Let’s make it legal
State Higher Education Department to introduce law as a subject in first year for BA, BCom and BSc students from the new academic year
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, February 19, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120219201202190135294867c50c5e2/Let%E2%80%99s-make-it-legal.html)
College students in the state are set to take a leap in awareness about their rights at home, in society and at the workplace if the state government’s programme to introduce law as a compulsory subject is in place from the new academic year.
At present only about 5 per cent of students who study Bachelor of Law know the fundamentals of law and its application, while 95 per cent of students, other than management students who might have some knowledge about business laws, are mostly unaware of the laws of the land and its applicability.
To ensure that youngsters learn the basics of law which will be useful to them at every stage of life, the state Higher Education Department has decided to introduce law as a compulsory subject in the first year for BA, BCom and BSc students from June this year.
Knowledge about issues that concern everybody will be the focus of the subject. So, whether it is human rights, forced labour, sexual offences, protection against domestic violence, rights of women against sexual harassment at the work place, property rights, compensation for victims of crime, prohibition on smoking, traffic laws or ban on ragging, the students will get to know about them.
Following a suggestion by former chief justice of India P N Bhagwati to the state government at a seminar last year that every person should have knowledge about law and the government should design a syllabus for non-law students, the proposition was set in motion by the government.
A high-level official in the Higher Education Department on condition of anonymity told Mirror, “The subject is easy to understand and conveys in simple language the different laws and its applicability. The course has been designed in English and Gujarati. Experts, including high court judges and senior lawyers, IAS, IPS officers, NGOs and educationists have designed the course material, 95 per cent of which is complete. The course is now at the editing stage.”
According to the official, all universities in the state will implement it. The course material will be printed by Gujarat State Textbook Board. Frequently Asked Questions on law have also been incorporated with examples for easy understanding.
Regarding faculty to teach the subject, the official said, “College teachers will be given a short training during the vacation. Besides, services of visiting faculty will be taken.”
About the government’s initiative, S P University Vice Chancellor Harish Padh said, “It is a welcome step as it is very important to have basic knowledge of law and finance in this time and age. At every step in life, it will come in handy in society and at the workplace.”
High Court senior advocate Dharmistha Raval, who is involved with the project, said, “The course will be useful for the students in every phase of their life. If their interest in the subject is boosted, they can even pursue it further.”
Bimal Patel, vice chancellor of Gujarat National Law University said, “It is a good thing to provide a basis for law in college. This would help students in life whenever they are faced with difficult situations. It would also help in the furtherance of their career.”
Financial literacy course
To help students understand the intricacies of the market and know about investments early in life, the government has also prepared a special course — Financial Literacy — for college students.
Securities and Exchange Board of India had created a short court for school students in Maharashtra which was successful.
Taking a cue, the state government contacted SEBI to design a course for college students. A meeting between SEBI and government officials was also held in this regard recently in Gandhinagar. The course will have an entry level 1, which will be basic and include information about banking — savings account, current account, demat etc. The entry level 2 will be about mutual funds, equity, listing and how one can do business in the share market.
Dharmistha Raval said, “We are taking help from the National Institute of Security Market, an educational initiative of SEBI, in preparing the syllabus.”
The SP VC said, “Students will know how to make the most of their money. They will stop wasting money and look for opportunities to increase their income. The subject is a need of the hour.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, February 19, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20120219201202190135294867c50c5e2/Let%E2%80%99s-make-it-legal.html)
College students in the state are set to take a leap in awareness about their rights at home, in society and at the workplace if the state government’s programme to introduce law as a compulsory subject is in place from the new academic year.
At present only about 5 per cent of students who study Bachelor of Law know the fundamentals of law and its application, while 95 per cent of students, other than management students who might have some knowledge about business laws, are mostly unaware of the laws of the land and its applicability.
To ensure that youngsters learn the basics of law which will be useful to them at every stage of life, the state Higher Education Department has decided to introduce law as a compulsory subject in the first year for BA, BCom and BSc students from June this year.
Knowledge about issues that concern everybody will be the focus of the subject. So, whether it is human rights, forced labour, sexual offences, protection against domestic violence, rights of women against sexual harassment at the work place, property rights, compensation for victims of crime, prohibition on smoking, traffic laws or ban on ragging, the students will get to know about them.
Following a suggestion by former chief justice of India P N Bhagwati to the state government at a seminar last year that every person should have knowledge about law and the government should design a syllabus for non-law students, the proposition was set in motion by the government.
A high-level official in the Higher Education Department on condition of anonymity told Mirror, “The subject is easy to understand and conveys in simple language the different laws and its applicability. The course has been designed in English and Gujarati. Experts, including high court judges and senior lawyers, IAS, IPS officers, NGOs and educationists have designed the course material, 95 per cent of which is complete. The course is now at the editing stage.”
According to the official, all universities in the state will implement it. The course material will be printed by Gujarat State Textbook Board. Frequently Asked Questions on law have also been incorporated with examples for easy understanding.
Regarding faculty to teach the subject, the official said, “College teachers will be given a short training during the vacation. Besides, services of visiting faculty will be taken.”
About the government’s initiative, S P University Vice Chancellor Harish Padh said, “It is a welcome step as it is very important to have basic knowledge of law and finance in this time and age. At every step in life, it will come in handy in society and at the workplace.”
High Court senior advocate Dharmistha Raval, who is involved with the project, said, “The course will be useful for the students in every phase of their life. If their interest in the subject is boosted, they can even pursue it further.”
Bimal Patel, vice chancellor of Gujarat National Law University said, “It is a good thing to provide a basis for law in college. This would help students in life whenever they are faced with difficult situations. It would also help in the furtherance of their career.”
Financial literacy course
To help students understand the intricacies of the market and know about investments early in life, the government has also prepared a special course — Financial Literacy — for college students.
Securities and Exchange Board of India had created a short court for school students in Maharashtra which was successful.
Taking a cue, the state government contacted SEBI to design a course for college students. A meeting between SEBI and government officials was also held in this regard recently in Gandhinagar. The course will have an entry level 1, which will be basic and include information about banking — savings account, current account, demat etc. The entry level 2 will be about mutual funds, equity, listing and how one can do business in the share market.
Dharmistha Raval said, “We are taking help from the National Institute of Security Market, an educational initiative of SEBI, in preparing the syllabus.”
The SP VC said, “Students will know how to make the most of their money. They will stop wasting money and look for opportunities to increase their income. The subject is a need of the hour.”
