Tougher refund norms laid for professional institutes

Management and engineering institutions would not be able to confiscate fees if an applicant decides to opt out to join another college for better career prospects, a regulatory body said here on Thursday.

All India Council for Technical Education(AICTE) said in a public notice that institutions would have to refund the entire fee, after a deduction of processing charge of not more than Rs.1,000, in case the student withdraws before the beginning of the programme.

There were several complaints that the management institutions were not refunding money if students opt for another institution.

Taking a serious view of these institutes' malpractice of confiscating original school-leaving certificate of students, the AICTE said: "It would not be permissible for institutions and universities to retain the school and institution leaving certificate in original."

The AICTE regulates institutions imparting education in the field of pharmacy, management, computer application besides architecture and engineering.

The AICTE has also made clear that if a student left a college after the programme started, the institution would be required to return the fee after proportionate deductions of monthly fee and hostel rent.

Notices to 52 Delhi schools for not admitting poor students

The Delhi High court on Wednesday issued contempt notices to 52 schools that have failed to fulfil the obligation of giving 15 percent seats to poor students free of cost.

A division bench of Justices T.S. Thakur and Aruna Suresh said: "It's a serious matter and is a prima facie contempt." The schools had filed affidavits last year, promising to fill 15 percent of their seats with poor students who would not have to pay any fee.

A public interest petition (PIL) filed by Social Jurists, a voluntary organisation, alleged that school authorities while buying land at concessional rates from the government had agreed to provide 15 percent of seats to poor students free of cost but had failed to do so.

The schools that were issued contempt notice included Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, Apeejay Public school, Malviya Nagar, Greenfield Public school, Malviya Nagar, Ryan International school, Mayur Vihar and Salwan Public school, Mayur Vihar.

In May last year, the court had directed the city's private schools to comply with the rule from the academic session 2007-2008 on a trial basis.

The court on Wednesday reiterated that schools that do not comply with its order could be de-recognised and dispossessed of their land. The schools have to file their replies by March 27.

IGNOU to launch new Post Graduate Programmes

Indira Gandhi National Open University is planning to launch several new courses and formal study programmes on social work and HIV/AIDS, Masters in social work (MSW) to commence from July 2008. It will also launch a PG Diploma in social work from January 2009.

In another development, former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam released a book on HIV/AIDS and delivered a lecture on 'Giving Dignity to Human Life'. He was speaking at the first Mother Teresa Memorial Lecture conducted by IGNOU. The lecture was instituted after signing of an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between IGNOU and Catholic Bishops Conference of India(CBCI).

Class XII Physics paper lengthy and tricky, claims students

Class XII Physics paper lengthy and tricky, claims students complained that the question paper was very lengthy and tricky. Students even from Delhi's prestigious schools were so nervous that at the time of examination they all worked up.

"I was surprised to see the paper. Except 20 per cent questions, the rest part of the paper was designed to test the High Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)," said a student of Army Public School at Dhaula Kuan.

A student from Modern School in Vasant Vihar said the paper was both lengthy and tricky. "The five-mark questions were fine, but the problem was with the two-mark and three-mark questions which really required lots of analytical and thinking skills," the student added.

However, the students have said that not a single question was out of syllabus; only the paper was a bit tricky and lengthy.

Some students have altogether different comments on the paper. They felt that the paper was easy on account of it being application-based.

"The paper was easy and different and solving the questions was really exciting. Only you need your fundamental knowledge and clarity of concepts. If your concepts are clear, then attempting the paper would not have been difficult at all," said a student of Delhi Public School at Dwarka.

Physics teachers and experts also believed that the paper was not very tough. There were not too many questions pertaining to HOTS. Students were only required to think before writing their answers. The students who have attempted questions with full confidence, no doubt, they would get good marks, said a Delhi based Physics expert.

DU Academic Council for semester pattern in PG courses

post-graduate courses offered by Delhi University (DU) will follow a common semester pattern of examination. The decision was taken at the Academic Council meeting of the varsity held last week.

The varsity will also maintain uniformity in the academic calendar so that teaching and examination system on semester patterns are synchronized in all post-graduate courses.

