Yogesh Avasthi

Education dept sends out appraisal forms to assess performance of lecturers in govt colleges by Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, October 30, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=2&contentid=20091030200910300259295934d6d36b§xslt =) The state education department has initiated a move to appraise the performance of college lecturers with the aim of increasing quality of education and accountability among teachers. The department has sent out appraisal forms to all grant-in-aid colleges in the state and put it up on its website for lecturers to access, fill up and return to college principals. The measure was recommended by University Grants Commission long ago, but is being put into practice in Gujarat only now. Appraisals are voluntary for lecturers for now but will be made mandatory next academic year onwards. Sources said the education department felt the need to introduce the norm to access teachers’ performance for the purpose

Soon on YouTube: Animated science videos from GU By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 29, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=200910292009102902511779639e1d908 ) Gujarat University is experimenting with the art of teaching students science in the most effective way possible. It has come up with five computer-animated films on Zoology topics to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding of chemical processes at the molecular level. The 30-minute movies, made at a cost of Rs 10 lakh, are on topics: ABC of largest phytum - Arthropoda, structural organisation and classification of non-chordates, principles and salient features of animal classification, cell theory and diversity of cell size and shape. These will now be uploaded on YouTube by the varsity for the benefit of not only GU students but those from across the world. The videos will also be uploaded on the Gujarat University websi

10 marks , set aside, objective, questions, GU, believes , new format , help , students , prepare , better , CAT, IIT-JEE, exams By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, October 27, 2009  (Ahmedaba Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009102720091027023349656a47c927d ) The Gujarat University has effected a revision in the marking system in college and varsity exams by setting aside 10 marks from every subject paper for objective questions. To begin with, the change will apply to science stream courses only i.e. BSc and MSc. The university registrar issued a circular on October 7 asking all affiliated colleges to implement the new measure in the final exam of the current academic year. Accordingly, the final exam result will be based on 30 internal test marks, and the 70-mark university exam paper which will consist of 10 mark objective questions. University sources said the aim is to train students in objective que

The new system will save money and time for railways while applicants will be able to check status of their cases online By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, October 26, 2009  (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=200910262009102602051146540fb28 ) Come 2010, the Ahmedabad railway division will handle RTI cases online to cut cost and time wasted in responding to queries of applicants at present. The initiative is aimed at bringing transparency in the process as well. Under the new system, railway authorities will scan RTI applications and forward them to departments concerned online instead of sending them through snail mail. The new process will reduce the average response time to RTI queries and help railways save money it spends on postage. A senior officer of the Ahmedabad railway division said: “Once the new system is introduced, people seeking information under RTI from any department or zone of r

M G Science Institute has undertaken a project with SPAC to study expanse and condition of coral reefs By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 24, 2009  (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20091024200910240303006565cb55a83 ) In a bid to save coral reefs in Gujarat coast from the threat of climate change, M G Science Institute has undertaken a detailed project to study their expanse and condition in association with Space Application Centre (SAC). Dr Alpana Shukla of M G Science Institute’s botany department is leading the three-member team of the three-year project “Global Coral Reef Mapping”. Two Junior research fellows, Dimpal Sanghvi and Richa Tiwari, would assist her in the research work. The research team will analyse remote sensing data, acquired through RESOURCESAT-I, for the estimation of aerial extent of coral reefs in the state’s coastal areas. Finally, they will table their findings

Varsity aims to have a hassle-free processing system; to spend Rs 25 lakh over digitisation of archives By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 22, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009102220091022040020125b2c95171 ) Gujarat University is drawing an ambitious plan to take all its processes online in a phased manner. According to sources, beginning 2010, the external examination forms for its various courses will be available on the worldwide web. All the students will need to do then is download the form, pay up the exam fees at a particular bank and submit the form and the fee receipt to any of GU’s chosen centres. Gradually, degree certificate forms and eligibility forms will also be made available online. Also, till now, the University issued duplicate degree certificates on its letter pad, in case of any urgency. But now onwards, GU will have a template in place so that printouts

Colourful mosaic will beautify the station hall and depict city’s connection with the Mahatma; Navratri and tourist destinations will also find their place on these walls By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, October 19, 2009  (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009101920091019014522671fd4cea58 ) Have you ever been in a rush to catch a train only to be stumped by the sea of humans barring the way to the Kalupur railway station’s main gate? Your woes will soon be a thing of past if the Ahmedabad railway division’s proposal to beautify the Concourse Hall is accepted by the Western Railway. The Hall is where the ticketing counters are situated. The proposal was drawn up after a senior Railway Board official suggested that counters for unreserved and platform tickets be moved elsewhere to reduce rush in this area. Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Garud said, “The plan is to shift the ticketing counters to

