for involving locals and students in the dispute.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
IITs & IIMs join hand in offering Manufacturing course
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
For the first time, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC) — along with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and IIT Madras — have come together to offer a course in manufacturing.
The course named Post Graduate Programme for Executives for Visionary Leadership in Manufacturing was launched at IIMC on Monday. It is a one-year full-time residential programme aimed at experienced managers to hone their managerial skills in the manufacturing sector. This tri-party joint programme is supported by National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), of the Central government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Government of Japan.
Shekhar Chaudhuri, IIMC director and member of NMCC, said, “While developing the national manufacturing strategy, NMCC had suggested the development of human resources in this sector. This is the first step towards that aim. Once trained, these managers will be globally competitive. The industry will get visionary managers with a competitive edge, something which the manufacturing industry in the country needs.”
With TATA Motors and other manufacturing units coming to Bengal, this programme will also benefit the state and provide it with much-required manpower.
“The low level of manufacturing growth had an adverse effect on the Indian economy. It has aggravated poverty owing to a mismatch between distribution of the workforce and value addition in agriculture. Manufacturing sector growth can correct this mismatch but that cannot happen unless we have qualified managers whose sole motive will be to boost this sector. That is what this course aims to do,” said Chaudhuri.
To begin with, 32 students have been admitted for the programme. The minimum eligibility criterion was a first class degree in any branch of engineering with minimum five years’ work experience. The selection was done through a written aptitude test followed by an interview by a panel compromising academicians and industry CEOs. While half the course will be imparted at IIMC, the rest of it will be divided between IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras. The course will also incorporate 5-6 weeks of industry visits followed by 11-13 weeks of industry internship.
The students — apart from those sponsored by their offices — will be given campus placement. “The work for the companies will not stop by hiring them but they should know how to retain these people. Attractive offers will not be enough unless they are given empowerment to implement their vision. Only then the manufacturing industry of the country will get a big boost,” said Chaudhuri.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 27, 2007
For the first time, Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC) — along with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur and IIT Madras — have come together to offer a course in manufacturing.
The course named Post Graduate Programme for Executives for Visionary Leadership in Manufacturing was launched at IIMC on Monday. It is a one-year full-time residential programme aimed at experienced managers to hone their managerial skills in the manufacturing sector. This tri-party joint programme is supported by National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC), of the Central government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Government of Japan.
Shekhar Chaudhuri, IIMC director and member of NMCC, said, “While developing the national manufacturing strategy, NMCC had suggested the development of human resources in this sector. This is the first step towards that aim. Once trained, these managers will be globally competitive. The industry will get visionary managers with a competitive edge, something which the manufacturing industry in the country needs.”
With TATA Motors and other manufacturing units coming to Bengal, this programme will also benefit the state and provide it with much-required manpower.
“The low level of manufacturing growth had an adverse effect on the Indian economy. It has aggravated poverty owing to a mismatch between distribution of the workforce and value addition in agriculture. Manufacturing sector growth can correct this mismatch but that cannot happen unless we have qualified managers whose sole motive will be to boost this sector. That is what this course aims to do,” said Chaudhuri.
To begin with, 32 students have been admitted for the programme. The minimum eligibility criterion was a first class degree in any branch of engineering with minimum five years’ work experience. The selection was done through a written aptitude test followed by an interview by a panel compromising academicians and industry CEOs. While half the course will be imparted at IIMC, the rest of it will be divided between IIT Kanpur and IIT Madras. The course will also incorporate 5-6 weeks of industry visits followed by 11-13 weeks of industry internship.
The students — apart from those sponsored by their offices — will be given campus placement. “The work for the companies will not stop by hiring them but they should know how to retain these people. Attractive offers will not be enough unless they are given empowerment to implement their vision. Only then the manufacturing industry of the country will get a big boost,” said Chaudhuri.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Teachers demand Saturday off too
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 26, 2007
Citing increasing work pressure as the reason, teachers of 44 government schools across the state have demanded an extra off on Saturdays in addition to Sundays. The teachers have compared themselves with other government employees, who enjoy a break from work on the weekends, to strengthen their case.
At its executive council meeting last week, the West Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association decided to present their wish list to school education minister Partha De this week.
“The workload has increased manifold. School hours have been extended by 45 minutes from the current academic session. Teachers have to conduct eight unit tests, besides the annual examination, which means piles of answer scripts for correction. Class work and homework copies are added responsibilities. Working from 11am to 1.30pm even on Saturdays is the extra load that teachers must be relieved of,” said Dipak Das, general secretary of the association.
According to Das, the West Bengal Service Rules apply for all state government employees, including teachers. “So, if other government employees get off on Saturdays why shouldn’t teachers enjoy the same? Earlier, other government employees worked half-day on Saturdays apart from the second and fourth, which were holidays. But over the past few years, they have been enjoying a break from work every weekend. If the same rules apply to both, why should schoolteachers work for two-and-a-half hours every Saturday?” he said.
Das said teachers of government schools are entitled to a total leave of 151 days every academic year. These include 65 days of listed holidays and vacations, 20 medical and 14 casual leaves, and 52 Sundays. Partha Chatterjee, general secretary of the State Government Employees’ Federation said other government employees could enjoy a maximum of 173 days, including 15 listed holidays, 54 casual, medical and earned leaves and 104 Saturdays and Sundays.
“Earlier, we had 87 days of listed holidays and vacations every year. Now, it has been brought down to 65. We have accepted the cut. But when there is not much difference in work pressure between schools and other government offices, why this discrimination when it comes to off days?” Das said. He also demanded scrapping of the rule of deducting a casual leave if a teacher is absent on a Saturday.
When pointed out that government-aided schools also remained open on Saturdays and teachers there shared a similar workload too, Das said: “Our demand is justified. They (teachers of government-aided schools) can follow us if they want to.”
The association feels including Saturday on the leave list would not affect the quality of teaching. “Almost all English-medium schools in the country hold classes five days a week. Do you think they do this at the cost of their quality of education?” said a teacher.
Das said students, too, were under pressure and classes five days a week would help them beat the stress. It would also give them time to study at home, he contended.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 26, 2007
Citing increasing work pressure as the reason, teachers of 44 government schools across the state have demanded an extra off on Saturdays in addition to Sundays. The teachers have compared themselves with other government employees, who enjoy a break from work on the weekends, to strengthen their case.
At its executive council meeting last week, the West Bengal Government School Teachers’ Association decided to present their wish list to school education minister Partha De this week.
“The workload has increased manifold. School hours have been extended by 45 minutes from the current academic session. Teachers have to conduct eight unit tests, besides the annual examination, which means piles of answer scripts for correction. Class work and homework copies are added responsibilities. Working from 11am to 1.30pm even on Saturdays is the extra load that teachers must be relieved of,” said Dipak Das, general secretary of the association.
According to Das, the West Bengal Service Rules apply for all state government employees, including teachers. “So, if other government employees get off on Saturdays why shouldn’t teachers enjoy the same? Earlier, other government employees worked half-day on Saturdays apart from the second and fourth, which were holidays. But over the past few years, they have been enjoying a break from work every weekend. If the same rules apply to both, why should schoolteachers work for two-and-a-half hours every Saturday?” he said.
Das said teachers of government schools are entitled to a total leave of 151 days every academic year. These include 65 days of listed holidays and vacations, 20 medical and 14 casual leaves, and 52 Sundays. Partha Chatterjee, general secretary of the State Government Employees’ Federation said other government employees could enjoy a maximum of 173 days, including 15 listed holidays, 54 casual, medical and earned leaves and 104 Saturdays and Sundays.
“Earlier, we had 87 days of listed holidays and vacations every year. Now, it has been brought down to 65. We have accepted the cut. But when there is not much difference in work pressure between schools and other government offices, why this discrimination when it comes to off days?” Das said. He also demanded scrapping of the rule of deducting a casual leave if a teacher is absent on a Saturday.
When pointed out that government-aided schools also remained open on Saturdays and teachers there shared a similar workload too, Das said: “Our demand is justified. They (teachers of government-aided schools) can follow us if they want to.”
The association feels including Saturday on the leave list would not affect the quality of teaching. “Almost all English-medium schools in the country hold classes five days a week. Do you think they do this at the cost of their quality of education?” said a teacher.
Das said students, too, were under pressure and classes five days a week would help them beat the stress. It would also give them time to study at home, he contended.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Friday, August 24, 2007
Lessons in running students’ union
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 24, 2007
The SFI will now reach out to college students to teach them the art of running students’ unions in colleges and universities.
