Plea to put off JEE as Covid tests resolve

Plea to put off JEE as Covid tests resolve

TWIN FEARS: Losing A Year, Catching Infection

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 29.06.2020

Dilshad Khan had dropped a year in 2019 hoping to make it to one of the IITs in 2020. He prepared well the entire year to get a good score in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). But then the lockdown due to Covid-19 started and the exam was rescheduled to be held from July 18 to 27. Now, when the exams are nearing, Khan says he is fearful about writing exams at a centre amid rising novel coronavirus cases.

“I have invested a lot of time in preparing for the JEE but right now, I am mentally stressed and cannot concentrate on studies. I can’t even afford to lose another year. We students request the authorities concerned to postpone the exam till the Covid-19 cases stop rising,” said Khan who lives in Gurgaon.

National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the JEE (Main) for admissions into the engineering colleges. It is also a qualifying exam for admissions into IITs. Students who crack JEE (Main) become eligible to appear for JEE Advanced. The JEE (Main) was earlier scheduled to be held in April.

“If CBSE, UPSC, CTET exams can be cancelled and postponed, can’t they postpone our exams by a month more. The MHRD should release a statement clarifying the status. Also, JEE is a fully computer-based test. From thumb impression to keyboard, everywhere we have touch systems. And who is going to manage the large crowd outside the examination centre?” questioned Sajid Nazir, another IIT aspirant.

A parent whose child is supposed to appear for the exams also questioned the delay of the authorities concerned in announcing changes.

“When it involves future of lakhs of students, why does the government have to wait for the last minute. They are well aware of the situation. Lack of clarity on the exam dates is adding to the anxiety among students,” said Samarth Mathur, whose son wants to study computer science at any of the IITs.

These students have also taken to social media and petitioned HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank urging him to take a quick decision.

“What if one of the aspirants is Covid positive? How is NTA and the government going to check from which area students are coming to write the exam. It is about each one’s future and no one will want to miss the exam. But holding exams in present times will put health of lakhs of students at risk,” said Udit Mishra, another aspirant.

According to NTA authorities, there will be a review of the situation based on which exam-related decisions will be taken.

DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES

A STUDENT SAYS

I have invested a lot of time in preparing for JEE but right now, I am stressed and cannot concentrate on studies. I can’t afford to lose another year

UP girl who appeared for Class X exams with oxygen kit scores 69%

UP girl who appeared for Class X exams with oxygen kit scores 69%

Kanwardeep.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bareilly: 29.06.2020

Safia Javed, who has been suffering from severe lung disease for the past five years, braved her poor health to appear in all her Class X exams of the UP Board with an oxygen cylinder. And her hard work paid off as the 16-year-old girl managed to secure 69% marks. She scored 82 marks in drawing, 77 in English and 68 in social science.

“Her books and studies seemed to be the secret behind her improving health,” Safia’s proud father told TOI in Bareilly on Sunday. Safia - the eldest among three siblings - has “weak lungs” and she requires regular oxygen support. She was also bedridden for several months.

Safia’s father Sarvar Javed, who works with a private firm in Noida, took leave from work to be with his daughter during her exams. “My daughter’s medical condition started after a gallbladder surgery. She was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She underwent treatment at a private facility and showed signs of improvement but later we came to know that she was suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis. Her lungs were often filled with water and she had to undergo preventive treatment. She is being treated at a district hospital and doctors have asked to keep her on regular oxygen support,” Sarvar added.

Her uncle Zabi Ahmad gave credit to Safia’s parents for constantly motivating her. “My parents supported me a lot and always showed trust in me,” Safia said, adding, “I am very happy that I could live up to my parents’ expectations.”

Safia Javed has “weak lungs” and she requires regular oxygen support

Vande Bharat to enter fourth phase on July 3 with 900 flights

Vande Bharat to enter fourth phase on July 3 with 900 flights

29.06.2020

New Delhi: The world’s largest repatriation exercise, Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) will commence its fourth phase on July 3. It will see the Air India group operating over 400 flights up to July-end. Private airlines have volunteered to operate about 500 flights in this phase, according to the aviation ministry.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had last week extended suspension of scheduled international flights till 11.59pm of July15 while stating such services “may be allowed on selected routes on a case to case basis”. VBM was launched on May 6.

The aviation ministry on Sunday tweeted: “VBM enters phase 4 on July 3 2020. In this phase, Air India will operate 114 flights (between July 3-15) including 31 flights to US; 19 to UK; 9 to Canada and 8 to Australia. AI Express will operate 300 flights in July (136 up to July 14 and 164 from July15-31.

“Private airlines have volunteered for significant participation in this phase with 498 flights to be operated by them… Among others, IndiGo will operate 238 flights from Qatar and 219 flights from Kuwait; while GoAir will operate 41 flights from Kuwait.” TNN

Maha & Telangana set to extend curbs, Manipur does it till July15

Maha & Telangana set to extend curbs, Manipur does it till July15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

29.06.2020

Maharashtra is all set to extend the lockdown for a month while Telangana may do so for 15 more days with stricter norms in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation region even as the Manipur government announced on Sunday that restrictions will continue till July15.. The present lockdown in the three states, which have seen an exponential surge in Covid cases in the last few days, was scheduled to end on June 30.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray made it clear on Sunday that lockdown in the state will not be lifted post June 30, but more relaxations will be given to speed up economic activities. He said even if relaxations are being given, it does not mean that the danger or the crisis has ended. “We are walking on the edge, we have to walk slowly. Just because relaxations are being given, people shouldn’t think that the battle is over. It is not.”