Saturday was a happy Diwali for college authorities who told Mirror all the locks on the department doors were intact By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 03:44:01 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009101820091018034401406f10950ff ) This is definitely not a newspaper impact. It’s probably L D Engineering College’s good luck or the bad luck of the burglar who has been targeting some or the other department on Kali Chaudas day. Every year, for the past 12 years, thieves have managed to break the lock of at least one of its many departments and escape with things like lab equipment, pens and footrulers. “The theft usually takes place in a laboratory or a classroom. We also find stains of saffron on the floor indicating that even black magic is performed here,” says a source adding, “There is a murmur that insiders are involved in this job, though we have not caught anyone red-han

Would it have taken place this time too? Read tomorrow’s Mirror By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 17, 2009  (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=200910172009101703001915635b3cd83 ) A deserted L D Engineering College was put on tight security on Kali Chaudas on Friday. Reason? Every year, for the past 12 years, thieves have managed to break the lock of at least one of its many departments and escape with things like lab equipment, pens and footrulers. Like Gujarati New Year is considered auspicious for businessmen, Kali Chaudas is considered to bring in prosperity for thieves, robbers and conmen for the entire year if they get away with the booty on this day. With students gone on Diwali vacation, the college wears a deserted look. Only a rector and few more staff members are present at the college. Every year, a theft is detected in some or the other department on Diwali day. “It could be in

Persian and Urdu department needs four teachers but have just a Reader who retires today. At least six other departments are in a similar situation By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 02:49:28 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009101420091014024928938aba8376 ) The Gujarat University has declared several new courses this year, but who will teach students? The quality of education at GU is being questioned as the campus is hit by severe staff shortage. The ones to suffer are post-graduate students, some of whom are being forced to study a combination of part I and part II subjects to deal with the crisis. The University has failed to appoint regular teachers for almost a decade now, forcing guest lecturers to run the show. Departments teaching journalism, geography, Urdu, physical education and library science have just one teacher when the requirement is 4 to 7 teachers as p

...at its own laundry unit that is likely to come up at either Sabarmati or Asarwa; land, electricity and water supply to be given by railways, unit to be run by private firm By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, October 13, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20091013200910130225386262702662 ) A stained reputation following complaints about unwashed bed linen being provided in the AC coaches has the Railways finally pulling up its socks. The Ahmedabad Railway Division is planning to set up a laundry unit to wash blankets, cushion covers, bedsheets, napkins and curtains in the city. Sources in the Ahmedabad railway division say bedsheets distributed in air-conditioned train coaches are not washed properly. They also say that blankets are discarded five years after their date of purchase. Everytime these are sent to the laundry units for washing, these come back neatly pressed and packed but unwash

Dr Manoj Bansal was declared failed in the first attempt of prestigious post-MD course, but moved the court which asked GU council to rectify abnormality in assessment By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Monday, October 12, 2009 at 02:08:54 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=20091012200910120208545788b361de6 ) A meritorious post-graduate medical student declared failed in the first attempt of a super-speciality course is on way to getting the injustice corrected with court intervention. The student cleared the exam in the second attempt since. The Gujarat High Court on April 28 directed Gujarat University executive council to look into the matter and rectify the abnormality in assessment. The GU council took up the matter for consideration on Sunday. Dr Manoj Bansal had applied for post-MD course —(DM) Cardiology. The three-year super-speciality course is conducted at only one institute in the state — th

They are among 27 science colleges across country to receive money from the Department of Biotechnology to strengthen life science and biotechnology training, education at undergraduate level By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Saturday, October 10, 2009 at 03:03:34 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009101020091010030334296917f6b9b ) M G Science Institute and St Xavier’s College are the only two science colleges in the city and among the 27 colleges across the country who have been granted financial aid by the Centre under a special scheme to strengthen life science and biotechnology training and education at the undergraduate level. The colleges have been identified for their good work and ones which provide academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and unique exposure to students for experimental science. This will encourage more students to take up life science as a c

Recommendations of 15-member committee include making SSC Board exams optional, besides introducing semester system in classes 11 and 12 from 2010 By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, October 09, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=3&contentid=2009100920091009025215296855ef80§xslt =) Three members of the 15-member committee formed by the state education board to look into the examination process of classes 10, 11 and 12 have submitted the final draft of the recommendations to the panel for their approval before it is submitted to the government. The panel will meet on October 23 to approve the draft before it is sent to the government. According to a Board source, the panel has suggested doing away with the Board exams for Class 10 by 2013. In the meantime, the panel has proposed sweeping changes for classes 10, 11 and 12. For Class 10 ♦ Students will be given Tests A and B of 50 marks each. ♦ Those intending not to study a

