Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 9, 2007
THE STATE government has finally decided to crack the whip on schools that are using names of saints to enjoy privileges exclusively meant for minority institutions.
School education minister Partha De on Monday announced in the Assembly that his department would scrutinise details of schools that have named itself after saints to camouflage as a minority institution.
“We have found that many non-minority institutions are naming schools after saints to enjoy rights given to minority schools. But we will not let that happen. We will be scan and find out who all are founding these schools and why,” De said.
Though the school education department would not encroach upon the constitutional rights of minority institutions, it would monitor the recruitment procedure, the minister said.
Making this clear, De said: “Minority schools can recruit on their own but we will like to know how they are appointing the teachers. Are they being given appointment letters? What are their service conditions and whom should the teachers approach in case they have face problems? We want all these things in writing from the schools.”
Pointing to the poor educational quality of mushrooming English medium schools in the State, Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy said: “While the first generation learners go to government-aided or government schools, the third generation learners are enrolling in English medium schools, where the quality of teaching is very poor. To stop this trend the government should start an English medium section in all government-aided schools too.”
Roy also suggested that the students should be given value education. “By spending so much money we are producing cyber coolie for the USA. We must introduce value education in schools so that the students can contribute for the country once they grow up.”
In his address, De stressed on the importance of life-skill education in schools and the need to teach students about man-woman relationships. “We feel that to save our students from deadly AIDS there is no harm in talking about man-woman relationship and its physical aspect. Even if we do not let the students know about it they will find it out from wrong places.”
In response to a remark by SUCI MLA Debaprasad Sarkar, De said: “Boys should understand what problems girls have and vice-versa. They need to know about all the problems of life. When we can teach a student to stay clean, we can tell them how to keep all their body parts clean, there is no harm in it.”
De further stated that to reduce syllabus pressure on students, the school education department would implement gradation in every class along with compulsory comprehensive evaluation. “We will slowly implement gradation in all the classes, we cant allow students to run after marks, our aim should be on what quality of students we are producing and not how much they can memorise.”
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Monday, July 9, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
RKM launches maths, heritage course
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 4, 2007
The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University (RMVU) on Wednesday launched the School of Mathematical Sciences and School of Indian Heritage.
While the School of Mathematical Sciences would concentrate on producing research scholars in basic sciences, the School of Indian Heritage is aimed at creating Sanskrit scholars. The central government has promised the university to grant Rs 59.26 crores under the 11th Five Year plan.
From 2008, the School of Mathematical Sciences will admit students for integrated PhD. The students will do M.Sc in maths and then proceed to do a PhD. From 2009, the university will offer integrated PhD in physics and from 2010 the university has plans to offer integrated M.Sc in both the subjects. The varsity has plans to start integrated PhD in theoretical computer science from 2011. The RMVU will admit 20 students through an all-India competitive exam.
“The School of Mathematical Sciences has been created to groom students for research in basic science. Researchers will be given teaching assignments for B.Sc and M.Sc students,” said Swami Atmapriyananda, vice-chancellor of the university.
The School of Indian Heritage will groom students in Sanskrit through an integrated M.A and PhD. Students will also have to study English, Hindi and computer science so that they understand the subject better and become hi-tech scholars. “The medium of teaching will be in Sanskrit. Students passing out would be world class scholars and help in interpreting Sanskrit manuscripts,” said Swami Atmapriyananda. “There is a demand for Sanskrit scholars who will not only conduct research but will also teach,” he added.
The School of Indian Heritage will also conduct research on ancient Indian scientific heritage. “Since we do not have scholars who are proficient in both Sanskrit and science we have not been able to show the world that many discoveries and inventions made by the West were actually done in ancient India. We will now concentrate on this apect,” said Swami Atmapriyananda.
“Faculty from foreign universities has already expressed their wish to join the School of Mathematical Sciences. We have also short-listed faculty for the School of Indian Heritage. If we can offer good money and research facility then many scholars would love to join us,” said Swami Atmapriyananda
The School of Mathematical Science will be located at the Belur campus and Swami Vivakananda’s residence near Girish Park Simulia Street. School of Indian Heritage will be located in Belur and the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark. The UGC also gave recognition to the universities nursing training course in Lucknow.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 4, 2007
The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University (RMVU) on Wednesday launched the School of Mathematical Sciences and School of Indian Heritage.
