Youth stabs college girl, 20, to death near Tambaram station

Youth stabs college girl, 20, to death near Tambaram station

Chennai:24.09.2021

A 20-year-old student of the Madras Christian College was stabbed to death by a youth as she walked away from him towards the nearby Tambaram railway station around 1.45pm on Thursday.

Witnesses said Shwetha and Ramachandran, 25, were arguing on the crowded road to the station opposite the college when he whipped out a knife, held it to his throat and threatened to kill himself. She turned and was walking away when he suddenly stabbed her in the neck and six times in the stomach before shocked passersby could react.

As one of Shwetha’s friends cried out, Ramachandran turned the knife on himself, but onlookers prevented him from killing himself and handed him over to police. TNN

UNENDING TRAGEDY: Ramachandra (kneeling) near Shwetha’s dead body at Tambaram

Cops: Couple had fallen out 2 months ago

Police said the two had got together three years ago after twice meeting accidentally on a train to Nagapattinam. They had fallen out a couple of months ago as Ramachandran got angry with Shwetha saying her phone was busy whenever he called. Since the Covid lockdowns, they had been keeping in touch mostly over the phone.

Police said the couple had decided to meet on Thursday to sort things out. While Ramachandran was keen on a patch-up, Shwetha preferred to break up with him as she was upset that he was suspicious about her.

Shwetha, of Chromepet, was doing her second year diploma in medical laboratory technology (DMLT) course at MCC’s School of Continuing Education.

Ramachandran, an engineering graduate and native of Thirukkuvalai in Nagapattinam, had been working at a car manufacturing unit in Chengalpet. He had rented a house at Maraimalai Nagar.

According to eyewitnesses at the spot, the two were seen talking and walking near the railway quarters in Tambaram around 1.45pm. That’s when Ramachandran attacked her.

Shwetha, who was bleeding profusely was taken to Chromepet Government Hospital, where she was declared brought dead by the doctors. Ramachandran is undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital. The Selaiyur police have registered a murder case and began further inquiry.

IP University PG Medicos demand more time to submit thesis, allege non-compliance of NMC advisory

IP University PG Medicos demand more time to submit thesis, allege non-compliance of NMC advisory: New Delhi: The postgraduate students pursuing their MD/MS or DM/MCh degrees from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University are facing troubles as the University has asked them to submit their...

DU gets new VC; post was vacant since Oct

DU gets new VC; post was vacant since Oct

Delhi Tech University VC Moved To Chair

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:

Professor Yogesh Singh, vice-chancellor of Delhi Technological University (DTU), has been appointed the VC of Delhi University. Apart from Singh, President Ram Nath Kovind, who is also the DU Visitor, appointed professor Neelima Gupta as the VC of Dr Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyala, Sagar, another central University. She is currently the VC of Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University, Bihar. The letters were issued by Union ministry of education on Wednesday.

Singh was serving his second term as DTU VC since April this year. He would be the 23rd DU VC succeeding professor Yogesh Tyagi, who was suspended last October over allegations of irregularities and dereliction of duty. Pro-VC PC Joshi was holding the charge since then.

Before joining DTU in 2017, Singh served as director of Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology from 2014-2017, VC of Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda between 2011 and 2014, and as dean of information technology at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University from 2001 to 2006. He is also a member of the executive committee of National Assessment and Accreditation Council since October 3, 2019.

After doing an MTech in electronics and communication engineering, Singh completed a PhD in computer engineering from National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, Haryana.

Some of the big challenges to be faced by Singh include implementation of various schemes under National Education Policy, 2020, such as the four-year undergraduate with multiple entry-exit programme as well as completing teachers’ appointments. A section of teachers and students have been opposing the four-year programme as well as NEP.

Singh told TOI: “It’s a matter of pride to be appointed the VC of such a great seat of learning. We will take all necessary steps required for the growth and development of such a big institution.”

Teachers hopeful of ‘positive direction’

Welcoming the long-due appointment of a new vice-chancellor, teachers and principals at Delhi University on Wednesday hoped that Yogesh Singh would work with all stakeholders for DU’s growth and development. As Singh is the VC of Delhi Technological University, a state university, his joining may take some time.

