No UGC nod, TNOU cancels admissions for 2018-19 B Ed

No UGC nod, TNOU cancels admissions for 2018-19 B Ed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  03.07.2020

The Tamil Nadu Open University has cancelled B Ed admissions for the 2018-19 batch as the University Grants Commission (UGC) didn’t for the programme. TNOU also said it would reimburse admission and exam fee paid by 306 candidates who joined the course.

UGC approval was made mandatory for all Open and Distance Learning mode courses from 2018-19. Till then, universities were offering B Ed courses with National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) approval.

“TNOU admitted students to the B Ed course following NCTE approval and appealed for UGC approval for the two-year degree programme. But UGC has said students were admitted without its approval and based on its direction, we are cancelling BEd admission for 2018-19 batch,” TNOU registrar K Rathnakumar said in a letter to students. Admissions had been given with the clause that they were subject to the UGC recognition,” he added.

Though the university spent money on study material and conducting contact classes, the syndicate has decided to refund the money collected from candidates who will have to submit their name, B Ed registration number, bank account number and other details.

Due to streamlining of ODL courses, UCC approval was made mandatory for all courses from 2018-19. “We made many attempts to get UGC approval for the BEd degree. But, we could not get it as the appellate authority meets once in a year. Now, due to the pandemic, the UGC has decided not to entertain applications for recognition or approval of UG and PG courses for 2020-21. If we offer a degree without UGC's approval, our students will not be eligible for government jobs. We don't want our students to suffer,” said TNOU vice-chancellor K Parthasarathy.

Though the university spent money on study material and conducting contact classes, the syndicate has decided to refund the money collected from candidates

Lockdown still intense, but city’s roads choked

Lockdown still intense, but city’s roads choked

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.07.2020

With lockdown still in force, a few roads in the city and suburbs saw surge in the traffic on Thursday. Since most of the city roads are barricaded, those venturing out had to take a longer route to reach their destinations, leaving that particular stretch crowded.

More barricades have been erected in places where the number of COVID-19 cases were high. Some of the local residents of these places have now started using two wheelers instead of walking to buy essentials. Commercial areas like Purasaiwalkam, Sowcarpet, Flower Bazaar, Triplicane, T Nagar, Tambaram and Velachery witnessed heavy traffic and some autorickshaws were also seen commuting on these roads. Despite of several warnings from the authorities, many two-wheelers were seen plying with pillion riders without masks or helmets. Police sources said that not less than 1000 vehicles are seized everyday for flouting the norms.

Though some of the stretches are barricaded to stop vehicle movement, some of the motorists were seen trying to remove the brricades trying sneak in.

“Some of them study the routes where there are no barricades and also take advantage of the absence of police personnel and use bikes,” said a SI, who was posted at T Nagar.

“The motorists whose vehicles argue with the us whether it is possible to walk looking for grocery shops,” said the SI. “We have blocked all the main roads and keep only a particular road free, to discourage people from travelling unnecessarily. This will also ensure, they get caught during the police check,” said a senior police officer.

FLOUTING THE RULES: A busy Peters road in Royapettah

Pvt schools seek TN nod to collect 70% of fee

Pvt schools seek TN nod to collect 70% of fee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.07.2020

Private educational institutions have requested the Tamil Nadu government to permit them to collect 70% of the annual fee payable by students in three installments during the lockdown period.

“Various associations of private institutions have made representations to the state seeking permission to collect 70% of the annual fee so they would be in a position to pay salaries of staff and take care of the maintenance costs,” advocategeneral Vijay Narayan informed the Madras high court.

Narayan made the submission in response to a public interest writ petition moved by E Gopalakrishnan seeking direction to the state to restrain private educational institutions from demanding fee from parents.

He added that a single judge of the court was already seized of a batch of petitions filed by associations of the institutions, challenging the government order restraining them from collecting fees during lockdown. The single judge has passed an interim order directing the government to consider the representation of the institutions and come up with a solution by July 8, Narayan said.

Recording the submissions, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Krishnan Ramaswamy adjourned the hearing to July13.

According to the petitioner, though the state has prohibited institutions from demanding fees during the lockdown period, most schools and colleges are insisting that parents pay the fees.

Citing various news reports that highlighted the issue, counsel for the petitioner Balaji Thirumoorthy submitted that such actions are nothing but violations which are punishable under the Disaster Management Act. “The educational officers of the state are empowered under the Act to initiate criminal action against such violators,” Balaji said.

Therefore, the petitioner wanted the court to direct the state authorities to ensure strict implementation of the GO passed under the Disaster Management Act. On June 23, while admitting the pleas moved by associations of institutions challenging the restriction, a single judge of the court wondered as to how the state could expect private schools and colleges to pay salaries to their staff if they are prohibited from collecting even minimum fees.