While the School of Mathematical Sciences would concentrate on producing research scholars in basic sciences, the School of Indian Heritage is aimed at creating Sanskrit scholars. The central government has promised the university to grant Rs 59.26 crores under the 11th Five Year plan.
From 2008, the School of Mathematical Sciences will admit students for integrated PhD. The students will do M.Sc in maths and then proceed to do a PhD. From 2009, the university will offer integrated PhD in physics and from 2010 the university has plans to offer integrated M.Sc in both the subjects. The varsity has plans to start integrated PhD in theoretical computer science from 2011. The RMVU will admit 20 students through an all-India competitive exam.
“The School of Mathematical Sciences has been created to groom students for research in basic science. Researchers will be given teaching assignments for B.Sc and M.Sc students,” said Swami Atmapriyananda, vice-chancellor of the university.
The School of Indian Heritage will groom students in Sanskrit through an integrated M.A and PhD. Students will also have to study English, Hindi and computer science so that they understand the subject better and become hi-tech scholars. “The medium of teaching will be in Sanskrit. Students passing out would be world class scholars and help in interpreting Sanskrit manuscripts,” said Swami Atmapriyananda. “There is a demand for Sanskrit scholars who will not only conduct research but will also teach,” he added.
The School of Indian Heritage will also conduct research on ancient Indian scientific heritage. “Since we do not have scholars who are proficient in both Sanskrit and science we have not been able to show the world that many discoveries and inventions made by the West were actually done in ancient India. We will now concentrate on this apect,” said Swami Atmapriyananda.
“Faculty from foreign universities has already expressed their wish to join the School of Mathematical Sciences. We have also short-listed faculty for the School of Indian Heritage. If we can offer good money and research facility then many scholars would love to join us,” said Swami Atmapriyananda
The School of Mathematical Science will be located at the Belur campus and Swami Vivakananda’s residence near Girish Park Simulia Street. School of Indian Heritage will be located in Belur and the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark. The UGC also gave recognition to the universities nursing training course in Lucknow.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
School, colleges rained off
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 3, 2007
It was a classic rainy day holiday with many schools and colleges closed for the day. Admissions and examination also were cancelled.
Due to water logging at B.T. Road, Rabindrabharati University was forced to cancel its MA Part II exam. New dates will be announced on July 5 for all eleven subjects.
At Lady Brabourne College a group of students from Malda and Nepal had come for admission. The college had scheduled Tuesday as the only day for admission in all nine science subjects. The students had walked through knee-deep water at Suhrawardy Avenue and came to the college only to be disappointed.
“It is virtually impossible to enter the college. Hence we rescheduled the admission date to July 6. Though some students from far away places did manage to come, but they were an exception,” said Sanghamitra Mukherjee, principal.
Bethune College too rescheduled the admissions for its science subjects to July 6. Hedua was completely water logged and Scottish Church Collegiate School and college declared a holiday. College employees who entered the premises found the science laboratory under one foot water. M.Sc Part I chemistry and botany exams of the college were cancelled and fresh dates will be announced later.
“The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the mayor should do something about water logging. I cannot imagine what will happen if it rains like Mumbai and Gujarat, the city will probably be washed away,” said J. Abraham, principal of Scottish Church College.
Water at College Street was waist deep and Presidency College cancelled its admission and counselling in physics, chemistry, maths, geology and geography. It has been rescheduled to July 6. The MA French exam at Calcutta University has been cancelled and a new date will be declared shortly.
With College Street turning to Venice, Hindu School and Sanskrit Collegiate School declared a holiday. Nearby Hare School also followed suit after most students and teachers failed to turn up. Birla High School, South Point High School, Julian Day School and Vivekanada Mission School were also closed.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 3, 2007
It was a classic rainy day holiday with many schools and colleges closed for the day. Admissions and examination also were cancelled.
Due to water logging at B.T. Road, Rabindrabharati University was forced to cancel its MA Part II exam. New dates will be announced on July 5 for all eleven subjects.
At Lady Brabourne College a group of students from Malda and Nepal had come for admission. The college had scheduled Tuesday as the only day for admission in all nine science subjects. The students had walked through knee-deep water at Suhrawardy Avenue and came to the college only to be disappointed.
“It is virtually impossible to enter the college. Hence we rescheduled the admission date to July 6. Though some students from far away places did manage to come, but they were an exception,” said Sanghamitra Mukherjee, principal.