Manoj Sinha, principal of Aryabhatta College, a member of DU Principals’ Association, said, “DUPA welcomes the new VC. He has got vast experience and one is sure that with his experience the university will get enriched and move in a positive direction.”

Stating that Singh was well known as an administrator, Rajib Ray, president of Delhi University Teachers’ Association, said, “We hope that he has a successful term that is pro-employee and pro-students.”

New format for ICSE Eng language Nov exam

MCQ PAPER

New format for ICSE Eng language Nov exam

Jhimli.Mukherjeepandey@timesgroup.com

Kolkata:23.09.2021

The Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations has brought in a fresh question-and-answer format for the English language paper for the November semester examination. It has revised the earlier format and fine-tuned it further to make it conducive to the MCQ format. A sample question paper has been sent to schools and a national workshop will be held on Thursday for all English language teachers to adapt to the changed format.

While the earlier paper had short answers to comprehension passages, the new sample paper indicates one word answers and, in some cases, three-word simple sentences from which the candidate will make his/her choice. English language teachers in city schools welcomed the new slim question paper pattern and said this would help students pinpoint answers better and chances of making mistakes would be reduced.

They also said that since they would have to tackle so many questions within the span of an hour, the new format will help them pick up speed while writing the answers. The marks allotted to each section have also been reformatted and scaled down so that chances of losing marks are reduced. Many questions have been redesigned to carry a weightage of one mark.

“There are hundreds of children who will access the question paper on mobiles since they don’t own laptops. Naturally on that small screen big format question papers will only help to confuse. So the Council decided to make it a slim paper without compromising on the quality,” said a teacher who is an ICSE English examiner.

அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளோருக்கு ஆதரவாக ராஜன் கமிட்டி அறிக்கை: 'நீட்' தேர்வின் பலன்கள் குறித்து பாலகுருசாமி விளக்கம்

அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளோருக்கு ஆதரவாக ராஜன் கமிட்டி அறிக்கை: 'நீட்' தேர்வின் பலன்கள் குறித்து பாலகுருசாமி விளக்கம்

Added : செப் 23, 2021 00:20

சென்னை:'அதிகாரத்தில் உள்ளோரின் விருப்பத்துக்கு ஏற்ப, ஓய்வு பெற்ற நீதிபதி ராஜன் கமிட்டி, நீட் தேர்வு தொடர்பான அறிக்கையை தயாரித்துள்ளது' என, கல்வியாளர் பாலகுருசாமி தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

தமிழக அரசு அமைத்த ஓய்வுபெற்ற நீதிபதி ராஜன் கமிட்டியின் அறிக்கை, சமீபத்தில் வெளியானது. அதன் அம்சங்கள் குறித்து, அண்ணா பல்கலையின் முன்னாள் துணைவேந்தர் பாலகுருசாமி வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கை:ஏ.கே.ராஜன் கமிட்டியின் அறிக்கை, ஏற்ற இறக்கமான புள்ளி விபரங்களின் அடிப்படையில் உருவான, பாரபட்சமான அறிக்கையாக தெரிகிறது.

அதிகாரத்தில் இருப்பவர்களின் விருப்பத்துக்கும், அவர்களின் எண்ணங்களுக்கும் ஏற்ற வகையில் எழுதப்பட்டுள்ளது. நீட் தேர்வு தொடர்பாக, முதலில் பரிந்துரைகளை எழுதி விட்டு, அதற்கு ஆதரவாக அறிக்கையை உருவாக்கியுள்ளது போல் தெரிகிறது. அறிக்கையில் பல்வேறு ஆச்சர்யத்தக்க விஷயங்கள் உள்ளன.அதாவது, 'மாநிலங்கள் நடத்தும் கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, மத்திய அரசால், நுழைவு தேர்வை நடத்த முடியாது. பல்கலைகளை உருவாக்க, மத்திய அரசுக்கு அதிகாரம் இல்லை.'நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைகளை கட்டுப்பாட்டில் எடுக்க மாநில அரசு சட்டம் ஒன்றை கொண்டு வர வேண்டும்' என, அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