Despite two letters by education minister, GU has still not granted leave to prof Jhaver Patel; the reader accuses VC of being By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, October 07, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009100720091007031118218b9324d6e ) Dr Jhaver C Patel can see the opportunity of a lifetime pass before his eyes but there’s little he can do about it. The UGC awarded Patel a two-year post-doctoral scholarship. But Patel, a reader with GU’s Sociology department, will have to forego the ‘rarest of rare opportunity’ of his career as the university has not granted him duty leave to conduct the research. In a letter issued on July 2, the UGC gave Patel 45 days to accept a research project on ‘Koldha Tribals — Culture and Transformation’. Patel sought permission for leave from the university in a letter dated July 10. The head of the Sociology department granted his request and forwarded it

On the eve of Gandhi’s birth anniversary, AM and Ahmedabad Traffic Police catch offenders; gift them rule book, Gandhian literature & keychain with Bapu’s photo By Hemington James, Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Friday, October 02, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : Cover story) Amdavadis are fine with fines, especially when they have to shell it out after breaking traffic rules. They had no qualms about doling out around Rs 1 crore in fines till August. So, AM decided to find a new approach. A day before Gandhi Jayanti, our reporters decided to give Gandhigiri a try. Armed with booklets on Gandhi’s principles, portrait keychains and pamphlets listing traffic rules, AM reporters and the traffic police lay in wait of offenders at Vijay Charrasta, Income-Tax Circle and Stadium Circle. The reporters were shocked to find that most offenders were not people ignorant of traffic rules. For, the cops had caught doctors, professionals and students committing offences. More ..................... (A

Nirman School in Vastrapur has installed a high-tech system which automatically records students’ attendance and sends SMS alerts to parents whenever their wards skip classes By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 03:04:41 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : (Cover Story) http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2009100120091001030441328ae26bc75 ) City schools, which have been wary about the use of technology, are now embracing it at a feverish pace to deal with truants and to strengthen security on their campuses. A school in Vastrapur, Nirman High School, has installed a system which automatically records time of students’ entry and exit from the campus, and quickly dispatches SMS alerts to parents when their children skip classes. Officials of the school say the system also helps keep intruders at bay by sounding an alarm every time a person enters the campus without authorisation, i.e. without a specially designe

Should Class X students be allowed to pick streams? A committee set up to review examination system for classes X, XI & XII recommends revolutionary changes By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : (Cover story : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=200909302009093003090029642a41b0b ) Committee’s Recommendations For class X » Replace essay-type exam with a multiple-choice one » Allow students to pick a stream – science, arts or commerce in class X itself » Make it easier for students to clear subjects not relevant to their stream » This can done by introducing two-level exams. A student who wants to pursue arts may only clear level 1 exam For class XI and XII » Semester system, multiple-choice test A panel formed by the state education board to review the examination process of classes X, XI and XII is planning to propose sweeping reforms which will benefit lakhs of

IRCTC will start serving the Gujarati delicacies within two months By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Thursday, October 01, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror - http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009100120091001022052453a58cb08f ) After khaman and dhokla, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is planning to dish out more Gujarati delicacies to passengers boarding Rajdhani Express from Ahmedababd. If all goes well, khichdi-kadhi would be included on the menu of the prestigious train of Indian Railways within a couple of months. The new delicacies will be served on Rajdhani after the construction of swanky base kitchen at Ahmedabad railway station is over. Chief Regional Manager of IRCTC, Ahmedabad, Pravin Parmar said: “We will start serving khichdi-kadhi on Rajdhani from December. We will prepare them in our new base kitchen, which should be ready before December.” The decision to serve khichdi-kadi on Rajdhani is aimed

For the first time, passengers of Rajdhani Express were served the traditional snack that every Gujarati savours on the festival day By Yogesh Avasthi Posted On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009092920090929025541343449dc341 #) Jo fafda-jalebi na hoye toh Dussehra na kehvaye. From the moment garba ends on the last day of Navratri till the evening of Dussehra, people throng farsaan shops to eat the traditional Dussehra snack. Keeping this tradition of Gujaratis in mind, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for the first time served fafda-jalebi to passengers of the Ahmedabad-Delhi Rajdhani Express. On Monday evening, every passenger was served three jalebis and 100gm fafda with the mandatory accompaniments: kadhi and chutney. Special treat a hit IRCTC Chief Regional Manager Praveen Parmar said, “The special Dussehra dish was appreciated a lot by