Bethune College too rescheduled the admissions for its science subjects to July 6. Hedua was completely water logged and Scottish Church Collegiate School and college declared a holiday. College employees who entered the premises found the science laboratory under one foot water. M.Sc Part I chemistry and botany exams of the college were cancelled and fresh dates will be announced later.
“The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the mayor should do something about water logging. I cannot imagine what will happen if it rains like Mumbai and Gujarat, the city will probably be washed away,” said J. Abraham, principal of Scottish Church College.
Water at College Street was waist deep and Presidency College cancelled its admission and counselling in physics, chemistry, maths, geology and geography. It has been rescheduled to July 6. The MA French exam at Calcutta University has been cancelled and a new date will be declared shortly.
With College Street turning to Venice, Hindu School and Sanskrit Collegiate School declared a holiday. Nearby Hare School also followed suit after most students and teachers failed to turn up. Birla High School, South Point High School, Julian Day School and Vivekanada Mission School were also closed.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Centre to help woo investors and utilise WTO agreements
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 3, 2007
By the end of July, the city will have its Centre for WTO, to study the feasibility of Bengal as a destination for investors worldwide. It will also help the state utilise various WTO agreements for its benefit.
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has tied up with the state department of commerce and industry to set up the centre. IIFT was founded in 1963 by the Indian government as an autonomous organisation to improve foreign trade management and increase exports. On the other hand, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organisation designed to supervise and liberalise international trade and the majority of the world's trading nations are its signatories.
“The centre is being set-up to help the state government understand various WTO issues that will make an impact on the state’s industry, agriculture and services,” said K.T. Chako, director of IIFT.
Explaining why the centre was being set up in Kolkata, the director of IIFT’s Kolkata branch, K Rangarajan said, “Keeping in mind the ‘look east’ policy being adopted globally, Bengal is being considered as a gateway and it certainly has a strategic importance.” The only other Centre for WTO was set up at Delhi in 2002.
The centre will be partly funded by the state ministry of commerce and industry. The apex body of the Centre for WTO comprising of representatives from various ministries and from IIFT will meet during the middle of the month to decide upon the launch date of the centre. The centre will also have an advisory body where industry organisations such as CII, ICC, and BNCCI will be members.
The centre will give tips to the state on combating countries such as China that use the state as a dumping ground. It will also address various issues related to Intellectual Property rights. A databank on various aspects of industry in Bengal will be created to help foreign investors, the state and Central government and local industries assess investment opportunities. It will then be easier to decide how to invest in the state.
Among other things, the centre will create awareness among policymakers and the industry about various WTO agreements. It will co-ordinate with the commerce and industries ministry about concerns and interests of the state in the light of various WTO agreements. Challenges that various sectors such as agriculture, production, IT and BPO in the state might face will be looked into.
Newer areas would be explored and researchers at the centre will analyse the benefits and opportunities the state can derive from various WTO agreements.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 3, 2007
By the end of July, the city will have its Centre for WTO, to study the feasibility of Bengal as a destination for investors worldwide. It will also help the state utilise various WTO agreements for its benefit.
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) has tied up with the state department of commerce and industry to set up the centre. IIFT was founded in 1963 by the Indian government as an autonomous organisation to improve foreign trade management and increase exports. On the other hand, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organisation designed to supervise and liberalise international trade and the majority of the world's trading nations are its signatories.
“The centre is being set-up to help the state government understand various WTO issues that will make an impact on the state’s industry, agriculture and services,” said K.T. Chako, director of IIFT.
Explaining why the centre was being set up in Kolkata, the director of IIFT’s Kolkata branch, K Rangarajan said, “Keeping in mind the ‘look east’ policy being adopted globally, Bengal is being considered as a gateway and it certainly has a strategic importance.” The only other Centre for WTO was set up at Delhi in 2002.
The centre will be partly funded by the state ministry of commerce and industry. The apex body of the Centre for WTO comprising of representatives from various ministries and from IIFT will meet during the middle of the month to decide upon the launch date of the centre. The centre will also have an advisory body where industry organisations such as CII, ICC, and BNCCI will be members.
The centre will give tips to the state on combating countries such as China that use the state as a dumping ground. It will also address various issues related to Intellectual Property rights. A databank on various aspects of industry in Bengal will be created to help foreign investors, the state and Central government and local industries assess investment opportunities. It will then be easier to decide how to invest in the state.