Furthermore, the council approved a proposal to ensure some inter-disciplinary element in all the post-graduate courses so that students may get an opportunity to study courses other than their main discipline.

The varsity also constituted a Reforms Committee to review and re-organise post-graduate courses and research.

"In principal, all these things have been passed but we have to work out all the details. We will try and get it implemented before the next academic session. The inter-disciplinary concept is a major step forward. It has been approved by the Academic Council but it has to be implemented systematically.

The modalities of things like a common academic calendar have to be worked out by all the departments. The key is implementation," said an Academic Council member.

As per a Reforms Committee report, "Each Department Council would form a judgment and spell out the details about allowing students to choose courses in other subjects. This needs to be reciprocally worked out with the collaborating departments. We could think in terms of enabling students at the M.A./M.Sc. level to choose, say, 20 per cent of their course offerings which could be in related subjects or fields."

The Committee has scheduled the first semester to be held from July 16 to November 30 and the second from December 1 to April 30.

Indian Air Force - 125 Ground Duty Officers' Course for Men - 18 Short Service Commission Course for Men- 34 Short Service Commission Course for Women

125 Ground Duty Officers` Course for Men
and
18 Short Service Commission Course for Men
34 Short Service Commission Course for Women

Training Commencing In Jan 2009 At Air Force Academy, Hyderabad.

Last date for receipt of completed applications: 07 Apr 2008

For Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshdweep & Minicoy Islands. Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram - Last Date: 14 Apr 2008

1. Branch: Administration & Logistics (For Men & Women)

Qualifications: Graduation OR Post Graduation in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law OR Management AICTE Approved PG Diploma in Business Administration or Management (3 Yrs Part Time / 2 Yrs Full Time Course / Degree) OR Engineering.

Class/Division: First Class/ Div (Min 60%) for Graduates. OR
Second Class/ Div (Min 50%) for PG / Law / CA/ICWA/ PG diploma etc.


2. Branch: Accounts (For Men & Women)

Qualifications: Graduation OR PG in Commerce OR ICWA/CA with B.Com/ M.Com.

Class/Division: First Class/ Div (Min 60%) for Graduates. OR
Second Class/ Div (Min 50%) for PG / Law / CA/ICWA/ PG diploma etc.


3. Branch: Meteorology (For Men & Women)

Qualifications: PG in Science, Geography OR MCA (Provided Maths and Physics were taken at Graduate Level).

Class/Division: Second Class/ Div (Min 50%)


4. Branch: Education (For Men & Women)

Qualifications: PG in English/ Defence Studies/ Psychology / Maths / Physics / Statistics / Computer Science / Man¬agement

OR

M. Ed after PG as stated above OR Ph.D in the above stated subjects

Class/Division: Second Class/ Div (Min 50%)

Not Born Before:

For Graduates 02 Jan 86

Post Graduates / LLB (Five Yrs. Integrated course) 02 Jan 84

LLB (3 Yrs after Graduation) 02 Jan 83

M.Ed/Ph.D 02 Jan 83

No applicant should have been born after 02 Jan 89


INSTRUCTIONS :-

1. Submit your application to the nearest Command HQ (as mentioned) by ORDINARY POST only (Registered Post/ Speed Post/ Courier/ E Mail/ Etc not acceptable).

2. Superscribe on the envelope - Course name for which you are apply¬ing and CET Centre: 1..................2..................

3. Allotment of CET Centre will be at the discretion of Command HQ.

4. Staple two self addressed stamped (Rs. 27/- each) envelopes (23X10 cm) and two copies of unattested recent photographs similar to one pasted on the application.

5. Airmen and other government employees are to apply through proper channel.

6. Candidate appearing for final examination, may also apply provided they are able to provide provisional / final degree certificate by 10 December, 2008. In such case, the candidates are to submit a certificate from the col¬lege principal (annotated with proper stamp and seal of the institution) as to having secured 60% upto the previous year / semester, as applicable, and that the result is likely to be announced by 10 December, 2008

SELECTION PROCEDURE :-

(a) Thorough scrutiny of the applications by Command HQ.