For the first time, the SFI will arrange workshops for students’ union leaders from all colleges, where SFI leads the union or has a unit. At present, the unions at 358 of 400 colleges in Bengal are run by the SFI. “We have taken this step to ensure that our students’ union gains strength. With every passing year, our union base is becoming stronger. It is our responsibility to improve our organisational structure. The leaders will interact with students’ leaders at the grassroots level and groom them,” said Apurbo Chatterjee, state secretary of the SFI.
The general secretary, president and cultural secretary of all SFI-run unions will attend thee one-day workshop, which will focus on a host of topics such as how to build an organisation, what are the education-related issues the students’ unions need toaddress, how to conduct the daily activities of the union as well discussion on ideological issues.
The SFI has drawn up a 25-point guideline, which it will share with the students’ leaders. The students will also be briefed on the organisational structure of the SFI.
The first workshop will be held at Vidyasagar University on Wednesday and at Burdwan University the next day. North Bengal University will host the workshop on September 8 followed by Kalyani University on September 18. A single workshop will be held for all colleges under Calcutta University, Bengal Engineering and Science University and Jadavpur University on September 19.
The SFI has also called a students’ convention in Kolkata on September 27. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Left Front chairman Biman Bose will address the students on the occasion.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 24, 2007
The SFI will now reach out to college students to teach them the art of running students’ unions in colleges and universities.
For the first time, the SFI will arrange workshops for students’ union leaders from all colleges, where SFI leads the union or has a unit. At present, the unions at 358 of 400 colleges in Bengal are run by the SFI. “We have taken this step to ensure that our students’ union gains strength. With every passing year, our union base is becoming stronger. It is our responsibility to improve our organisational structure. The leaders will interact with students’ leaders at the grassroots level and groom them,” said Apurbo Chatterjee, state secretary of the SFI.
The general secretary, president and cultural secretary of all SFI-run unions will attend thee one-day workshop, which will focus on a host of topics such as how to build an organisation, what are the education-related issues the students’ unions need toaddress, how to conduct the daily activities of the union as well discussion on ideological issues.
The SFI has drawn up a 25-point guideline, which it will share with the students’ leaders. The students will also be briefed on the organisational structure of the SFI.
The first workshop will be held at Vidyasagar University on Wednesday and at Burdwan University the next day. North Bengal University will host the workshop on September 8 followed by Kalyani University on September 18. A single workshop will be held for all colleges under Calcutta University, Bengal Engineering and Science University and Jadavpur University on September 19.
The SFI has also called a students’ convention in Kolkata on September 27. Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Left Front chairman Biman Bose will address the students on the occasion.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
‘IIMs need not worry about quality over implementation of OBC quota’
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 24, 2007
IIMs should not have to worry about the quality of intake with the implementation of 27 per cent OBC quota if the students are provided with remedial teaching. This view was aired by Samuel Paul, a member of the oversight committee formed by the ministry of human resource development to look into various aspects of the implementation of 27 per cent quota in higher education institutions including IIMs and IITs.
The oversight committee has already recommended the implementation of OBC quota over the period of 3 years along with the development of requisite infrastructure.
While delivering his speech at the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) convention on Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education organised at the Kolkata IIM, Paul (also Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore chairman) said, “IIMs should not fear about a slump in quality as regards students. On the contrary, they should organise for the remedial teaching for students from backward class and rural areas. The management institutions are not short on funds and will definitely not have a problem in providing remedial coaching for those weak in certain areas.”
Drawing a comparison with the BPO industry, Paul said, “The BPOs have been recruiting heavily from rural areas by training students in spoken English. It has already been proved that if proper teaching tools are used then weak students too can deliver. The management institutions should look at this model.”
He also urged management institutions not to turn down students because they do not have the personality or spoken English skills required to be a manager but should answer the problem through remedial teaching.
Another problem faced by management institutions is in finding quality faculty. Paul suggested that the small management colleges should come together and offer doctoral degrees to the students jointly. “Out of hundred students getting doctorate degrees every year only 25 come to teaching. If the management institutes offer joint doctoral degrees then they would not only be able to share each other’s infrastructure but can also churn out more doctorates,” he said.
Paul spoke about his worries associated with the deterioration in quality with the mushrooming management institutions. “There are so many management institutions coming up every day. All have different quality levels but who is going to judge their quality? It is high time that we too have accreditation agencies for management institutes,” he said. Paul advised management institutions not to depend on case studies from Harvard and instead take on local examples.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 24, 2007
IIMs should not have to worry about the quality of intake with the implementation of 27 per cent OBC quota if the students are provided with remedial teaching. This view was aired by Samuel Paul, a member of the oversight committee formed by the ministry of human resource development to look into various aspects of the implementation of 27 per cent quota in higher education institutions including IIMs and IITs.
The oversight committee has already recommended the implementation of OBC quota over the period of 3 years along with the development of requisite infrastructure.
While delivering his speech at the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) convention on Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education organised at the Kolkata IIM, Paul (also Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore chairman) said, “IIMs should not fear about a slump in quality as regards students. On the contrary, they should organise for the remedial teaching for students from backward class and rural areas. The management institutions are not short on funds and will definitely not have a problem in providing remedial coaching for those weak in certain areas.”
Drawing a comparison with the BPO industry, Paul said, “The BPOs have been recruiting heavily from rural areas by training students in spoken English. It has already been proved that if proper teaching tools are used then weak students too can deliver. The management institutions should look at this model.”
He also urged management institutions not to turn down students because they do not have the personality or spoken English skills required to be a manager but should answer the problem through remedial teaching.
Another problem faced by management institutions is in finding quality faculty. Paul suggested that the small management colleges should come together and offer doctoral degrees to the students jointly. “Out of hundred students getting doctorate degrees every year only 25 come to teaching. If the management institutes offer joint doctoral degrees then they would not only be able to share each other’s infrastructure but can also churn out more doctorates,” he said.
Paul spoke about his worries associated with the deterioration in quality with the mushrooming management institutions. “There are so many management institutions coming up every day. All have different quality levels but who is going to judge their quality? It is high time that we too have accreditation agencies for management institutes,” he said. Paul advised management institutions not to depend on case studies from Harvard and instead take on local examples.
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Thursday, August 23, 2007
"IIM’s in any case have to increases their intake capacity in the coming years"
Dr. Shekhar Chaudhuri, director of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIMC) and former president of Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) spoke to Mou Chakraborty on the future of management education in India and about IIMC.
The annual convention of AIMS, which is the body representing all the management institutes of the country was held at your campus last week. What are the areas on which the management institutions will have to work in future?
The most important agenda for all the management institutes in the country will be getting good faculty. With corporate making lucrative offers and the management houses failing to match it, most of the best minds are not joining teaching profession. In next one year one of the most important work of AIMS will be to identify ways to get goof faculty and retain them. The scenario at IIMC too is same, we too will have to chalk out plans to get quality faculty.
What are the other areas of management education in which AIMS decided to give more importance?
Well, the quality of management education has to be improved. And for that the most important thing will be curriculum revision. The curriculum should be updated through industry academia interaction. Another way of doing it could know about the best practices of all other management institutions.
With the opening up of Indian economy many foreign education institutions are coming to India. How would the IIM’s in particular face this challenge?
It is true that soon many well known foreign business schools might show interest in coming to India. And we wont be surprised if business schools like Harvard too wants to set up base here. But that would not be of competition o the IIM’s. These schools would not be able to charge anything below fifteen lakh for their courses, where as a student at IIMC have to merely rupees two lakh as course fee. But then the IIM’s too will have to update their teaching tools and techniques. However one good thing that will happen to management education in India if big foreign B-schools come here is that the Indian B-schools with poor academic quality will get wiped out.
It is true that with B-schools mushrooming in every part of India there is a concern with the quality of education imparted by them.
Right. Many of them flout norms set by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). But hen such B-Schools can only be brought to books if AICTE has a strong enforcement team.
Many educationists feel that the proposed twenty seven percent reservation of OBC’s in the higher education institution including the IIM’s would result in fall of quality of education, is the popular view. Do you fear the same?
The IIM’s in any case have to increases their intake capacity in the coming years. In a country with such huge population offering 1500 seats collectively cannot satisfy us. We will have to implement OBC quota once he ministry of human resource development gives us green signal. For that we are already working on our infrastructure development and would ensure that the quality does not suffer.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
The annual convention of AIMS, which is the body representing all the management institutes of the country was held at your campus last week. What are the areas on which the management institutions will have to work in future?
The most important agenda for all the management institutes in the country will be getting good faculty. With corporate making lucrative offers and the management houses failing to match it, most of the best minds are not joining teaching profession. In next one year one of the most important work of AIMS will be to identify ways to get goof faculty and retain them. The scenario at IIMC too is same, we too will have to chalk out plans to get quality faculty.