Among other things, the centre will create awareness among policymakers and the industry about various WTO agreements. It will co-ordinate with the commerce and industries ministry about concerns and interests of the state in the light of various WTO agreements. Challenges that various sectors such as agriculture, production, IT and BPO in the state might face will be looked into.
Newer areas would be explored and researchers at the centre will analyse the benefits and opportunities the state can derive from various WTO agreements.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Monday, July 2, 2007
Presidency to churn out petroleum explores
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 2, 2007
THE PRESIDENCY College is all set to take another step in diversifying its course offering.
After starting the undergraduate course in biochemistry, the college is now gearing up to launch post-graduate diploma in petroleum exploration this August. Students who have completed their M.Sc in geology will be eligible to apply for the new course.
“We will launch this course in August. This course will make the students equipped to join the oil exploration industry. The oil exploration industry is seeing a boom and offers great career opportunity for geology students. We will also be able to provide placements as there is constant enquiry from the industry about our students,” said Haren Bhattacharya, head of geology department.
The college has handed over a letter to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on July 1 with details of the course. In the letter the college has also expressed its desire to tie up with one of the petroleum majors for the programme. In fact, it has suggested that Reliance PetroChem could sponsor the programme.
The college is ready with the syllabus and has sent relevant details to the higher education department for mandatory clearances.
Explaining the reason for introducing the course, Bhattacharya said, “After completing M.Sc in geology, students join the IITs to do their M.Tech. If we can offer the course here then students can continue with their studies here.”
The other significant advantage of the Presidency course will be its duration. While the M.Tech programme at the IITs takes three years to complete, the diploma course at the Presidency will be over in just one year.
The geology department currently has 18 teaching posts and the college feels this strength will be enough to start the new programme. But for the technical part of the course it will require visiting faculty from the industry. The college is in touch with oil giants like GAIL, ONGC and Reliance PetroChem for the purpose.
However, inviting faculties from the industry will entail huge costs. “For this we need sponsorship from the industry itself,” Bhattacharya said. The college will also need money to send students on industrial visits and trainings.
The college is, however, yet to decide on whether the course will be self-financed or not. To begin with, there will be 10 seats and applications will be invited after the M.Sc results are declared. The aspirants for the course will also have to clear a written test to be eligible for admission.
To make students ready for the industry, they will be equipped to identify various acquisition methods and legal processes involved in exploration, gain an overview of petroleum geology, geophysics and drilling, understand technical aspects of exploration, better visualize various exploration equipment/technologies and understand the major cost components and appreciate the technical and economical risks involved in petroleum exploration.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 2, 2007
THE PRESIDENCY College is all set to take another step in diversifying its course offering.
After starting the undergraduate course in biochemistry, the college is now gearing up to launch post-graduate diploma in petroleum exploration this August. Students who have completed their M.Sc in geology will be eligible to apply for the new course.
“We will launch this course in August. This course will make the students equipped to join the oil exploration industry. The oil exploration industry is seeing a boom and offers great career opportunity for geology students. We will also be able to provide placements as there is constant enquiry from the industry about our students,” said Haren Bhattacharya, head of geology department.
The college has handed over a letter to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on July 1 with details of the course. In the letter the college has also expressed its desire to tie up with one of the petroleum majors for the programme. In fact, it has suggested that Reliance PetroChem could sponsor the programme.
The college is ready with the syllabus and has sent relevant details to the higher education department for mandatory clearances.
Explaining the reason for introducing the course, Bhattacharya said, “After completing M.Sc in geology, students join the IITs to do their M.Tech. If we can offer the course here then students can continue with their studies here.”
The other significant advantage of the Presidency course will be its duration. While the M.Tech programme at the IITs takes three years to complete, the diploma course at the Presidency will be over in just one year.
The geology department currently has 18 teaching posts and the college feels this strength will be enough to start the new programme. But for the technical part of the course it will require visiting faculty from the industry. The college is in touch with oil giants like GAIL, ONGC and Reliance PetroChem for the purpose.
However, inviting faculties from the industry will entail huge costs. “For this we need sponsorship from the industry itself,” Bhattacharya said. The college will also need money to send students on industrial visits and trainings.
The college is, however, yet to decide on whether the course will be self-financed or not. To begin with, there will be 10 seats and applications will be invited after the M.Sc results are declared. The aspirants for the course will also have to clear a written test to be eligible for admission.