Thackeray’s comments came on a day when Mumbai Police issued directives asking people not to venture out more than 2km from home unless it was for office or for essentials. Police said that all trips - whether for shopping or for exercising or visiting salons - should be made within a 2km-radius “else action will be initiated”. Nakabandis were conducted throughout the city on Sunday to enforce the new directives and nearly 7000 vehicles were impounded by police.

With Covid cases increasing by nearly a thousand every day in Telangana, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said his government will go for a stricter and total lockdown in greater Hyderabad – which is the worst affected region - for at least 15 days. He said the decision on dates will be taken in the next three to four days.

“There should be a daylong curfew with one or twohour relaxation to buy essentials. Flights and train services have to be stopped,” the CM said. Currently, there is only night curfew in the state from 9pm to 5am.

Health minister Eatala Rajender informed a review meeting chaired by the CM that several health officials and medical experts have suggested another 15-day lockdown in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Limits to bring the situation under control.

Manipur CM N Biren Singh said the government has decided to extend the ongoing lockdown in the state till July 15 with some relaxations. “The government will open inter-district bus services from Wednesday by maintaining SOPs and guidelines,” he said. Manipur has 1,094 Covid cases and 660 of these are active.

First to recover, MBBS student helps patients battle stress

First to recover, MBBS student helps patients battle stress

Sajimon.PS@timesgroup.com

Alappuzha:  29.06.2020

On a rainy monsoon day in Alappuzha, he is busy at his home answering distress calls from strangers who are struggling to cope with the invisible threat of an unrelenting pandemic.

The 23-year-old MBBS student of Wuhan University was the second case of coronavirus reported in the country and the first to recover from the deadly disease. “I have just completed the sixth semester examination. Now, it is vacation time for us. I have been getting several calls from people who tested positive for Covid-19. They call me to get mental support and to clear their doubts,” said the youth.

He was admitted to hospital on January 30 on his arrival from China and tested positive for the disease on February 2. After about a two weeks’ battle with Covid-19, he was discharged on February 13. “If anyone who I know tests positive for the virus, I call them up to make them comfortable. I share my experience to provide psychological support to them. There are many who have called me up after getting my number. I try to give them confidence,” he says.

No fee revision at IIMs this year

No fee revision at IIMs this year

Shivangi.Mishra@timesgroup.com

29.06.2020

Owing to the COVID crisis, most IIMs may not revise the course fee for the MBA programmes, this year. Each year, the IIMs enhanced the annual fee for students, which will not be done in academic session 2020.

“Every year there is a relative increase of 2-3% in fee but IIM Ahmedabad will not revise the fee for the upcoming batches due to the ongoing situation,” said an institute spokesperson. While IIMs may not increase the fee, but many are reluctant to offer fee waiver that several students are demanding. Janat Shah, director, IIM Udaipur, says, “the classes for the one-year programme have already resumed online in May. Fee waiver is not possible as institutes are bearing the operational costs of the campuses." Students will soon return to the campuses as soon as they receive MHRD guidelines for the same, he adds.

Himanshu Rai, director, IIM Indore, agrees that the operational cost of the campuses has not reduced due to the lockdown. “The primary costs incurred are the payments to faculty and staff members. To prepare for a seamless online education, institutes have also invested a good sum in building sound IT infrastructure from buying webcams, or online proctoring software for remote assessments to opting for Learning Management Systems (LMS). So, fee waivers are not justified,” he adds.

Pitfalls of moving education online

Pitfalls of moving education online

Academic Edamana Prasad on the need to re-design online education so that students can have a better learning process

29.06.2020 TOI Education times 

Education, a process of unfolding human potential, has been given significant importance and several steps have been taken to improve the quality of mass education in our country. However, compromise on several aspects is unavoidable due to the diverse socio-cultural-economic background of learners. To overcome various shortcomings, higher education sector in India has recently started implementing outcome-based education (OBE). One of the primary goals of OBE is to generate learners with specific expectations in knowledge, skill, and attitude. During the global pandemic, when education is getting pushed to online mode, teachers must think aloud whether this would end up in a scenario where OBE goals are compromised beyond limits.

As per the accepted classification of learning, there are three domains: thinking (cognitive), skill (psychomotor) and attitude/feeling (affective). OBE expects specific learner centered performances in each of these domains, to be attained through various educational programmes. The major issue with online teaching is that only the first domain (cognitive) can be focused, since physical presence is a desirable requirement for the other two domains. Even in the first domain, there are several issues to be addressed in the context of online teaching. Research has already established beyond reasonable doubt that higher cognitive performance (viz. critical thinking and creative thinking) are less likely to be achieved by large numbers of learners if the class is based on a nonstop lecture.

(The author is professor, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras)

Full report at www.

educationtimes.com