What are the other areas of management education in which AIMS decided to give more importance?
Well, the quality of management education has to be improved. And for that the most important thing will be curriculum revision. The curriculum should be updated through industry academia interaction. Another way of doing it could know about the best practices of all other management institutions.
With the opening up of Indian economy many foreign education institutions are coming to India. How would the IIM’s in particular face this challenge?
It is true that soon many well known foreign business schools might show interest in coming to India. And we wont be surprised if business schools like Harvard too wants to set up base here. But that would not be of competition o the IIM’s. These schools would not be able to charge anything below fifteen lakh for their courses, where as a student at IIMC have to merely rupees two lakh as course fee. But then the IIM’s too will have to update their teaching tools and techniques. However one good thing that will happen to management education in India if big foreign B-schools come here is that the Indian B-schools with poor academic quality will get wiped out.
It is true that with B-schools mushrooming in every part of India there is a concern with the quality of education imparted by them.
Right. Many of them flout norms set by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). But hen such B-Schools can only be brought to books if AICTE has a strong enforcement team.
Many educationists feel that the proposed twenty seven percent reservation of OBC’s in the higher education institution including the IIM’s would result in fall of quality of education, is the popular view. Do you fear the same?
The IIM’s in any case have to increases their intake capacity in the coming years. In a country with such huge population offering 1500 seats collectively cannot satisfy us. We will have to implement OBC quota once he ministry of human resource development gives us green signal. For that we are already working on our infrastructure development and would ensure that the quality does not suffer.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Students of higher education ministers’ college score a perfect zero in Political science
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 22, 2007
ALL POLITICAL science students of Serampore College have failed in the part II general exam of Calcutta University (CU). This year, 372 students from the college had taken the exam and of them 120 students had political science as one of the subjects. Most of the students have scored between 0 and 20.
The incident has shocked higher education minister Sudarshan Raichowdhury, who had taught political science at the college and was also head of the department. The minister, who retired in 2006 just before the state Assembly election, declined to comment on the poor show, but said: “I have left the college long back and am not aware of recent activities. As per decorum, Calcutta University will look into the matter.”
The result has, however, left the students fuming. On Wednesday they submitted a deputation to the university’s pro vice-chancellor (academic) Suranjan Das.
“It’s ridiculous. How can the students score such low marks? We fear that either the answer scripts were lost or error crept in during checking or tabulation. We want our problem to be resolved,” said a student of the college.
The university has, however, ruled out negligence on its part. “We will help the students and ensure that they do not suffer. If they want, the students can either apply for a review or come and see the answer scripts. We too are surprised by the incident, but don’t feel there has been any negligence on the examiner’s part,” said a top official of the university.
The result was published last Friday. This is the second time that BA part II results of the university have come under scrutiny. Students of Biharilal College of Home Science had earlier complained that there was anomaly in their part II honours result. The university official acted on their complaint and found that tabulation error had led to faulty marksheets. The marksheets were recalled and fresh ones issued to the students.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 22, 2007
ALL POLITICAL science students of Serampore College have failed in the part II general exam of Calcutta University (CU). This year, 372 students from the college had taken the exam and of them 120 students had political science as one of the subjects. Most of the students have scored between 0 and 20.
The incident has shocked higher education minister Sudarshan Raichowdhury, who had taught political science at the college and was also head of the department. The minister, who retired in 2006 just before the state Assembly election, declined to comment on the poor show, but said: “I have left the college long back and am not aware of recent activities. As per decorum, Calcutta University will look into the matter.”
The result has, however, left the students fuming. On Wednesday they submitted a deputation to the university’s pro vice-chancellor (academic) Suranjan Das.
“It’s ridiculous. How can the students score such low marks? We fear that either the answer scripts were lost or error crept in during checking or tabulation. We want our problem to be resolved,” said a student of the college.
The university has, however, ruled out negligence on its part. “We will help the students and ensure that they do not suffer. If they want, the students can either apply for a review or come and see the answer scripts. We too are surprised by the incident, but don’t feel there has been any negligence on the examiner’s part,” said a top official of the university.
The result was published last Friday. This is the second time that BA part II results of the university have come under scrutiny. Students of Biharilal College of Home Science had earlier complained that there was anomaly in their part II honours result. The university official acted on their complaint and found that tabulation error had led to faulty marksheets. The marksheets were recalled and fresh ones issued to the students.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Guru Cool: De-stressing plan coming your way
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 21, 2007
IF CORPORAL punishment is a malaise then the remedy should begin with the perpetrators. Thinking almost on this line, the government has decided to de-stress teachers.
The government has come to believe that increase in cases of corporal punishment is linked to rising tension in teachers. “Teachers these days are extremely stressed. At times this gets expressed while handling students. We want to reduce their stress level and a programme will soon be in place to tackle the problem,” said school education minister Partha De.
De has already conducted a secretary-level meeting and would call a meeting of teachers’ organisations on the issue. “We want to share our ideas with the teachers and would also ask them to give their suggestions,” said De.
As part of its de-stressing strategy, the school education department is planning to reward efficient teachers. This apart, parents will also be asked to laud deserving tutors. “They keep working without any appreciation. They will feel good if their job is recognised by the society,” De said.
The department is also exploring the possibility of ensuring “happy hours” for teachers at schools. “Teachers work under tremendous pressure. Joyful atmosphere in schools can help them cope strain,” the minister said.
Another factor contributing to growing stress among the gurus is the burden of additional responsibility. The worst sufferers are primary school teachers. Apart from their job, they need to care for all aspects of mid-day meals — from shopping to account keeping. They also help in carrying out election, health, census and several other government programmes. In between, they have to attend training programmes and organise sports and cultural activities for students.
“Primary school teachers have to do every thing apart from teaching. If teachers are resorting to corporal punishment then the system is at fault. The school education department should do something about it,” Kartik Saha, general secretary of Bengal Primary School Teachers’ Association, said.
Aware of the ground reality, the chief secretary, with the chief minister’s consent, had in March directed authorities not to engage teachers in non-teaching activities, but that has not helped. Expressing his helplessness, De said: “We have no control over the Election Commission.”
General secretary of the All Bengal Teachers’ Association Sibaprasad Mukhopadyay agrees with the idea of de-stressing teachers. “Increase in stress is a common phenomena. As work pressure is rising in schools, teachers often vent their ire on kids,” he said. However, he wants work atmosphere in schools to improve.
Private schools are also recognising the importance of de-stressing programmes. Mahadevi Birla High School has already taken the lead in this.
“These days, teachers need to know their subjects and also remain friendly with the child. Else, parents may drag them to the court. For teachers to perform well, de-stressing is a must,” Malini Bhagat, principal of the school, said.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustanimes.com
Kolkata, August 21, 2007
IF CORPORAL punishment is a malaise then the remedy should begin with the perpetrators. Thinking almost on this line, the government has decided to de-stress teachers.
The government has come to believe that increase in cases of corporal punishment is linked to rising tension in teachers. “Teachers these days are extremely stressed. At times this gets expressed while handling students. We want to reduce their stress level and a programme will soon be in place to tackle the problem,” said school education minister Partha De.
De has already conducted a secretary-level meeting and would call a meeting of teachers’ organisations on the issue. “We want to share our ideas with the teachers and would also ask them to give their suggestions,” said De.
As part of its de-stressing strategy, the school education department is planning to reward efficient teachers. This apart, parents will also be asked to laud deserving tutors. “They keep working without any appreciation. They will feel good if their job is recognised by the society,” De said.
The department is also exploring the possibility of ensuring “happy hours” for teachers at schools. “Teachers work under tremendous pressure. Joyful atmosphere in schools can help them cope strain,” the minister said.
Another factor contributing to growing stress among the gurus is the burden of additional responsibility. The worst sufferers are primary school teachers. Apart from their job, they need to care for all aspects of mid-day meals — from shopping to account keeping. They also help in carrying out election, health, census and several other government programmes. In between, they have to attend training programmes and organise sports and cultural activities for students.
“Primary school teachers have to do every thing apart from teaching. If teachers are resorting to corporal punishment then the system is at fault. The school education department should do something about it,” Kartik Saha, general secretary of Bengal Primary School Teachers’ Association, said.
Aware of the ground reality, the chief secretary, with the chief minister’s consent, had in March directed authorities not to engage teachers in non-teaching activities, but that has not helped. Expressing his helplessness, De said: “We have no control over the Election Commission.”