To make students ready for the industry, they will be equipped to identify various acquisition methods and legal processes involved in exploration, gain an overview of petroleum geology, geophysics and drilling, understand technical aspects of exploration, better visualize various exploration equipment/technologies and understand the major cost components and appreciate the technical and economical risks involved in petroleum exploration.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Madhyamik results leak probe panel submits report
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 2, 2007
The process adopted for the publication of the Madhyamik results is not foolproof. The private agencies deployed to compile marks and prepare the mark sheets are not trustworthy either. This is the conclusion one has to draw going through the one-man committee report probing the leak of Madhyamik 2007 result to the electronic media. The joint secretary of school education, R.K. Ray, entrusted with the probe, submitted the report to school education minister Partha De on Monday.
“The report has pointed out that the agencies that do the computer compilation of the results may have been responsible for the leak. That is the only gap found in the whole process from where information may have been obtained by outsiders,” said De.
After evaluating the answer scripts the teachers write down the total marks obtained by each student and their roll numbers into three mark rolls. One mark roll is given to the head examiner of the subject while another one is preserved in the confidential section of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. The third goes to the computer section.
The Madhyamik board does not have its own computer section; hence an agency is hired which is given the responsibility of compiling the marks on the computer by typing in the individual marks in the result format. Ray in his report has asked the board to streamline its computing system.
Inquiries by HT, however, revealed that under no circumstances could results have been leaked without the board’s knowledge. The name of the agencies that compile the result is secret and only the highest board officials know about it. Hence an outsider wanting to obtain the result from the agency could have got the name and address of the agency only from the board. On being questioned, De, however, said, “This is a question whose answer we are trying to find out.”
This was the preliminary report. A detailed investigation on how the leak happened and which people from the board could have been involved in it will be submitted in two months’ time. “I admit there was a leak, as the marks shown by the TV channels later tallied. More investigation is required to establish how exactly it happened and who are responsible for it. As of now, we did not find anyone from the board responsible,” said De.
“In the confidential room, subject-wise mark rolls of every student is kept in separate lockers. If someone wants to find out about the marks obtained he will have to break open the lockers dedicated to all subjects one by one, find the marks roll, break its seal and read it. This is a very laborious process and the security is very strict in the confidential section,” said an official of the school education department.
But board officials cannot get a clean chit yet. The investigation now will look at various aspects of result publication. After compiling the results, the computer section (the agency) sends the CD of the result to the board, which then sends the results for printing. Hence the leak could even have happened from the result CD kept with the board or even from the printing section.mou.hindustanimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 2, 2007
The process adopted for the publication of the Madhyamik results is not foolproof. The private agencies deployed to compile marks and prepare the mark sheets are not trustworthy either. This is the conclusion one has to draw going through the one-man committee report probing the leak of Madhyamik 2007 result to the electronic media. The joint secretary of school education, R.K. Ray, entrusted with the probe, submitted the report to school education minister Partha De on Monday.
“The report has pointed out that the agencies that do the computer compilation of the results may have been responsible for the leak. That is the only gap found in the whole process from where information may have been obtained by outsiders,” said De.
After evaluating the answer scripts the teachers write down the total marks obtained by each student and their roll numbers into three mark rolls. One mark roll is given to the head examiner of the subject while another one is preserved in the confidential section of West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. The third goes to the computer section.
The Madhyamik board does not have its own computer section; hence an agency is hired which is given the responsibility of compiling the marks on the computer by typing in the individual marks in the result format. Ray in his report has asked the board to streamline its computing system.
Inquiries by HT, however, revealed that under no circumstances could results have been leaked without the board’s knowledge. The name of the agencies that compile the result is secret and only the highest board officials know about it. Hence an outsider wanting to obtain the result from the agency could have got the name and address of the agency only from the board. On being questioned, De, however, said, “This is a question whose answer we are trying to find out.”
This was the preliminary report. A detailed investigation on how the leak happened and which people from the board could have been involved in it will be submitted in two months’ time. “I admit there was a leak, as the marks shown by the TV channels later tallied. More investigation is required to establish how exactly it happened and who are responsible for it. As of now, we did not find anyone from the board responsible,” said De.
“In the confidential room, subject-wise mark rolls of every student is kept in separate lockers. If someone wants to find out about the marks obtained he will have to break open the lockers dedicated to all subjects one by one, find the marks roll, break its seal and read it. This is a very laborious process and the security is very strict in the confidential section,” said an official of the school education department.