பலன்கள் புரியவில்லை

'நீட் தேர்வு இன்னும் சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு தொடர்ந்தால், தமிழக சுகாதாரத்துறை மிக மோசமாக பாதிக்கப்படும். ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையங்களில், டாக்டர்கள் இருக்க மாட்டார்கள். தமிழகம் சுதந்திரத்துக்கு முந்தைய காலத்துக்கு செல்லலாம்' என, நகைப்புக்குரிய கருத்தும் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இந்த கமிட்டியானது நீட் தேர்வின் முக்கியத்துவம், அதனால் மாணவர்களுக்கும், பொதுமக்களும் கிடைக்கும் பலன்கள் குறித்து புரிந்து கொள்ளவில்லை என, இதில் இருந்தே தெரிகிறது.

நீட் தேர்வால் ஏற்படும் பலன்களை, ராஜன் கமிட்டி எடுத்துக்காட்ட தவறிவிட்டது. மேலும், ராஜன் கமிட்டி அறிக்கையில், பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண்கள் அடிப்படையில், மருத்துவ சேர்க்கை நடத்த வேண்டும் என கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. பல்வேறு பாட திட்டத்தில் மாணவர்கள் படித்து வரும் நிலையில், பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில், மாணவர்களை சேர்ப்பது எப்படி பொதுவானதாக இருக்கும்.

பல பாட திட்ட மாணவர்களுக்கு பொதுவான தேர்வு நடத்துவதே சரியானது.முற்றுப்புள்ளி நீட் தேர்வு வரும் முன், பல்வேறு மாநிலங்களும், மத்திய கல்வி நிறுவனங்களும், நிகர்நிலை பல்கலைகளும் தனித்தனியாக நுழைவு தேர்வுகள் நடத்தின. நீட் தேர்வு வந்த பின், எல்லாம் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டு, ஒரே தேர்வாக மாறியுள்ளது.

நீட் தேர்வின் மதிப்பெண்ணை கொண்டு, எல்லா மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை பெற முடிகிறது. இதன் காரணமாக, பல்வேறு நிறுவன நுழைவு தேர்வுக்காக தனித் தனியே பயிற்சி எடுப்பது, கட்டணம் செலுத்துவது, நேரத்தை செலவிடுவதும் குறைந்து உள்ளதோடு, மாணவர்களுக்கான அழுத்தமும், கவலையும் குறைந்துள்ளது. நியாயமான, வெளிப்படையான அணுகுமுறையை நீட் தேர்வு ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

தமிழக அரசின் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டை தவிர மற்ற இடங்கள் அனைத்தும், தமிழக மாணவர்களுக்கே கிடைக்கிறது. நீட் மதிப்பெண்ணை பயன்படுத்தி, மத்திய அரசின் கல்வி நிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் பிற மாநில கல்வி நிறுவனங்களிலும் மருத்துவ படிப்பில் சேர முடிகிறது. வெளிநாட்டு மருத்துவ கல்வி நிறுவனங்களிலும் சேர முடிகிறது.

ஊழல் ஒழிந்தது

சில தனியார் பல்கலைகள் மற்றும் கல்லுாரிகளில், மாணவர்களிடம் மறைமுகமாக நன்கொடை வசூலித்து, மருத்துவ சேர்க்கை வழங்கும் நடைமுறை இருந்தது. இதற்கு நீட் தேர்வு முற்றுப்புள்ளி வைத்துள்ளது. மருத்துவ படிப்பு மாணவர் சேர்க்கையில் ஊழல் ஒழிக்கப் பட்டு உள்ளது. நீட் தேர்வின் வழியே, இந்திய மருத்துவ படிப்புக்கு, சர்வதேச அளவிலான அங்கீகாரம் கிடைக்கிறது. இதை மக்கள் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டில், 27 சதவீதம் மிக பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட மாணவர்களுக்கும்; 10 சதவீதம் பொருளாதாரத்தில் பின்தங்கிய மாணவர்களுக்கும் சேர்க்கை வழங்கப்படும் என, மத்திய அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது. இந்த அறிவிப்பால், ஏராளமான ஏழை மற்றும் கிராமப்புற மாணவர்கள் பலன் அடைவர். எனவே, ஒரு சார்பான அறிக்கையின்படி, தமிழக அரசு நீட் எதிர்ப்பு மசோதா நிறைவேற்றியிருப்பது துரதிர்ஷ்ட வசமானது.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Sans teaching faculty, colleges reduce, even skip classes

Sans teaching faculty, colleges reduce, even skip classes

It's hardly been almost three weeks since colleges reopened but several subjects are being skipped, class hours reduced and online classes cut.