General secretary of the All Bengal Teachers’ Association Sibaprasad Mukhopadyay agrees with the idea of de-stressing teachers. “Increase in stress is a common phenomena. As work pressure is rising in schools, teachers often vent their ire on kids,” he said. However, he wants work atmosphere in schools to improve.
Private schools are also recognising the importance of de-stressing programmes. Mahadevi Birla High School has already taken the lead in this.
“These days, teachers need to know their subjects and also remain friendly with the child. Else, parents may drag them to the court. For teachers to perform well, de-stressing is a must,” Malini Bhagat, principal of the school, said.
Mou.Chakarborty@hindustanimes.com
Meet to map the future of management education in India
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 21, 2007
Students and industry leaders will meet at IIM, Joka, from Thursday to Saturday to decide the course of management education in the country.
The Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), a non-profit organisation which represents Indian management institutes and business schools internationally, has organised the convention on Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education.
“Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace and by 2020, we would be the third-largest economy of the world. At the convention, we would discuss in which direction management education as well as Indian industry should move so that we can make this transition without any hitch,” IIMC director and AIMS president Shekhar Chaudhuri said.
The theme, according to Chaudhuri, is a deliberate choice. “The founding fathers of independent India envisioned a future that would not only strive to fulfil its social, political and economic responsibilities towards citizens, but also act as a global player in promoting peace, freedom and democracy. Today, after 60 years of independence, we need to find out what we should do to help India become an economic super power in the future.”
AIMS has almost 500 management institutions as its members and its mission is to function as the professional association of management education in India. Its concerns include quality of management, manpower training and development, management research, curriculum development and promoting management education.
Talking about the importance of the convention, AIMS vice-president Uday Salunkhe said, “The people who will attend the convention are all future leaders of India Inc. It would not only help them decide the future course of management education but would also ensure that Indian economy has an inclusive growth and the happiness index of its citizen can be increased by brining maximum number of people above poverty line.”
Over 300 delegates from all over the country, including directors of various management institutes, deans, faculty members, students as well as industry representatives, will take part in the convention. The agenda includes how management education can be prepared for the future, discussion on curriculum, implementation of OBC quota as well as the probability of a fee hike at IIMs.
Talking about how the management institutes will implement the suggestions put forward at the convention, Chaudhuri said: “There is no direct implementation of the suggestions. But since representatives of management education will be here, they would go back to their institutions and implement the ideas, which would even include curriculum change if require. Most of the institution heads are also related to various government bodies, making policy decisions with regard to management education; and hence that part too will be taken care of.”
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 21, 2007
Students and industry leaders will meet at IIM, Joka, from Thursday to Saturday to decide the course of management education in the country.
The Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS), a non-profit organisation which represents Indian management institutes and business schools internationally, has organised the convention on Emerging India: Strategic Transformation of Indian Industry and Management Education.
“Indian economy is growing at a rapid pace and by 2020, we would be the third-largest economy of the world. At the convention, we would discuss in which direction management education as well as Indian industry should move so that we can make this transition without any hitch,” IIMC director and AIMS president Shekhar Chaudhuri said.
The theme, according to Chaudhuri, is a deliberate choice. “The founding fathers of independent India envisioned a future that would not only strive to fulfil its social, political and economic responsibilities towards citizens, but also act as a global player in promoting peace, freedom and democracy. Today, after 60 years of independence, we need to find out what we should do to help India become an economic super power in the future.”
AIMS has almost 500 management institutions as its members and its mission is to function as the professional association of management education in India. Its concerns include quality of management, manpower training and development, management research, curriculum development and promoting management education.
Talking about the importance of the convention, AIMS vice-president Uday Salunkhe said, “The people who will attend the convention are all future leaders of India Inc. It would not only help them decide the future course of management education but would also ensure that Indian economy has an inclusive growth and the happiness index of its citizen can be increased by brining maximum number of people above poverty line.”
Over 300 delegates from all over the country, including directors of various management institutes, deans, faculty members, students as well as industry representatives, will take part in the convention. The agenda includes how management education can be prepared for the future, discussion on curriculum, implementation of OBC quota as well as the probability of a fee hike at IIMs.
Talking about how the management institutes will implement the suggestions put forward at the convention, Chaudhuri said: “There is no direct implementation of the suggestions. But since representatives of management education will be here, they would go back to their institutions and implement the ideas, which would even include curriculum change if require. Most of the institution heads are also related to various government bodies, making policy decisions with regard to management education; and hence that part too will be taken care of.”
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Monday, August 20, 2007
Teachers says‘no’ to unit tests
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 20, 2007
A SECTION of Bengal teachers are protesting against the implementation of unit tests in secondary schools.
From this academic session, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has introduced eight unit tests in a year in all secondary schools. It is this move that has ruffled the feathers of many teachers who believe that the plan is detrimental to the interest of students.
“This (unit test) is not helping students. To the contrary, the unscientific process is hampering their studies. As a mark of protest against the decision, we will not attend the state government’s function on the occasion of Teachers’ Day,” said general secretary of School Teachers & Employees’ Association (STEA) Subhankar Bandopadhyay.
The teachers said that several schools did not have the required infrastructure and atmosphere to conduct unit tests.
Bandopadhyay said: “Most of the schools do not have proper building and often have about 250 students in every session. Is it possible for the teachers to check so many answer scripts in a short span of time and point out the mistakes to students?”
Teachers belonging to the STEA said that several schools have not been able to conduct the unit tests properly. “If 6-7 students have to share a bench even during exams, then it becomes difficult for teachers to spot copycats. This makes it difficult for teachers to track the weaker ones,” said Bandopadhyay.
The teachers are also unhappy with the pass marks for the unit tests. “Earlier, a student had to score 34 to pass in a subject, but for unit tests it is 25. It means that students who would otherwise have been declared unsuccessful will now pass in the new system,” he rued.
The STEA is also angry with the government for extending the number of periods. To accommodate remedial classes after unit tests, schools now have eight periods instead of seven. This, several teachers feel, is discouraging students from coming to school.
“Most students come from poor family and do not have the privilege of enjoying a full meal before coming to school. By the seventh period students are exhausted. So, when the eight period starts they are not in a position to take any more input,” Bandopadhyay said.
The STEA has decided to hit the streets with their demands. Other than urging the school education minister to withdraw unit tests, the STEA will hold a protest meeting in front of Bikash Bhavan on September 21. For now, the outfit has planned a massive signature campaign among teachers from Tuesday.
The teachers are also not happy with the proposed move of the government to start no detention policy in primary schools. If the proposal is implemented, students will be eligible for promotion even if they fail in two subjects.
Mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 20, 2007
A SECTION of Bengal teachers are protesting against the implementation of unit tests in secondary schools.
From this academic session, the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education has introduced eight unit tests in a year in all secondary schools. It is this move that has ruffled the feathers of many teachers who believe that the plan is detrimental to the interest of students.
“This (unit test) is not helping students. To the contrary, the unscientific process is hampering their studies. As a mark of protest against the decision, we will not attend the state government’s function on the occasion of Teachers’ Day,” said general secretary of School Teachers & Employees’ Association (STEA) Subhankar Bandopadhyay.
The teachers said that several schools did not have the required infrastructure and atmosphere to conduct unit tests.
Bandopadhyay said: “Most of the schools do not have proper building and often have about 250 students in every session. Is it possible for the teachers to check so many answer scripts in a short span of time and point out the mistakes to students?”
Teachers belonging to the STEA said that several schools have not been able to conduct the unit tests properly. “If 6-7 students have to share a bench even during exams, then it becomes difficult for teachers to spot copycats. This makes it difficult for teachers to track the weaker ones,” said Bandopadhyay.
The teachers are also unhappy with the pass marks for the unit tests. “Earlier, a student had to score 34 to pass in a subject, but for unit tests it is 25. It means that students who would otherwise have been declared unsuccessful will now pass in the new system,” he rued.
The STEA is also angry with the government for extending the number of periods. To accommodate remedial classes after unit tests, schools now have eight periods instead of seven. This, several teachers feel, is discouraging students from coming to school.
“Most students come from poor family and do not have the privilege of enjoying a full meal before coming to school. By the seventh period students are exhausted. So, when the eight period starts they are not in a position to take any more input,” Bandopadhyay said.
The STEA has decided to hit the streets with their demands. Other than urging the school education minister to withdraw unit tests, the STEA will hold a protest meeting in front of Bikash Bhavan on September 21. For now, the outfit has planned a massive signature campaign among teachers from Tuesday.
The teachers are also not happy with the proposed move of the government to start no detention policy in primary schools. If the proposal is implemented, students will be eligible for promotion even if they fail in two subjects.
Mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Private schools appointing more teachers on contract
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 19, 2007
The number of contractual teachers in private schools of Kolkata is on the rise. This is not only affecting the quality of education in some of the best schools in the city but is also compromising the service terms and conditions of the teachers on contract.
Currently, the ratio of permanent teaching staff and contractual teaching staff in private schools of the city is 60:40. With permanent teachers retiring every year, the schools are consciously not appointing permanent teachers but are taking contractual teachers to fill up the vacancies. The Forum for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staffs of Private School of West Bengal representatives will meet school education minister Partha De by the end of this month and would discuss the situation with him.
While appointing full-time teachers means the schools will have to pay them salary as per government scale, a contractual teacher can be hired at a very cheap rate. While a full time faculty will expect a salary of Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000, contractual teachers are paid just Rs 2000-Rs 8000 a month. “With every passing year, the profit margin of the schools are increasing but the schools are no ready to share it with teachers. It is because of this that they are not appointing full time teachers,” said Leena Chatterjee, general secretary of the forum.
What is worse is that in many cases the teachers are not even entitled to a provident fund but get a consolidated salary. They are not protected by any service rules and are not even entitled to leave like permanent teachers. “As we do not have any service security, we cannot even raise our voice or else we would be sacked,” said a teacher of a prominent school in South Calcutta whose one-year contract expired three months back and has not been renewed yet by the school authority. Not just this, contractual teachers aren’t given maternity leave too.
In order to find contractual teachers many schools even comprise on the quality of teachers appointed. “We have to act according to the brief given us by the management. It is only natural that if we do not pay well and offer good service conditions, we will not get good teachers,” said the principal of a well-known English medium school in Dum Dum area. Contractual teachers thus often leave their job in he middle of a session if they find a better option, and the students suffer.
“This trend is catching up. In a decade, all private schools will have only contractual teachers. Since they pay is bad and there is no job security, only those who would not land any other job will become teachers,” said Chatterjee.
The government, too, encourages contractual teachers in government-aided schools. “The best thing would be if these contractual teachers are regularised. But if the government cannot ban contractual teachers appointment in private schools, it can find a nodal agency that can ensure better service conditions for them,” said Chatterjee. “If the schools flout norms, the government can cancel its no-objection certificate based on which schools get affiliation.”
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Kolkata, August 19, 2007
The number of contractual teachers in private schools of Kolkata is on the rise. This is not only affecting the quality of education in some of the best schools in the city but is also compromising the service terms and conditions of the teachers on contract.
Currently, the ratio of permanent teaching staff and contractual teaching staff in private schools of the city is 60:40. With permanent teachers retiring every year, the schools are consciously not appointing permanent teachers but are taking contractual teachers to fill up the vacancies. The Forum for Teaching and Non-Teaching Staffs of Private School of West Bengal representatives will meet school education minister Partha De by the end of this month and would discuss the situation with him.
While appointing full-time teachers means the schools will have to pay them salary as per government scale, a contractual teacher can be hired at a very cheap rate. While a full time faculty will expect a salary of Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000, contractual teachers are paid just Rs 2000-Rs 8000 a month. “With every passing year, the profit margin of the schools are increasing but the schools are no ready to share it with teachers. It is because of this that they are not appointing full time teachers,” said Leena Chatterjee, general secretary of the forum.
What is worse is that in many cases the teachers are not even entitled to a provident fund but get a consolidated salary. They are not protected by any service rules and are not even entitled to leave like permanent teachers. “As we do not have any service security, we cannot even raise our voice or else we would be sacked,” said a teacher of a prominent school in South Calcutta whose one-year contract expired three months back and has not been renewed yet by the school authority. Not just this, contractual teachers aren’t given maternity leave too.
In order to find contractual teachers many schools even comprise on the quality of teachers appointed. “We have to act according to the brief given us by the management. It is only natural that if we do not pay well and offer good service conditions, we will not get good teachers,” said the principal of a well-known English medium school in Dum Dum area. Contractual teachers thus often leave their job in he middle of a session if they find a better option, and the students suffer.
“This trend is catching up. In a decade, all private schools will have only contractual teachers. Since they pay is bad and there is no job security, only those who would not land any other job will become teachers,” said Chatterjee.
The government, too, encourages contractual teachers in government-aided schools. “The best thing would be if these contractual teachers are regularised. But if the government cannot ban contractual teachers appointment in private schools, it can find a nodal agency that can ensure better service conditions for them,” said Chatterjee. “If the schools flout norms, the government can cancel its no-objection certificate based on which schools get affiliation.”
mou.chakraborty@hindustantimes.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Independence Day pledge to offer jobs instead of seeking them
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 14, 2007
On the occasion of 60th Independence Day, students of IIT Kharagpur, Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Shibpur, Jadavpur University and various colleges in the city will take a special oath. They will pledge to become entrepreneurs paving the way for economic independence of the nation.
This will be a Pan IIT program where all the seven IIT’s will organise the oath-taking ceremony for the first time. University and college students will take the oath across 17 cities in the country. IIT Kharagpur’s head of entrepreneurship programmes Dhrubesh Biswas is organising the program for eastern India. “We feel this will motivate students to become job givers rather than job seekers and give a big push to the Indian economy,” said Biswas. Invitations have been sent to all college and universities in Kolkata.
On August 15 about 150 students from IIT-KGP will arrive in Kolkata to take the oath with other students in the city. “The pledge will talk about creating equal opportunities by creating enterprises to liberate our country,” said Biswas. The pledge will be taken at 5 pm, followed by a panel discussion on entrepreneurship. Leaflets and information brochures will also be distributed to students.
Though people take many such pledges as on new years’ day and promptly forget all about it, Biswas hopes students will remember this pledge. “It true that people often forget their oaths but we are trying to make it very special. There will help at hand for interested students and we feel many students will take it up seriously.” The department of science and technology, Intel and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum are sponsoring the program.
The entrepreneurship ventures have been divided into two categories — hi-tech and livelihood based — and deserving proposals will be given financial help and students can avail requisite training from the IIT. “In order to groom students to become entrepreneurs we need to catch them young. This is just the beginning and from next year we will try to conduct this event in schools as well,” said Biswas.
The oath-taking ceremony will be followed by a daylong entrepreneurship conclave to be organised in IIT-KGP on August 17. Institutions from Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal will take part.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 14, 2007
On the occasion of 60th Independence Day, students of IIT Kharagpur, Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU), Shibpur, Jadavpur University and various colleges in the city will take a special oath. They will pledge to become entrepreneurs paving the way for economic independence of the nation.
This will be a Pan IIT program where all the seven IIT’s will organise the oath-taking ceremony for the first time. University and college students will take the oath across 17 cities in the country. IIT Kharagpur’s head of entrepreneurship programmes Dhrubesh Biswas is organising the program for eastern India. “We feel this will motivate students to become job givers rather than job seekers and give a big push to the Indian economy,” said Biswas. Invitations have been sent to all college and universities in Kolkata.
On August 15 about 150 students from IIT-KGP will arrive in Kolkata to take the oath with other students in the city. “The pledge will talk about creating equal opportunities by creating enterprises to liberate our country,” said Biswas. The pledge will be taken at 5 pm, followed by a panel discussion on entrepreneurship. Leaflets and information brochures will also be distributed to students.
Though people take many such pledges as on new years’ day and promptly forget all about it, Biswas hopes students will remember this pledge. “It true that people often forget their oaths but we are trying to make it very special. There will help at hand for interested students and we feel many students will take it up seriously.” The department of science and technology, Intel and the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum are sponsoring the program.
The entrepreneurship ventures have been divided into two categories — hi-tech and livelihood based — and deserving proposals will be given financial help and students can avail requisite training from the IIT. “In order to groom students to become entrepreneurs we need to catch them young. This is just the beginning and from next year we will try to conduct this event in schools as well,” said Biswas.
The oath-taking ceremony will be followed by a daylong entrepreneurship conclave to be organised in IIT-KGP on August 17. Institutions from Assam, Tripura, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Bengal will take part.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Monday, August 13, 2007
State hunts for JEE alternative
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 13, 2007
In its attempts to find an alternative for West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) the higher education ministry is studying the Tamil Nadu model and is discussing the possibility of implementing some of the points in Bengal. The state will also consider looking into the Maharashtra model before taking a final decision.
The ministry decided to find an alternative to WBJEE or fine tune it following the busting of the fake examinee racket last month. The state is trying to go for a system that so that the “teaching shops,” which coaches students for WBJEE are stopped. The system should also be transparent and give a fair chance to all candidates. The state also wants the new set up to be simple. However whether WBJEE be reformed or abolished will be decided by mid September.
