Srijan Foundation

Bengal students best at maths: NCERT survey  

Akshaya Mukul | TNN  New Delhi:

     One of the country’s most stringent surveys of learning abilities of class V students by NCERT has found that West Bengal is on top, followed by Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Tripura. Uttar Pradesh has also made rapid strides making it to the sixth position. 

         The survey, which was conducted in 6,828 schools, 79% of them in rural areas, across 266 districts of 33 states and which tested 84,322 students in environment science, maths and language, found that there was a small overall increase (60.31% from 58.87%) in language ability and mathematics (46.51% to 48.46%) in the learning abilities in 2007 from the baseline survey carried out in 2001-02. Bihar and Lakshadweep did not participate in the survey.

        While students in many states had increased learning achievement, among the performing states, the story of Tamil Nadu needed to be singled out. Due to poor performance of students in three districts — Karur, Thrivanamalai and Vellore — the state’s mean average came down significantly from the baseline survey of 2001-02.

        The survey gave 40 questions in each subject. In mathematics, the students were asked questions on highest common factor/lowest common factor, average, profit and loss, simple interest, measurement, fraction and decimal, percent and geometry. In language, questions on structure of sentence, spelling, comprehension of informative passage and story were asked. In EVS, 20 questions each were on social science and science. 

        In mathematics, the mean average of West Bengal students was 60% to 70%. In fact, Bengal was the only state in this category. Class V students of Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, TN, Tripura and UPhad a mean average of 50% to 60%. Students of most of the other states had a mean average of 40% to 50%. These included states like Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, J&K, Kerala, Punjab and Delhi. In Chhatisgarh, Goa and Andaman, class V students had a mean average of less than 40%.

       However, in EVS, Karnataka was on top with a mean average of 60% to 70%. West Bengal students had a mean average of 50% to 60%. Students of class V seemed to have a flair for language.

      The survey showed that students in 14 states had a mean average of 60% to 70%. Delhi students, lower down in other subjects, were in this category along with West Bengal, Gujarat, UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Jharkahnd, Himachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Chandigarh. Other states had a mean average of 50% to 60%.

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        In EVS, Karnataka was on top with a mean average of 60% to 70%. West Bengal students had a mean average of 50% to 60%

        In language, West Bengal, Gujarat, UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Jharkahnd, HP, Mizoram had a mean average of 60% to 70%

A TRUE HERO 

 Singh Happy With Noble Act, Rues Labourer’s Death  TIMES NEWS NETWORK  New Delhi:

     Would you risk your life for a stranger? The thought did not even cross 20-year-old Happy Singh’s mind as he jumped into a 12-ft ditch in Malviya Nagar to save the life of a labourer working on a sewer line there. 

         On Wednesday morning, Singh was at home when he heard a commotion of men screaming and women crying for help.

        Said Singh: ‘‘When I heard everyone shouting that a boy had fallen into the pit, I just jumped into it. I didn’t even have the time to think of the consequences. If someone is in need of help, how can you turn your back on him? I did just what I would expect anyone to do for me, if I was in such a situation.’’
   Singh, who stays with his parents in H-block, helps out in the family’s jewellery business. Residents of the area said that this was not the first time that the 20-year-old had risked his life for a stranger.
   As Satyapal Gulati, RWA president of the area, pointed out: ‘‘There was an accident in our colony sometime back. Happy was the first one to pitch in with help. He rushed the injured boy to the hospital. We are all very proud of him. Very few people would have the courage to risk their lives like this.’’
   Singh, who suffered minor bruises while trying to rescue 20-year-old Ashok Kumar, has just one regret that the labourer could not be saved. Once inside the pit, Singh had started out by digging the mud under which Kumar lay buried.
   He was helped by the policemen, who came 15 minutes later, and the fire fighters who had by then arrived at the scene.
   Said Singh: ‘‘I am just sad that I couldn’t do more for the labourer and Kumar passed away. It is unfortunate that no lessons are learnt by government agencies even as people continue to get hurt by falling into open ditches. A few days ago, another labourer had fallen into the pit and hurt himself.’’
   toireporter@timesgroup.com

For 10 rescued boys, it’s the highway to better life  

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  New   Delhi/Gurgaon:

      The opening of the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway will surely bring smiles to the faces of over 1.25 lakh commuters who use the road daily. But for a group of 10 young men, all runaway street children given shelter by Salam Balak Trust, the opening of the expressway translates to a fresh lease of life.

         Amidst all the last-minute preparations on Tuesday, the 10 youngsters sat comfortably in their seats at the 32-lane toll plaza, having been employed by DS Constructions to man the toll gates once the collection process begins. ‘‘We are completely ready for operation. I know it is going to be a big day but somehow, there is no stress. As far as I am concerned, they can start the toll collection right away,’’ said 22-year-old Ashtam Kumar, who was rescued from the streets 10 years ago by the trust.

        Added 20-year-old Ram Kishan, who ran away from home when he was just six years old: ‘‘We had worked at a toll plaza in Raipur-Durg for two years before we were sent to Delhi. This toll plaza is more modern and the number of cars passing through is also much more. So we have been trained to work faster so that there are no jams.’’
   For the past two days, they have been sitting at the gates, informing commuters that toll collection hasn’t started as yet. ‘‘We have been trained to talk to commuters politely and never get into an argument, even if the boom bar falls,’’ said Sandeep Thakur, another youth.

        By reserving 10 per cent of the manpower required to man the toll gates for the economically and socially underprivileged, the developer hopes to fulfil its corporate social responsibility and also provide a source of livelihood to those recruited by hiring these boys. Of the 250 tolling men required, the 10 youths from SBT have already been trained for the job.
         The youths have undergone a monthlong training on the technology and operations of the toll gates and will draw a salary of about Rs 9,600.