Modern societies, including India, are in a flux and need the intervention of disciplines like psychology to understand the complex problems and issues faced by people, said Pro-VC Prof P.R. Ramanujam while inaugurating the two-day national conference on 'Psychological Measurement: Strategies for the New Millennium', organized by IGNOU's School of Social Sciences (SOSS). The conference, held at the Convention Centre on March 4 and 5, focused on two major concerns with regard to psychometry. Firstly, what is the extent to which the contents and methods have changed with the changing world and how do we justify the use of old testing procedures, if we do; and secondly the concerns about the use of American and European testing tools on Indian population – do we have other choices that we can adopt? Can we standardize these tests in Indian context? Can we search for innovative methods? While releasing a souvenir of abstracts, Prof Ramanujam said, “This conference is aimed at evolving strategies to understand the psychological measurement in the context of highly individualized, social and cultural settings, wherein the old techniques may be found wanting.” In his message published in the released souvenir, Vice Chancellor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, remarked, “There has been a dearth of psychological equipment and test material that are entirely standardized in Indian conditions and exclusively for the Indian population. Experts in the field have made many attempts to devise psychological tests, but very little publicity has been given to their efforts.” “Psychological measurement is one of the most significant areas under the field of psychology. Measuring entities is a challenge mainly because these entities are intangible. Within the span of the century, psychological testing has come a long way. But, in the past 20 years, we have witnessed a changed world with the IT revolution. The exposure to information of all kind of age groups has indeed exploded, which has also affected psychometric test administration, scoring and interpretation,” said Prof Gopinath Pradhan, Director, SOSS. Emeritus professionals like Prof A.K. Sen, Professor (Rtd.), Delhi University, Prof Ajit Mohanty, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Prof Amulya Khurana, IIT-Delhi, shared their work and communicated their contribution to this field. They brought forward varied themes like current trends and future prospects in psychological measurement, pschyometrics in India and application of foreign tests in India and latest trends of psychological testing in organizations.
Three day programme on design, construction inaugurated at AMU
A three-day training programme on “Design and Construction of Flexible and Rigid Pavements” for engineers of rural engineering service of the government of Uttar Pradesh was organized by the Department of Civil Engineering of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). Inaugurating the three-day training programme, officiating Vice Chancellor, Prof. S. Abrar Hasan said that this type of training will be very useful to engineers associated with the rural engineering service for improving their skills. In his welcome address Department of Civil Engineering Chairman Razaullah Khan said that the present training programme has been planned to focus on the design and construction of rural roads and disseminate knowledge to the RES engineers. Besides the routine lectures by expert, extensive laboratory classes such as soil mechanics laboratory, highway engineering laboratory, concrete and structural engineering laboratory have been planned. He hoped that the integrated approach of classroom teaching along with laboratory practical will help the participants in enhancing their capabilities. Dr. Malik Shoeb Ahmad, coordinator of the training programme said that earlier, this training was organized in IITs but for the first time, the UP government has decided to conduct this training programme at AMU. He said that two batches of 30 engineers are participating in this programme. He said that the rural roads are the basic infrastructure required for the development of rural areas. These roads have been planned and constructed under various Rural Development Programmes of the government, such as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) focusing directly on the rural connectivity, keeping rural roads of uniform standard as the only deliverable. On this occasion, J.N. Medical College Principal Ashraf Malik, Principal, J. N. Medical College, Prof. S. Mahdi Abbas Rizvi, Dean, Faculty of Engineering an Technology also addressed the inaugural function. Dr. Fareed Mehdi proposed vote of thanks.
Haier launches new range of 3D LED TV
Haier, one of the largest Home Appliances & Consumer Electronics brands, worldwide, and the global no.1 in refrigerators and laundry appliances today, launched their new range of 3D LED TV in India. Haier's 3D LED TV range represents the company's efforts to continuously introduce pioneering, new technologies for the Indian consumer. With movies now being made with the 3D technology, viewers are very keen to experience the same in their drawing room. Seeing this trend, Haier has launched the 3D technology LED Televisions for an extraordinary experience. These 3D LED's pack a vivid punch of clarity, detail and depth in every frame and will be available in 140cm screen size, model no. LE55A310 and the MRP of the product is Rs 1,99,990/-. The most important highlight of the television is that it is equipped with 3D technology which provides a completely immersive and comfortable 3D home entertainment that has never been experienced. Haier 3D LED TV with a metal look and ultra slim design gives a very sleek look to the television. In addition to this, it is an eco-friendly product and saves power through its Optimal Power Control. Announcing the launch of their new range of 3D LED TV's, Mr. Eric Braganza, President, Haier India said, '' India is fast emerging as the key driver in the global television market and 3D LED TV is one of them. Haier's new range of 3D LED TV's provide an experience similar to one in a movie theatre. The new range of televisions from Haier represents companys efforts to continuously innovate and introduce new cutting edge technologies offering convenience to the consumers in the Indian market. Innovation, functionality, durability, eco-compatibility and clear user-friendly functions were the criteria kept in mind while designing these ranges of 3D LED TV's.”