Advocate-general Vijay Narayan told the Madras high court that private institutions wanted to collect 70% of annual fee to cover staff salaries and maintenance costs

Soon, reach Trichy in 4 hrs on pvt trains

Soon, reach Trichy in 4 hrs on pvt trains

Rlys To Pick Cos To Run Better, Faster Services

Ayyappan.V @timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.07.2020

In three years, private firms will operate faster trains with world class amenities using 16-coach modern rakes from Chennai to Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Trichy, Kanyakumari, Howrah, Mangalore, Delhi.

The plan to run private trains kicked off in October 2019 and is moving closer to reality as Indian Railways has issued a request for qualification (RFQ) to select companies who can bid to fund and operate trains using modern rakes under public private partnership .

Twelve pairs of trains will be operated by private players for 35 years using 16 rakes in the area covered by Southern Railway, which is called the Chennai cluster in the RFQ floated on July 1. In a presentation, chairman of railway board Vinod Kumar Yadav said financial bids are expected in six to eight months.

Most trains within the state will have travel time ranging from 6 hours to nearly 12 hours. Chennai-Trichy route will be covered in four hours and 15 minutes against the current five and a half hours while Chennai-Kanyakumari will be covered in 11 hours and 45 minutes against the current 13 hours. Chennai-Delhi route will be covered in 27 hours and Chennai-Mumbai in 22 hours.

The trains, which will be designed for a maximum speed of 160kmph, will be faster than the fastest one run by railways on these routes. These services are planned to reduce travel time and improve comfort.

“The trains may become successful over a period of time. The Lucknow-Delhi and Mumbai-Ahmedabad private trains were well received,” Sridhar Joshi, member of Indian Railways fan club, said.

While private-run trains may improve punctuality, reliability and may ensure better upkeep of coaches, passengers are worried about the fare.

“The fare is going to be expensive and may fluctuate like the charges levied by omni buses when demand is high. Railways have cut down on introducing new trains since 2015 and many trains that are in the timetable are yet to be introduced. This has created a demand on many routes which will now be useful for private-run trains,” said Edward Jeni, secretary, Kanyakumari District Rail Users Association.

பிளஸ் 2 ரிசல்ட் இப்போது வேண்டாமே! தேவையில்லாத பதற்றம் உருவாக வாய்ப்பு

பிளஸ் 2 ரிசல்ட் இப்போது வேண்டாமே! தேவையில்லாத பதற்றம் உருவாக வாய்ப்பு

Updated : ஜூலை 02, 2020 05:05 | Added : ஜூலை 02, 2020 05:02 

கோவை : ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இச்சூழலில், பிளஸ் 2 ரிசல்ட் வெளியிட்டால், உயர்கல்வியில் சேருவது குறித்த தேவையில்லாத பதற்றம் ஏற்படும் என, கல்வியாளர்கள் கருத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

தமிழகம் முழுக்க, பிளஸ் 2 பொதுத்தேர்வு, மார்ச் 2ம் தேதி துவங்கி 24ம் தேதியுடன் நிறைவடைந்தது. இவர்களுக்கான ரிசல்ட்டை, விரைவில் வெளியிடுவது குறித்த ஆலோசனைகள் நடக்கின்றன. ஊரடங்கு நீட்டிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இச்சமயத்தில், ரிசல்ட் வெளியிடுவதால், பல்வேறு குழப்பங்கள் ஏற்படலாம் என்பது, கல்வியாளர்களின் கருத்தாக உள்ளது.

குறிப்பாக, சென்னை, காஞ்சிபுரம், மதுரை உள்ளிட்ட ஐந்து மாவட்டங்களில் ஊரடங்கு கடுமையாக பின்பற்றப்பட்டு வரும் நிலையில், ரிசல்ட் வெளியிடுவது, உயர்கல்வியில் சேருவதற்கான வாய்ப்புக்கு, முட்டுக்கட்டை போடுவதாக அமைந்துவிடும் என்கின்றனர் பெற்றோர்.வெளி மாவட்ட கல்லுாரிகளை பார்வையிடுவது மற்றும் அட்மிஷன் நடைமுறைகள் மேற்கொள்ள முனைப்பு காட்டி, பலரும் இ-பாஸ் விண்ணப்பிக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளது. தொற்று உள்ள பகுதிகளில் இருந்து, பெற்றோர் வெளியே வர முடியாத நிலை நீடிக்கிறது.

குழந்தைகளுக்கு, விரும்பிய கல்லுாரியில் சேர முடியாத நிலை ஏற்படுமோ என்ற பதற்றம் உருவாகலாம். எனவே, இயல்பு நிலை திரும்பிய பிறகு, ரிசல்ட் வெளியிட வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை வலுத்துள்ளது.