Published: 22nd September 2021 10:24 AM 

Image used for representational purpose only. (File photo | EPS)

By Aadhithya MS

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: It's hardly been almost three weeks since colleges reopened but several subjects are being skipped, class hours reduced and online classes cut. The reason? A shortage of staff from termination or resignation during the pandemic, citing salary issues. Many self-financing colleges saw teaching staff fired and strength reducing by half, while some managed to buck the trend and retain.

A senior lecturer from a self-financing college said, "The college management was unable to collect full fees for the last two years and hence did not pay the teachers properly. Also, this year, there was a 10 per cent drop in admissions."

A commerce teacher told TNIE, "Many of the teachers were fired and some quit after their salary was halved. They were paid only `5,000 and told it would not be increased anytime soon. We do not have teachers to handle few subjects and hence do not conduct online classes for those subjects."

A senior lecturer from another college said, "As much as 35 per cent of the college staff were sent off. We are not taking classes for first-year students yet, but will start to do so soon. Finding teachers to handle subjects like commerce, computer science and applications is easy compared to finding for science courses. We are not conducting online classes because of this."

The colleges have reduced the timing of physical classes to around 20 hours a week.

A second-year student of a self-financing college in Tiruchy said that the second- and third-year students have classes on alternate weeks. On days without physical class, their WhatsApp group remains silent.

This was, however, not the case with some popular self-financing colleges, as well as government and aided colleges as they had retained enough teachers.

Rajan Committee report lopsided, charges ex Anna University V-C

Rajan Committee report lopsided, charges ex Anna University V-C

Balagurusamy says the report was made to suit whims of DMK

Published: 23rd September 2021 06:54 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After the AK Rajan Committee report was made public, the buzz regarding NEET refuses to die down. Now, former vice-chancellor of Anna University, E Balagurusamy, has objected to it.

He alleged that the report is based on skewed statistics and scripted in order to suit the whims and fancies of the ruling party. Balagurusamy believes even getting the President’s assent for the bill that was recently passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, seeking exemption from NEET, will not be easy.

He said, “It is really unfortunate that Tamil Nadu government has passed the anti-NEET bill based on this squinted report. The report is lopsided. It seems the committee wrote recommendations first and then drafted contents to support it.”

Balagurusamy further said the national-level test gives an opportunity to the students of the state to get admission into Central institutions, Central universities, all deemed universities, as well as 15% in all other medical colleges in India. “These seats are much more than the seats available in TN medical colleges. Also, NEET scores will help students in securing admissions abroad,” he added.

Balagurusamy pointed out that in July, an announcement was made by Centre of 27% reservation for OBC and 10% EWS in All India Quota, which will benefit a large number of poor and rural students get seats in medical colleges, but the AK Rajan Committee has not mentioned anything about it in its report.

The committee has mentioned that NEET is not ideal for the state and has recommended banning it in TN.

A retired professor of University of Madras, on condition of anonymity, has expressed concerns over the committee’s recommendation that admission into medical colleges should be solely done on basis of Class 12 scores. “The committee says the move will ensure equality in opportunity to students from different boards of education, but it is not correct.

Allotting medical seats on the basis of Class 12 marks is not wise as all top scorers don’t qualify to become good doctors. We need to have an entrance test to check the aptitude, intellect of the students and filter out the right candidates from the top scorer lot,” he said.

On the basis of the AK Rajan committee report, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on September 13 passed a bill seeking exemption from the centralised exam, and making Class 12 exam marks the basis for medical admissions for undergraduate medical and dental courses.