CAG to submit audit report against 25 private schools
The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to submit its audit report on 25 elite private schools that had complained of facing a financial burden because of having to pay teachers higher salaries recommended by the 6th Pay Commission. Justcice A.K. Sikri and Justice Siddharth Mridul said, “CAG will have to submit its audit report by March 18. The Delhi government grievance department should also give us the details of complaint they have received from parents regarding fee hike issue in a year or two.” The court order came while hearing a petition filed by social jurist lawyer Ashok Agarwalla. Agarwalla said, “In clear violation of School Education Act, many of these schools did not offer 20 percent reservation to children from Economically Weaker Sections.” Challenging the schools claim, Agarwalla said Delhi's private schools that had complained they were reeling under the burden of having to pay teachers higher salaries are totally wrong. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), however, said they used the Pay Commission as an alibi to fatten themselves. The auditor held that 25 elite private schools passed on the burden of implementing the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission to parents, without drawing on the cash reserves they had accumulated by not implementing the staff salaries prescribed by the government. The money collected from parents on the ground of the Pay Commission's burden was transferred to their societies and trusts. Schools which claimed to be making losses didn't hesitate to acquire expensive cars, the report said. The indictment gets more serious as CAG found that schools paid salaries to fictitious employees and collected money under various heads in an unauthorized way. The CAG report, finalized last month, also found that while some contributed to the provident fund of fewer employees (National Victor School), others such as Amity International made contribution for more employees than those actually working. Sixth Pay Commission arrears were paid to staff not enrolled as employees. CAG has also severely criticized the Directorate of Education of Delhi government for failing to monitor these lapses. CAG had audited the accounts of 25 schools — Mount Carmel, ASN School, Sachdeva, Mother Divine, Sadhu Vaswani, Ryan International, St Mary, Birla Vidya Niketan, Air Force Bal Bharti, GD Salwan, National Victor, Amity International, DPS-RK Puram, GD Goenka, Maharaja Agrasen, Convent of Jesus and Mary, JD Tytler, Sardar Patel, Vasant Valley, Ramjas Public School, St Xavier's, Frank Anthony, Presentation Convent, Modern School and Summer Fields School. As for illegal transfer of money, CAG pointed out nine cases. Sardar Patel paid Rs.2.33 crore as usage charge to Gujarat Education Society for using its assets, Birla Vidya Niketan (BVN) paid Rs.5.23 crore as rent to Birla Academy of Art and Culture and Rs 2.5 crore on repair and maintenance.
Apex court nod for common MBBS entrance test
The Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for implementing the Medical Council of India's (MCI) notification providing for a common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses leading to the award of MBBS degrees. An apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik, while giving the go ahead to the MCI, said that anyone aggrieved by the notification can challenge it in court. “If you (MCI) think you are independent and don't require any approval from the centre, then you can go ahead with its implementation and if you think you need approval from the government, then go to it (government),” the bench said. The court further told the MCI that if it has already obtained the approval of the health ministry for issuing the notification providing for common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses, then it could go ahead with its implementation. The MCI on October 21, 2010 issued a notification providing for common entrance test for undergraduate medical courses all over the country. However, this notification was kept in abeyance in the face of stiff opposition by the Tamil Nadu government. The state government subsequently obtained a stay against the notification from the Madras High Court. The apex court said that it could not continue hearing the matter. It said it will not say anything in the matter and if the apex body regulating medical education in the country thinks that it can implement its notification, then it can go ahead and do so.
AICTE to refuse approval to part-time courses at B schools
The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) has decided to not permit any technical education programmes to be operated on either a part-time or evening basis at any technical institution. A senior AICTE official has informed that new part-time MBA courses as well as admissions to existing ones will not be approved by the council from the next academic session. B-schools in India are required to apply to the AICTE for renewing their part-time courses. The official said that the facility by the AICTE is being misused by several B-schools as they are using it to run other programmes on the pretext of part-time MBA programmes. “These B-schools are not working according to the framework that has been regulated and hence we have taken this step,” said the official. It is being said that the move by the council ay have an adverse effect on around 400 colleges and 20,000 students. There are about 2,500 management schools in India that have been approved by the AICTE. The B-schools that will be affected by the decision are not happy. Several management institutes in Mumbai have decided to file a public interest suit in the Bombay High Court. Directors at three B-schools have said that the new move by the AICTE would make higher education unaffordable and prevent the growth and development of working professionals who may want to further their education while they are working.