தமிழ்நாடு உயர்நிலை மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி தலைமையாசிரியர் சங்க மாநில தலைவர் பீட்டர்ராஜா கூறுகையில், ''பள்ளி, கல்லுாரிகளில் புதிய அட்மிஷன் துவங்க கூடாது என்ற உத்தரவு நடைமுறையில் உள்ளது. எனவே இப்போது ரிசல்ட் வெளியிட்டாலும், எந்த பிரயோஜனமும் இல்லை. பெற்றோர் மத்தியில் குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்தும் வாய்ப்புகள் அதிகமுள்ளன. இதோடு, இறுதித்தேர்வு எழுதாத மாணவர்களுக்கும் தேர்வு நடத்தி, மதிப்பெண்கள் கணக்கிட்ட பிறகு, ரிசல்ட் வெளியிடலாம். முதல்வரிடம் கலந்தாலோசித்த பிறகு ரிசல்ட் வெளியிடுவது குறித்து, அறிவிப்பதாக அமைச்சர் செங்கோட்டையன் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். அரசின் முடிவு, மக்களை அலைக்கழிப்பதாக அமைந்துவிடக்கூடாது,'' என்றார்.

BFUHS Starts MD, MS, PG Diploma Exams Amid COVID 19 Outbreak

BFUHS Starts MD, MS, PG Diploma Exams Amid COVID 19 Outbreak 

By Farhat Nasim 

Published On 1 July 2020 5:51 PM | Updated On 1 July 2020 5:51 PM 

Faridkot: The Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) has commenced the theory examinations for MD/MS courses and Post Graduate (PG) diploma courses from June 29th, 2020 onwards amidst the COVID crisis. For MD/MS exams, nearly 440 students will appear at five centers. 

The first and second-year MBBS exams will begin on June 30, while the third and final year exams of more than 3200 BDS students in 12 dental colleges are scheduled to start from July 7. 

However, this did not go down well with the BDS and MDS students as they are seeking to postpone the exams. Elaborating on their concern, the students stated that they would have to face difficulties in reaching Punjab and undergo the 14-day compulsory self-isolation. Medical Dialogues had reported earlier this month that acting on the advisory of Medical Council of India (MCI), the University, after taking into consideration the recommendations/ suggestions of the principals of the various medical colleges( who have taken the appearing students in confidence) had unanimously decided to hold the MD/MS examinations starting from 29th of June 2020, states the notice. 

"Keeping in view the safety of students, we have allowed them to opt any of the university-designated exam centres near their hometown," Dr Raj Bahadur, VC, BFUHS told The Tribune. "We have conveyed that students coming from outside Punjab will preferably be called first. The colleges have been asked to allow the entry of students in their hostels in a phased manner," he added. 

"We are already running a month behind schedule. Any further delay will be detrimental to students," the official told the daily. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences was established under an Act passed by the Legislature of the State of Punjab in July 1998. The mission of the University is to create an intellectual, academic and physical environment, conducive to free flow of ideas and exchange of information between various faculties of the University and between this University and other Universities of Health Sciences in the country and abroad, thereby opening a window to the world for the health professionals, health planners, health managers, biomedical and social scientists and educators in health sciences of the country.

https://medicaldialogues.in/news/education/medical-universities/bfuhs-starts-md-ms-pg-diploma-exams-amid-covid-19-outbreak-67215

People see god in docs today: Tope writes a heartfelt letter

People see god in docs today: Tope writes a heartfelt letter

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:01.07.2020

Netas do have a heart, after all. State health minister Rajesh Tope’s soft side has come to the fore in a heartfelt open letter he has written on National Doctors’ Day, addressing medicos who have been the biggest army in the fight against Covid.

Thanking them for their response to battle the pandemic, Tope said he is “forever grateful to frontline workers who risk their lives to save lives of their patients”.

Giving credit for the high recovery rate of Covid patients in the state to hard work done by doctors, Topes letter goes on to say: “At a time when all religious places are shut, people can see God in a doctor today.” he writes.

The minister has added in his note, “At a time when people are staying away from friends and neighbours, fearing that they too might catch the infection, the doctors are not only treating patients, but also giving them the courage to fight this battle,” said Tope.

In an expression of empthy with the medical warriors, Tope has said that one can only imagine the state of mind of doctors who leave their family to save lives. Doctors who step out of their homes, running the risk of infection, often tell relatives of patients that they will take care of the patient and they (the relatives) should stay at home.

The letter, packed with emotion and humane feeling concludes: “I salute you and your dedication towards your profession.”