(b) Common Entrance Test (CET) at the centres mentioned below on 25 May 08 (Sunday). The test will have objective and descriptive items to test the knowledge in English and General Awareness. Candidates are to ap¬pear for CET at their own expense. Once finlised, list of short listed candi¬dates based on CET results will be displayed on our website

(c) Selection Tests in two phases for short-listed candidates at Air Force Se¬lection Boards (AFSBs) at Dehradun, Mysore or Varanasi. Only those who qualify in Phase-I (first day) will be tested in Phase-ll (next four days). Rec¬ommended candidates will undergo Medical Examination at AFCME, Delhi or IAM, Bangalore.

(d) Onus of meeting eligibility criteria rests with the applicant. Merely be¬cause CET/SSB testing has been done would not constitute fulfillment of el¬igibility requirements.

(e) Finalization of Merit List and issue of joining instructions to the selected candidates depending on vacancies for different branches/Courses. 10% of the vacancies are reserved for NCC Air Wing `C certificate holders.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS :-

1. Must be an Indian Citizen
2. Candidate below 25 years of age must be unmarried.
3. Must not have been arrested, convicted or prosecuted on criminal charges.
4. The pay scale on commissioning after successful completion of 52 weeks training Rs. 8250 -300 -10,500. Stipend during training period as Fit Cdt will be Rs. 8000 pm.
5. The period of training will be 52 weeks. The training will include rigorous physical training, general sen/ice orientation, academic and professional subjects.
6. Promotion to the rank of Wing Commander after 13 years of service sub¬ject to certain conditions.

7. The initial tenure for Short Service Commission will be for a period of ten years. An extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirement and avail-ability of vacancies.
career_iaf@bol.net.in.

CET CENTRES:

1. Palam, Rajokri, Hindon, Chandigarh, Nal (Rajsthan), Srinagar (J&K), Jammu

Command Education Officer, HQ Western Air Command, IAF, Subroto Park, New Delhi -110 010.

2. Allahabad, Agra, Bareilly

Command Education Officer, HQ Central Air Command, IAF, Bamrauli, Allahabad (UP.) -211 012. Tils : (0532) 2233261, Extn : 5406/5419

3. Guwahati, Hashimara, Barrackpore

Command Education Officer, HQ Eastern Air Command, IAF, Nong Lyer, Shillong-739 009 (Meghalaya). Tele : (0364) 2223900 - 03, Extn – 2422

4. Nagpur, Ojhar (Nasik)

Command Education Officer, HO Maintenance Command, IAF, Vayu Sena Nagar, Nagpur (Mah). 440 007. Tele : (0712) ■ 2S12771 - 76, Extn: - 2253/2256

5. Vadodara, Jodhpur, Pune

Command Education Officer, HQ South Western Air Com¬mand, IAF, Sector - 9. Gandhi Nagar (Guj) - 382 009 Tele : (079) - 23242600, Extn - 5535/5536

6. Hyderabad (Begumpet and/or Hakimpet), Bangalore (Jallahalli), Chennai (Tambram)

Command Education Officer, HQ Training Command, IAF, JC Nagar P.O., Hebbal, Bangalore - 560 006 (Ktk) Tele : (080) - 23411081 -89, 23411061-69, Extn - 4335/ 4336

7. Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore (Sulur)

Command Education Officer, HO Southern Air Command, IAF, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 031 (Kerala).
Tele: (0471)-2551361-70. Extn- 334


Indian Air Force

Command Education Officer, HQ Western Air Command, IAF, Subroto Park, New Delhi -110 010.