The director of technical education, Sajal Dasgupta and joint secretary of technical education, Monotosh Biswas was sent to Tamil Nadu to see how the students are admitted in various professional courses after Class XII without any entrance exam. Maharastra on the other hand was already admitting students in professional courses after their Class XII tests, but has introduced JEE from this year. The state now wants to find out why Maharastra opted for a change.
From 2005, Tamil Nadu has discontinued the Common Entrance Test (CET) and are admitting students in professional courses like B.E, B.Tech, B.Arch and allied courses, M.B.B.S, B.D.S, B.Pharm and allied courses on the basis of marks obtained in Class XII board exam. The then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, chose to change the system because she thought he CET had become traumatic for the rural students.
The process is simple, all boards including the state are asked to submit the highest marks obtained in each subject. Then the marks obtained by the applicants are converted into percentile and the students are offered seats as per rank.
The state higher education minister, Sudarsan Raychaudhuri, has been briefed about the Tamil Nadu model. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “We need some more clarification before I make any comment.”
The state higher education department has liked the counseling system followed in Tamil Nadu. While in Bengal, the students taking WBJEE are merely allotted seats during the counseling session, in Tamil Nadu all students are given computers where they can give their preference and see which seats are getting filled by students who have a higher score. The system according to the ministry is transparent. However, there is a negative side —there are court cases pending in Tamil Nadu.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 13, 2007
In its attempts to find an alternative for West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE) the higher education ministry is studying the Tamil Nadu model and is discussing the possibility of implementing some of the points in Bengal. The state will also consider looking into the Maharashtra model before taking a final decision.
The ministry decided to find an alternative to WBJEE or fine tune it following the busting of the fake examinee racket last month. The state is trying to go for a system that so that the “teaching shops,” which coaches students for WBJEE are stopped. The system should also be transparent and give a fair chance to all candidates. The state also wants the new set up to be simple. However whether WBJEE be reformed or abolished will be decided by mid September.
The director of technical education, Sajal Dasgupta and joint secretary of technical education, Monotosh Biswas was sent to Tamil Nadu to see how the students are admitted in various professional courses after Class XII without any entrance exam. Maharastra on the other hand was already admitting students in professional courses after their Class XII tests, but has introduced JEE from this year. The state now wants to find out why Maharastra opted for a change.
From 2005, Tamil Nadu has discontinued the Common Entrance Test (CET) and are admitting students in professional courses like B.E, B.Tech, B.Arch and allied courses, M.B.B.S, B.D.S, B.Pharm and allied courses on the basis of marks obtained in Class XII board exam. The then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa, chose to change the system because she thought he CET had become traumatic for the rural students.
The process is simple, all boards including the state are asked to submit the highest marks obtained in each subject. Then the marks obtained by the applicants are converted into percentile and the students are offered seats as per rank.
The state higher education minister, Sudarsan Raychaudhuri, has been briefed about the Tamil Nadu model. Speaking to Hindustan Times, he said, “We need some more clarification before I make any comment.”
The state higher education department has liked the counseling system followed in Tamil Nadu. While in Bengal, the students taking WBJEE are merely allotted seats during the counseling session, in Tamil Nadu all students are given computers where they can give their preference and see which seats are getting filled by students who have a higher score. The system according to the ministry is transparent. However, there is a negative side —there are court cases pending in Tamil Nadu.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Friday, August 10, 2007
Getting duplicate mark sheet of HS now a click away
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 10, 2007
THE MONTH-LONG wait for getting duplicate copies of higher secondary marksheets and certificates is over. Now, the West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has made it a five-minute affair. Moreover, with the council re-launching its official website www.wbchse.nic.in on Thursday, students and teachers of Class XI and XII can also avail relevant information at the click of a mouse.
As part of its IT enterprise, the council has initiated the process of digitisation of all certificates and marksheets of all pass-outs since the time HS exams began in 1978. It hopes to complete the job in three weeks’ time.
Once that is done, all one needs to do is to visit the council office, pay necessary fees and walk off with computerised printouts of duplicate documents.
“It is the duty of the council to provide students with duplicate marksheets and certificates as and when required. But to maintain this data we need huge space, which was slowly becoming impossible for us to provide. Moreover, stored data was also getting damaged,” said Gopa Dutta, president of the WBCHSE.
School education minister Partha De, who was present at the launch, said: “We will try to emulate the system at the madhyamik level. However, we need to ensure that no one misuses the facility.”
The council has taken care of the minister’s concern. It has created a back-up data for its archives and made the whole system password protected. “Once a person logs on to the system, the computer will automatically detect the date and time of access. Even the documents that the person had perused can be traced. Tampering will be impossible as the system can identify any change made to documents,” said WBCHSE secretary Debashish Sharkar.
The website has district-wise data of all schools and their addresses along with the subjects they are offering. “This will help students as they will be able to know about schools and the subjects on offer at the click of a mouse,” said Sharkar. One can access the website to know about the council’s exam and admission regulations or its annual working plan. Council circulars will also be uploaded regularly.
“The website was started in 2002 but became defunct. Now, all through the year both schools and students will benefit from the web effort. This data will also help researchers track changes in the state’s education scenario,” Sharkar said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 10, 2007
THE MONTH-LONG wait for getting duplicate copies of higher secondary marksheets and certificates is over. Now, the West Bengal Council for Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE) has made it a five-minute affair. Moreover, with the council re-launching its official website www.wbchse.nic.in on Thursday, students and teachers of Class XI and XII can also avail relevant information at the click of a mouse.
As part of its IT enterprise, the council has initiated the process of digitisation of all certificates and marksheets of all pass-outs since the time HS exams began in 1978. It hopes to complete the job in three weeks’ time.
Once that is done, all one needs to do is to visit the council office, pay necessary fees and walk off with computerised printouts of duplicate documents.
“It is the duty of the council to provide students with duplicate marksheets and certificates as and when required. But to maintain this data we need huge space, which was slowly becoming impossible for us to provide. Moreover, stored data was also getting damaged,” said Gopa Dutta, president of the WBCHSE.
School education minister Partha De, who was present at the launch, said: “We will try to emulate the system at the madhyamik level. However, we need to ensure that no one misuses the facility.”
The council has taken care of the minister’s concern. It has created a back-up data for its archives and made the whole system password protected. “Once a person logs on to the system, the computer will automatically detect the date and time of access. Even the documents that the person had perused can be traced. Tampering will be impossible as the system can identify any change made to documents,” said WBCHSE secretary Debashish Sharkar.
The website has district-wise data of all schools and their addresses along with the subjects they are offering. “This will help students as they will be able to know about schools and the subjects on offer at the click of a mouse,” said Sharkar. One can access the website to know about the council’s exam and admission regulations or its annual working plan. Council circulars will also be uploaded regularly.
“The website was started in 2002 but became defunct. Now, all through the year both schools and students will benefit from the web effort. This data will also help researchers track changes in the state’s education scenario,” Sharkar said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Future management gurus turn T-shirt entrepreneurs
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 5, 2007
Five IIT students have turned entrepreneurs off the beaten track by marketing customised T-shirts online. Business is brisk with more than 10 orders coming in daily.
Second-year students of Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSOM) in IIT Kharagpur — S Santosh Kumar, Nishank Agarwal, Dharmveer Arora, Ashutosh Chouksey and Amit Joshi — have launched www.webvastra.in just a month ago. Targeting students worldwide, their website offers five categories of T-shirts in different colours, with over 50 designs available in 60 varieties. All you need to do is select the T-shirt style, choose the design and then place you by paying online. Your apparel will be delivered to your doorstep within a week. The venture is being supported by STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneur’s Park) at the IIT.
“Our aim is to ultimately become an entrepreneur. All of us were toying with various ideas and we finally zeroed in on this one,” said Nishank, who had studied civil engineering from IIT Kanpur before joining VGSOM.
But they have not set up a manufacturing unit. Instead, they outsource the T-shirts from a Tamil Nadu-based company, which exports T-shirts to large departmental stores all over the world. The garments cost not more than Rs 259 plus Rs 40 as shipping charges, which make it affordable. “This has ensured that the quality of our product is very good and we have no manufacturing headaches. However, if there are any complaints about our products, we promise to replace them,” said Dharmveer.
With only Rs 25,000 investment by each of them, the company expects to break even soon. “STEP had helped us with all kinds of formalities, tax issues followed by the guidelines for operations. We will obviously have to invest more as the business grows and would also talk to some venture capitalist to finance the project,” said Ashutosh who is looking after the operations and accounts.
Sharing the workload, Santosh and Amit are the designers and they plan to hire professional designers soon. “Though we have many designs on offer, we can also make customised designs if clients want so,” informed Santosh. While, five new designs celebrating Independence Day will be uploaded by August 7, the five buddies will introduce customised pullovers, sweaters and cardigans by this winter. Soon to follow are customised coffee and beer mugs, cups and tablemats.
