Fine tune examination system

Sir,

For the last few years the Govt and the Board authorities have made efforts to streamline examination system. The Board authorities have done a commendable job in checking the menace of mass copying in examinations. But more is required to be done in other fields also. The need of the hour is to provide a fool proof examination system.

Opinion is building against the present examination system. Examinations are too academic, too theoretical and belong to age gone bye. The system of examination is ethically wrong. And what in ethically wrong cannot be materially correct. But in our country it is easy to talk of abolishing exams, than providing reliable and suitable alternations. As long as we do not find an equally good alternative, it is natural that we should continue with what we have, to avoid the damages of falling in pitfalls.

The process of examinations needs to be streamlined. We need better teachers to teach, better examiners and evaluators who are of a missionary and not mercenary in character. As a matter of fact intelligent students often know a long more than the teachers who often penalise them for their own ignorance. Hence the evaluation work should be entrusted to more competent and honest teachers only. The efficiency of marking and checking should not be sacrificed at the alter of speed and early declaration of results.

It is generally observed that every year after the declaration of 10th class and 12th class results there is unrest and discontentment among the parents in general and meritorious students in particular. The foul play on the part of board officials can not be ruled out.

At the end I would like to suggest the Govt, and the Board authorities that an expert committee comprising of eminent educationists and retired teaching personalities be constituted to examine the existing system of examinations and suggest a comprehensive examination policy on the basis of the latest technology and trends in education.

Yours etc...
Autar Krishan Razdan
Lale Da Bagh
Jammu

NREGA funds

Sir,

It is heatening to note that the State Government is getting a sum of twelve hundred crore for NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). The news is a welcome one and has enlivened the hopes of the poor in the rural areas of the State (DE, Mar 12).

National Rural Employment Guarantee Act has been so for employed only in nine districts of the State. Now the release of more funds will ensure that this scheme will not be restricted to only these districts but extended to whole of the State. This scheme has helped in many areas of the country where building of roads, checkdam etc has been undertaken.

This scheme should be extended in remote and hilly districts of the State where the availability of guaranteed employment is not assured. This programme can be utilised to build roads in these remote areas. In these areas one of the major bottlenecks is the paucity of the road communication. As roads are the basic to the development of infrastructure in remote areas it is essential that the Government accords top priority to the development of road connectivity in these areas. Besides small bridges and building of checkdams can help conserve forests and land in hilly areas which are facing widespread erosion and water scarcity.

Yours etc...
Bishan Dass
Kathua

Engineering wonder

Sir,

Our state which is world famous as a tourist attraction has yet another land mark coming up which will make it is cynosure of engineering feats.

The railway bridge which is coming up at Keori on Chenab on reasi-Qazigund section of Railway like to Srinagar will be the tallest bridge in the world. The bridge will be meters above the height of Eiffel Tower and many times the height of Qutub Minar. The railway bridge will make the State a tourist attraction also. Because anything which is tallest in the world will definitely attract people. In this way the Keori Bridge will leave behind Milleau bridge in Switzerland which at present is the tallest rail bridge in the world.

The Keori bridge will be about 1.7 kilometers long and hundreds of meters high. About one hundred crore has already been spent on the bridge. Three thousand workers are working round the clock to complete the project on time. It is estimated that about six hundred crore will be spent on the bridge. This bridge is located in such a remote area that one hundred and twenty kilometers of approach roads were built to carry men and material to the site. The Railway line to Srinagar from Jammu is the most ambitious rail project undertaken in the subcontinent and once completed will ensure development of the State in a big way. Thus Keori bridge will prove a crucial link in coming years.

Yours etc...
Mohan Prakash Verma
Katra