Court asks AIIMS to admit doctor to master’s course
The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to allot a seat in a masters course to an MBBS doctor who was denied this last year due to a change in the prospectus just before the counseling date. Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said, “The AIIMS authorities will have to allot a seat to Varun Aggarwal in PG course in the general category either in surgery, gynecology or orthopedics in the next academic session in July 2011.” The court was hearing the petition filed by Aggarwal, who had alleged that the AIIMS authorities had failed to follow the existing procedure and changed the prospectus just ahead of the counseling date in June 2010. On that ground he was not allowed to get admission in MS (surgery) despite holding 179th rank in the merit list. The court said, “The AIIMS may have been conferred with the privilege of institutional preference, but that would not enable it to change the prospectus in the manner it has been done. Thus, the action of the AIIMS on this score is vitiated and we cannot give a stamp of approval to the action of the institution.” “The hopes and aspirations of the students, who came within the zone of merit, cannot be scuttled by changing the prospectus by way of introducing a corrigendum. By issuing a corrigendum, the scenario of results changed because further results were published and more candidates were called,” the court observed. “The conditions stipulated in the prospectus are guidelines for all concerned and everyone is required to follow the same in letter and spirit and not act in transgression,” the court added.
Modest tuition fee catapults IGNOUs growth
The bulk of the Indira Gandhi National Open University's (IGNOUs) expansion has come about from internal accruals, notably the modest tuition fee that the University charges its students. This has been possible because its student enrolment has doubled in the past four years from about 1.5 million to over three million, prompting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare it the largest, most diverse and inclusive institution of higher learning in the world in 2010. This is in contrast to the general trend for higher educational institutions in India, which continue to depend heavily on grant income even for operational expenditure, not to mention new growth initiatives. The four-year period of the 11th Plan, beginning 2006-07 has witnessed impressive growth, consolidation and progress in the Education and Social Sector activities of the university. It has been one of impressive growth and progress years for IGNOU
2,860 teachers to be recruited in Delhi University
Delhi University will be recruiting 2, 860 permanent teachers in order to address the issue of faculty crunch. The university is facing shortage of teachers since the implementation of complete 54% reservation for students of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in 2010 which has increased the student strength considerably. The recruitment will start in June 2011 for the undergraduate courses across various colleges of the university. Elaborating on the decision, vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh said, “Since the number of students has increased due to OBC reservation, colleges needed permanent teachers to address the increased class strength. Also, with the university implementing the semester system in humanities and commerce courses this year, the workload of teachers will increase. So, the sanction of these permanent positions from the government has been timely.” The recruitment however will be done in a phased manner over two to three years. The principals of various colleges praised the decision saying with the implementation of OBC reservation, the student strength of a class, earlier 60, has now increased to 77 students. “This has forced us to create two sections, which means we need that many more teachers to teach the students. It will definitely help organise teaching better in classes,” said SK Garg, principal, Deen Dyal Upadhayay College. Pratibha Jolly, principal of Miranda House is happy because the recruitment drive will maintain a healthy student-teacher ratio, “The permanent positions will help maintain a good teacher-student ratio and help students get individual attention.” Some of the principals have also said that their college will advertise the teacher's posts on a national level so that competent candidates from other states can also apply, “One is very sceptical about the kind of teachers that we will get if such a sudden expansion is done. In fact, I am planning to advertise the positions available in my college not only in Delhi but also at the national level this year,” said Savithri Singh, principal, Acharya Narendra Dev College.
HRD Ministry announces setting up of 20 new IIITs
The Human Resource Development Ministry has announced the setting up of 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs). The IIITs will be based on Public Private Partnership (PPP). As per the approved scheme, the Central Government, the Governments of the respective States where IIIT will be established, and industry will be stakeholders. The capital cost of each IIIT would be contributed in the ratio of 50:35:15 (57.5:35:7.5 in the North Eastern region) by the Central Government, the State Government, and industry respectively. In addition, the State Governments will provide 50-100 acres of land, free of cost, for establishment of IIIT. The Central Government will also provide Rs.50 crore for faculty development programme and meet the recurring expenditure upto Rs. 10 crore during the first four years of setting up each IIIT. The HRD Ministry has also constituted an expert committee to recommend the criteria for selection of private partners for the setting up of new IIITs. The panel will formulate a criteria to select proposals from the state governments. After reviewing the above two points, the committee will select and decide the location of the new IIITs in the state. The panel is headed by T.V. Mohandas Pai, Board of Directors, Infosys. The committee will submit its report on April 25, 2011.