The budding entrepreneurs did their homework finding out market preferences and pricing issues. “We aimed at community portals such as Orkut and also sent our web links to everyone we know and this seems to have worked well for us,” said Nishank. They now plan to attract bulk orders from various institutions.
But will they be able to sustain the undertaking after they get jobs? “Why not? Everything is pre-set and web-based, we will not be required to put in much effort,” said Nishank.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 5, 2007
Five IIT students have turned entrepreneurs off the beaten track by marketing customised T-shirts online. Business is brisk with more than 10 orders coming in daily.
Second-year students of Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSOM) in IIT Kharagpur — S Santosh Kumar, Nishank Agarwal, Dharmveer Arora, Ashutosh Chouksey and Amit Joshi — have launched www.webvastra.in just a month ago. Targeting students worldwide, their website offers five categories of T-shirts in different colours, with over 50 designs available in 60 varieties. All you need to do is select the T-shirt style, choose the design and then place you by paying online. Your apparel will be delivered to your doorstep within a week. The venture is being supported by STEP (Science and Technology Entrepreneur’s Park) at the IIT.
“Our aim is to ultimately become an entrepreneur. All of us were toying with various ideas and we finally zeroed in on this one,” said Nishank, who had studied civil engineering from IIT Kanpur before joining VGSOM.
But they have not set up a manufacturing unit. Instead, they outsource the T-shirts from a Tamil Nadu-based company, which exports T-shirts to large departmental stores all over the world. The garments cost not more than Rs 259 plus Rs 40 as shipping charges, which make it affordable. “This has ensured that the quality of our product is very good and we have no manufacturing headaches. However, if there are any complaints about our products, we promise to replace them,” said Dharmveer.
With only Rs 25,000 investment by each of them, the company expects to break even soon. “STEP had helped us with all kinds of formalities, tax issues followed by the guidelines for operations. We will obviously have to invest more as the business grows and would also talk to some venture capitalist to finance the project,” said Ashutosh who is looking after the operations and accounts.
Sharing the workload, Santosh and Amit are the designers and they plan to hire professional designers soon. “Though we have many designs on offer, we can also make customised designs if clients want so,” informed Santosh. While, five new designs celebrating Independence Day will be uploaded by August 7, the five buddies will introduce customised pullovers, sweaters and cardigans by this winter. Soon to follow are customised coffee and beer mugs, cups and tablemats.
The budding entrepreneurs did their homework finding out market preferences and pricing issues. “We aimed at community portals such as Orkut and also sent our web links to everyone we know and this seems to have worked well for us,” said Nishank. They now plan to attract bulk orders from various institutions.
But will they be able to sustain the undertaking after they get jobs? “Why not? Everything is pre-set and web-based, we will not be required to put in much effort,” said Nishank.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Two IIMs to lock horns on playfields
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 5, 2007
If you think that IIMs are all work and no play, you would be very far from the truth. For the first time, two IIMs are getting together to organise a sports meet and it is set to be an annual event pitting all six IIMs against each other soon.
For this time though, IIM Bangalore will be the only participant, other than hosts IIMC to take part in the sports meet named Samhar, loosely translated as “attack”. The even will be held on August 11 and 12. The organisers had tried to rope in IIM Ahmedabad but they could not make it due to some prior engagements. “All IIT’s have a common sports meet but no such event has ever been organised by the IIMs,” said Prof Anindya Sen, dean of program and research initiative, IIMC.
Talking about the need for sports in the lives of budding managers, Amit Kamble, sports secretary of IIMC said, “As would-be managers we need to learn both how to be leaders as well as good followers. And what better way to learn that than through sports.” The meet would serve as the foundation of future IIM meets, be it sports or otherwise, in the years to come, the sports secretary said. “IIMC has always been active in sports and cultural events, so it is not surprising that we have initiated this meet,” he added.
For the inaugural games, 15 disciplines including basketball, football, badminton, tennis, athletics and cricket will see 85 boys and girls from IIMB and 100 from the host institute fighting it out for top honours. The remaining 500-odd students of IIMC will be amongst the audience. Since the institute does not have a cricket pitch, it will be the only event that will be held elsewhere. “We are hiring a stadium for the event,” said Kamble.
Kamble will be writing to all six IIMs to make plans for a common games meet in 2008. “This is the best platform to know each other, but the biggest problem is that none of the IIMs can manage to have a free week when the event could be scheduled. We hope at least IIMA would join us next year,” said Vijay Anand Menon, a second-year IIMC student.
After the battles on the field, there will be a gala performance by the popular IIMC band, JBS BaroC, as well as their compatriots from IIMB.
Last year, the Kolkata institute boasted of the best placements in the country, upsetting the apple carts of IIMA and IIMB and the latter would be thirsting for revenge at the IIMC’s lair. May the best team win!
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 5, 2007
If you think that IIMs are all work and no play, you would be very far from the truth. For the first time, two IIMs are getting together to organise a sports meet and it is set to be an annual event pitting all six IIMs against each other soon.
For this time though, IIM Bangalore will be the only participant, other than hosts IIMC to take part in the sports meet named Samhar, loosely translated as “attack”. The even will be held on August 11 and 12. The organisers had tried to rope in IIM Ahmedabad but they could not make it due to some prior engagements. “All IIT’s have a common sports meet but no such event has ever been organised by the IIMs,” said Prof Anindya Sen, dean of program and research initiative, IIMC.
Talking about the need for sports in the lives of budding managers, Amit Kamble, sports secretary of IIMC said, “As would-be managers we need to learn both how to be leaders as well as good followers. And what better way to learn that than through sports.” The meet would serve as the foundation of future IIM meets, be it sports or otherwise, in the years to come, the sports secretary said. “IIMC has always been active in sports and cultural events, so it is not surprising that we have initiated this meet,” he added.
For the inaugural games, 15 disciplines including basketball, football, badminton, tennis, athletics and cricket will see 85 boys and girls from IIMB and 100 from the host institute fighting it out for top honours. The remaining 500-odd students of IIMC will be amongst the audience. Since the institute does not have a cricket pitch, it will be the only event that will be held elsewhere. “We are hiring a stadium for the event,” said Kamble.
Kamble will be writing to all six IIMs to make plans for a common games meet in 2008. “This is the best platform to know each other, but the biggest problem is that none of the IIMs can manage to have a free week when the event could be scheduled. We hope at least IIMA would join us next year,” said Vijay Anand Menon, a second-year IIMC student.
After the battles on the field, there will be a gala performance by the popular IIMC band, JBS BaroC, as well as their compatriots from IIMB.
Last year, the Kolkata institute boasted of the best placements in the country, upsetting the apple carts of IIMA and IIMB and the latter would be thirsting for revenge at the IIMC’s lair. May the best team win!
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Friday, August 3, 2007
SFI suspect insider job in WBJEE scam
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 3, 2007
Students Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)’s students wing on Friday said they suspect employees and members of the West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam board behind the recent admission racket.
SFI pointed out that the WBJEE racket might not have been operated successfully without the help of some insiders from the board. “The racket is so big that we cannot keep the people in the WBJEE board above suspicion. The impersonators and racketeers would not have succeeded with the help of invigilators alone,” said Sudip Sengupta, state president of SFI.
The students’ body has found several loopholes that points to insiders and has recommended restructuring of the board.
“The board sends two invigilators to every exam centre and even they failed to recognise the dummy candidates. It is also curious that as many as 25 candidates from some exam centres were successful. A massive restructuring is necessary to cleanse the board,” said Sengupta.
He also countered that unlike the engineering course, transparency was not maintained during counselling for the medical course. “During the engineering counselling session, students had information on all aspects including the number of available seats. In fact, the information is still available online. But medical rank holders did not have access to such information,” Sengupta said.
The SFI has also urged the government, to form a committee to review the question pattern and the exam system as a whole, by comparing it with that of other states. “The committee must probe the loopholes and decide what is best for students. Suggestions from students’ organisations may also be solicited. We are also against only multiple choice questions,” he said.
The students’ organisation has also demanded choosing government institutions in place of private ones as exam centres. “Government servants have experience conducting many such exams and are also answerable,” he said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 3, 2007
Students Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)’s students wing on Friday said they suspect employees and members of the West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam board behind the recent admission racket.
SFI pointed out that the WBJEE racket might not have been operated successfully without the help of some insiders from the board. “The racket is so big that we cannot keep the people in the WBJEE board above suspicion. The impersonators and racketeers would not have succeeded with the help of invigilators alone,” said Sudip Sengupta, state president of SFI.