Tel: 011 – 2301 0231
Fax: 011 – 2301 7918
Website: www.careerairforce.nic.in
Email: career_iaf@bol.net.in

Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology

Courses offered:	Admission to M.Tech. Programmes. Academic Session 2008-09 M.Tech. Programmes (Full-Time/ Part-Time) i) M.Tech. (Signal Processing) under the Division of Electronics & Communication Engineering ii) M.Tech. (Information Systems) under the Division of Computer Engineering iii) M.Tech. (Process Control) - under the Division of Instrumentation & Control Engineering
Application procedure:	For application forms and details, please logon to www.nsit.ac.in. Completed application form along-with attested photocopies, certificates/ testimonials and a demand draft/pay order of Rs.300/- (Rs. Three hundred only) in favour of Director. NSIT, New Delhi-110078. payable at New Delhi should reach to the Asstt. Registrar (Acad.. PG) latest by 30.04.08. Demand Draft/ Pay order should carry the applicant's name address and telephone number (if any) at its back.
Email :	-
Further details can be taken from:	Tel: 25099043 (Direct No.) or Ext. 2323 , 2314, 25099050. Website: www.nsit.ac.in
Address:	Dwarka, Pappan Kalan, New Delhi-110078
Last date of submission of Forms:	30.04.08

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Indian Education System

India has been a major seat of learning for millennia. The country has some of the best Universities (IITs, NITs, IISc, IIMs, AIIMS) in the world, it is also dealing with challenges in its primary education and strives to reach 100% literacy. All levels of education, from primary to higher education, are overseen and heavily subsidized by the Indian Government, though there is a move to make higher education partially self-financing.

Our Standard of education, especially in English Medium Schools in top cities, is among the best in the world and possilby it is the reason why India is fast emerging as a knowledge superpower. If such a standard is widely prevalent in Government run schools also, India will definetely attain the Vision 2020 as early as 2015 itself.

Even I accept dat India will attain d Vision 2020 in 2015 itself. But, wat will b India's story d day after? Wat happens in our class rooms 2day will happen in larger society 2morrow. And if v want 2 transform India's destiny, v definitely hav 2 begin changing wat r taught n how they r taught.

For instance, in a survey conducted 4 VIII standard students 4m d top private schools in Indian metros, only 37% of them were able 2 answer dis particular question, "What is the chemical formula of pure steam?" The survey team also compared their results wid those of international students who did exceeding better than their Indian couterparts.

The reason is so obvious. Be it a school under CBSE, ICSE r any other state board, d focus is always on high value scores in board exams rather than concentrating on imparting real learning. Learning seems 2 b taking place in watertight compartments wid little relation 2 real life.

The goal of education must not b 2 cover d syllabus but 2 uncover knowledge n dat is yet 2 happen. Thus, a change r rather a revolution in Indian education system is necessary.... b it an overnight or a gradual change..

INDIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

what do you think about education system of INDIA?
I think that we have reached far away from our traditional values of education like moral values, sound knowledge,mental development, spirituality and on the other hand our system is even not able to be compared with modern western education system in the area of innovation, creativity and academic exposure etc. at every level our education is based on mugging and we are just following some set trends again and again and judging students on the outdated and crap parameters. It is only the talent, ability, global opportunity and hard work of students, because of that they are shining on the globe. I think in this time of globalization INDIA is shining but education system of INDIA is the least contributer in success.........

examinations...ummhh 3 hours !!!

BAN exams ..... no 3 hour long, or even 1 hr long written question papers....

only assignments, questions based on the assignments and a small question paper based on assignments.... memory tests of objectives and SAQ's

detail understaning and long explanations, thru speeches, elocutions and assigmnets

After all, education should sharpen the voice boxes and critical thinking and give rise to healthy competition, furthering evolution and civilization....And written Exams dont do any of that.
They only support cramming and wommiting out of crammed matter in thre e hours.

so, at all levels, primary , middle and higher education, PG.....do away with Exams !

On college, career and exams

Small points this time:

College - a great opportunity to engage with subjects freely. In school they had no choice. Here they are free not to engage, but if they do and find "passion" in what they are learning - they can change their whole lives.

Career - Somthing that needs careful building and a thought out approach. Career is a term for life and does not mean a job. A career best blossoms when you think in terms of doing what you like. While many may choose to do the more lucrative careers and follow it for money alone, liking what you do and passion if found it transformatory. It does not matter what you do, but try and be the best in it.

Exams - Unfortunately, a problem as it is today. But try to conquer it so that you can pursue things beyond it. Write exams in how you understand theory and life. work hard to learn - then exams won't be hard. If you rote memorize, then exams will be harder.

Just some ideas - you can build on them.