But board officials cannot get a clean chit yet. The investigation now will look at various aspects of result publication. After compiling the results, the computer section (the agency) sends the CD of the result to the board, which then sends the results for printing. Hence the leak could even have happened from the result CD kept with the board or even from the printing section.mou.hindustanimes@yahoo.com
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Freedom may just be days away for Presidency College.
Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, July 1, 2007
Speaking at the centenary celebration of David Hare Training College on Sunday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the final decision on granting autonomy — complete or partial — to the premier institution would be taken very soon. “We need more and more centres of excellence in higher education and Presidency College will be one of them,” he said. Higher education minister Sudarsan Raychoudhuri, who was also present on the occasion, added that the decision would be taken within this month.
The state government had formed a six-member committee for suggesting ways to develop the quality of education at Presidency College. Headed by West Bengal Council of Higher Education vice-chairman Subimal Sen, the committee submitted its report to the higher education department on May 30.
It suggested that Presidency be given special powers and concessions, which other colleges under Calcutta University do not enjoy, without being granted complete autonomy. But whether the state government will follow this suggestion is still not clear. “The matter will be discussed in the higher education council and with college authorities before a final decision is taken,” said Ashok Mohon Chakraborty, additional chief secretary of the higher education department.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister also expressed concern over problems dogging the education sector. Till now, the Left Front government had been harping on poor infrastructure as the biggest bane, but on Sunday the chief minister admitted that the quality of education too was suffering. “I am concerned. We are trying to find out ways to upgrade the academic standard. The problem begins right from the primary level,” he said.
There are 58,000 primary schools in the state, but not every child has the opportunity to go to school, he pointed out. “Despite our efforts, about 7-8 lakh students are still left out. In the 11th Five Year Plan, we will focus on this aspect and aim for cent per cent literacy as far as children are concerned,” he said.
Bhattacharjee also questioned the quality of teaching in schools. “Do teachers understand the needs of students? What is the quality of knowledge they gain after they pass out Class IV? These are some questions we need to answer,” he said.
Stressing on the need for vocational training, the chief minister said, “Every year, more than 500,000 students qualify the Madhyamik examination though all of them do not get first division. But that does not mean they cannot prosper in life. Vocational training can be the steppingstone to success.”
Bhattacharjee said the state government would open new colleges that will lay special thrust on science and technology. “Technology is our future. These colleges will help achieve our target,” he said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
Kolkata, July 1, 2007
Speaking at the centenary celebration of David Hare Training College on Sunday, chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said the final decision on granting autonomy — complete or partial — to the premier institution would be taken very soon. “We need more and more centres of excellence in higher education and Presidency College will be one of them,” he said. Higher education minister Sudarsan Raychoudhuri, who was also present on the occasion, added that the decision would be taken within this month.
The state government had formed a six-member committee for suggesting ways to develop the quality of education at Presidency College. Headed by West Bengal Council of Higher Education vice-chairman Subimal Sen, the committee submitted its report to the higher education department on May 30.
It suggested that Presidency be given special powers and concessions, which other colleges under Calcutta University do not enjoy, without being granted complete autonomy. But whether the state government will follow this suggestion is still not clear. “The matter will be discussed in the higher education council and with college authorities before a final decision is taken,” said Ashok Mohon Chakraborty, additional chief secretary of the higher education department.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister also expressed concern over problems dogging the education sector. Till now, the Left Front government had been harping on poor infrastructure as the biggest bane, but on Sunday the chief minister admitted that the quality of education too was suffering. “I am concerned. We are trying to find out ways to upgrade the academic standard. The problem begins right from the primary level,” he said.
There are 58,000 primary schools in the state, but not every child has the opportunity to go to school, he pointed out. “Despite our efforts, about 7-8 lakh students are still left out. In the 11th Five Year Plan, we will focus on this aspect and aim for cent per cent literacy as far as children are concerned,” he said.
Bhattacharjee also questioned the quality of teaching in schools. “Do teachers understand the needs of students? What is the quality of knowledge they gain after they pass out Class IV? These are some questions we need to answer,” he said.
Stressing on the need for vocational training, the chief minister said, “Every year, more than 500,000 students qualify the Madhyamik examination though all of them do not get first division. But that does not mean they cannot prosper in life. Vocational training can be the steppingstone to success.”
Bhattacharjee said the state government would open new colleges that will lay special thrust on science and technology. “Technology is our future. These colleges will help achieve our target,” he said.
mou.hindustantimes@yahoo.com
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