The students’ body has found several loopholes that points to insiders and has recommended restructuring of the board.
“The board sends two invigilators to every exam centre and even they failed to recognise the dummy candidates. It is also curious that as many as 25 candidates from some exam centres were successful. A massive restructuring is necessary to cleanse the board,” said Sengupta.
He also countered that unlike the engineering course, transparency was not maintained during counselling for the medical course. “During the engineering counselling session, students had information on all aspects including the number of available seats. In fact, the information is still available online. But medical rank holders did not have access to such information,” Sengupta said.
The SFI has also urged the government, to form a committee to review the question pattern and the exam system as a whole, by comparing it with that of other states. “The committee must probe the loopholes and decide what is best for students. Suggestions from students’ organisations may also be solicited. We are also against only multiple choice questions,” he said.
The students’ organisation has also demanded choosing government institutions in place of private ones as exam centres. “Government servants have experience conducting many such exams and are also answerable,” he said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Thursday, August 2, 2007
State Madrasas to become hi-tech
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 2, 2007
The Madrasa Board is all set to become hi-tech. On Thursday, the department of minorities’ development and welfare and madrasa education signed an MoU with Wipro in this regard.
According to the agreement, Wipro under its “Applying Thought in School” program will look to improve the quality of madrasa education. Fifteen madrasas are being involved in this 2-year pilot project. Wipro along with its partner organisation Vikram Shila has already started the project in Classes V and VI of some madrasas. “We are aiming to upgrade the academic and administrative system of the madrasas. We are working in 16 states all over the country but this is our first project in Bengal,” said Vijay Gupta, vice-president (community service) of Wipro.
The company will help the madrasa board to develop certain areas of the curriculum by trying to find out what the students want to learn and also what they need to learn in a competitive environment. They will then forward the suggestions to the board.
Wipro will also help the board to improve its assessment system and ensure that children do not learn by rote. Making questions knowledge, application and experience oriented would facilitate this. The company will also train teachers to be lively in class to ensure that students enjoy learning. Teachers will also be taught to be good education managers and administrative managers. “The aim would be to help teachers identify ways of teaching that would leave an impact on students,” said Gupta.
The minister of the department of minorities development and welfare and madrasa education, Abdus Sattar said, “We are trying to minimise dropout rates in school and this initiative will play a very important role.” Sattar added that teachers should not be content teaching but aim to learn education management. “Such programs will modernise the system and change the attitudes of both students and others involved by making everyone professional,” the minister said.
The ministry will start 100 new madrasas by the next academic session and 10 of these will be government sponsored. Currently, the only such institution in the state is in Hooghly. “The proposal has been sent to the finance department. We will develop learning resource centres in the proposed government madrasas and develop them as model institutions,” Sattar said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 2, 2007
The Madrasa Board is all set to become hi-tech. On Thursday, the department of minorities’ development and welfare and madrasa education signed an MoU with Wipro in this regard.
According to the agreement, Wipro under its “Applying Thought in School” program will look to improve the quality of madrasa education. Fifteen madrasas are being involved in this 2-year pilot project. Wipro along with its partner organisation Vikram Shila has already started the project in Classes V and VI of some madrasas. “We are aiming to upgrade the academic and administrative system of the madrasas. We are working in 16 states all over the country but this is our first project in Bengal,” said Vijay Gupta, vice-president (community service) of Wipro.
The company will help the madrasa board to develop certain areas of the curriculum by trying to find out what the students want to learn and also what they need to learn in a competitive environment. They will then forward the suggestions to the board.
Wipro will also help the board to improve its assessment system and ensure that children do not learn by rote. Making questions knowledge, application and experience oriented would facilitate this. The company will also train teachers to be lively in class to ensure that students enjoy learning. Teachers will also be taught to be good education managers and administrative managers. “The aim would be to help teachers identify ways of teaching that would leave an impact on students,” said Gupta.
The minister of the department of minorities development and welfare and madrasa education, Abdus Sattar said, “We are trying to minimise dropout rates in school and this initiative will play a very important role.” Sattar added that teachers should not be content teaching but aim to learn education management. “Such programs will modernise the system and change the attitudes of both students and others involved by making everyone professional,” the minister said.
The ministry will start 100 new madrasas by the next academic session and 10 of these will be government sponsored. Currently, the only such institution in the state is in Hooghly. “The proposal has been sent to the finance department. We will develop learning resource centres in the proposed government madrasas and develop them as model institutions,” Sattar said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
CU professor show-caused
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, August 2, 2007
For the first time in the history of Calcutta University (CU), a professor has been show-caused for tampering with the attendance of students.
The syndicate of CU arrived at this decision on Wednesday. The head of the university’s philosophy department, Dilip Mohanto, has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the university syndicate had asked him to resign from his post and give up his position as the convener of the PhD programme and other important posts he holds. The university also cancelled the professor’s sabbatical leave and show-caused him.
“He has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the syndicate has decided to take disciplinary action against him,” said Samir Bandhyopadhyay, registrar of CU. The university has sent the show cause letter to him on Thursday.
About 50 first-year and second-year students of the MA programme were barred from taking the exam because it was found that they did not have the required attendance. The students lodged a complaint with the university, based on which a one-man inquiry was ordered and the exam was postponed. After the inquiry report was tabled, the syndicate decided on June 26, to conduct a 3-person inquiry commission to investigate further into the matter.
The CU science secretary Shyamal Sarkar was the convener of the committee, while the other two members were Prof Shyamapada Pal and the dean of law, Prof I Ahmed. The committee tabled their report on Wednesday and it says that Mohanto has neither denied nor confirmed his involvement with attendance tampering. But, the report has pointed out his involvement as well his connivance in the case. It has also found that Mohanto had a high-handed attitude over his students and colleagues alike. The report was of the opinion that Mohanto has “not kept the prestige associated with his office.”
The accused professor had joined as a reader almost a decade ago and had held the post of professor for the last 3 years. “The head of the department should be above others, including equals, but he has not maintained transparency in his activities and has been undemocratic,” said Arun Kumar Banerjee, dean of postgraduate studies (arts) of CU.
The 3-man inquiry report has been termed as one of the finest investigations done by university in recent times. It has signatures from all the people concerned and has 12 disclosures, which give proof of his autocracy and tampering with the attendance of students. Questions are now being raised, as to why he had tampered with the attendance records that have endangered the future of so many students by trying to stop them from taking their exams. “The show-cause has been done based on the inquiry report and the university has asked him to reply,” said Bandhyopadhyay.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, August 2, 2007
For the first time in the history of Calcutta University (CU), a professor has been show-caused for tampering with the attendance of students.
The syndicate of CU arrived at this decision on Wednesday. The head of the university’s philosophy department, Dilip Mohanto, has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the university syndicate had asked him to resign from his post and give up his position as the convener of the PhD programme and other important posts he holds. The university also cancelled the professor’s sabbatical leave and show-caused him.
“He has been found guilty of tampering with the students’ attendance and the syndicate has decided to take disciplinary action against him,” said Samir Bandhyopadhyay, registrar of CU. The university has sent the show cause letter to him on Thursday.
About 50 first-year and second-year students of the MA programme were barred from taking the exam because it was found that they did not have the required attendance. The students lodged a complaint with the university, based on which a one-man inquiry was ordered and the exam was postponed. After the inquiry report was tabled, the syndicate decided on June 26, to conduct a 3-person inquiry commission to investigate further into the matter.
The CU science secretary Shyamal Sarkar was the convener of the committee, while the other two members were Prof Shyamapada Pal and the dean of law, Prof I Ahmed. The committee tabled their report on Wednesday and it says that Mohanto has neither denied nor confirmed his involvement with attendance tampering. But, the report has pointed out his involvement as well his connivance in the case. It has also found that Mohanto had a high-handed attitude over his students and colleagues alike. The report was of the opinion that Mohanto has “not kept the prestige associated with his office.”
The accused professor had joined as a reader almost a decade ago and had held the post of professor for the last 3 years. “The head of the department should be above others, including equals, but he has not maintained transparency in his activities and has been undemocratic,” said Arun Kumar Banerjee, dean of postgraduate studies (arts) of CU.
The 3-man inquiry report has been termed as one of the finest investigations done by university in recent times. It has signatures from all the people concerned and has 12 disclosures, which give proof of his autocracy and tampering with the attendance of students. Questions are now being raised, as to why he had tampered with the attendance records that have endangered the future of so many students by trying to stop them from taking their exams. “The show-cause has been done based on the inquiry report and the university has asked him to reply,” said Bandhyopadhyay.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
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