Class of ’10 tests new ground

The government had set up a committee under the chairmanship of famous poet Vitthal Wagh to draft the syllabus and the committee finalised the syllabus with the help of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT).

The decision is applicable to schools affiliated to the CBSE,ICSE and IB boards. At present,Marathi is introduced in class 5 in non-Marathi schools. Warning of action against non-implementation of the norm,officials said the subject will be introduced in class 2,3 and 4 in 2010-’11,2011-’12 and 2012-’13 respectively.

According to the government resolution,the intitiative is aimed at developing an interest in Marathi language among the non-Marathi students as well as help them cope up with the surrounding social atmosphere.

SCERT director A M Bedge said Marathi will be taught as a basic introductory subject in class 1. “The syllabus includes rhymes,story-telling and introduction of formalities. It is aimed at developing communication skills in Marathi. In class 2 also,the focus will be on listening and dialogue,” he said.

There will be no formal examination for Marathi in classes 1 and 2. “Marathi reading will be introduced in class 3 and writing will begin in class 4,” said Bedge. “The examinations for classes 3 and 4 will be of 50 marks. The written exam will be for 20 marks and for the remaining 30 marks,the students will be judged on orals and overall performance in the year,” he said.

Age limits for law : UoP seeks a year but Bharati New Law College to go ahead

With law admissions opening next month,the law faculty of University of Pune (UoP) has sought permission from the Bar Council of India (BCI) to allow one more year for the implementation of the age limit.

However,not everyone is as hesitant. Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University’s New Law College is all set to impose the age bar for fresh admissions this year.

“We have sent a letter seeking permission from the BCI to extend the implementation of age limit in law colleges to 2010-2011 academic year,” said Sureshchandra Bhosale,dean of law faculty,UoP.

He said the university has said it needs time to start the process while seeking extension. There are 23 law colleges under the jurisdiction of the UoP,including the ILS Law College.

The BCI has stipulated 20 years as the age-limit for the five-year course and 30 years for the three-year course. The limit for SC/ST and OBC students is 22 years for the five-year course and 35 years for the three-year post-graduate course. The BCI is the apex organisation that determines the standards and rules governing legal education in India and its advice is binding on all law-teaching institutions.

Earlier,in February,the UoP had demanded that the council should withdraw its decision to not allow candidates above 30 years of age to join any law course.

Bharati New Law College had no such inhibitions. “We have decided to implement the age-limit from this academic year and have printed so in our prospectus for those appearing for our entrance test next month,” said Mukund Sarda,principal of Bharati New Law College. “While the age-limit is fair for the five-year law course,it is debatable whether the age bar can be implemented for the three-year course,” he said.

One of the objections raised by those opposing the age-limit was that it will be violating the fundamental right to education. “It is unfair to say so as we have the three-year law course that can be taken up by professionals till the age of 35,” Sarda said.

Student organisations had staged protests on the university campus in February.

Sarda pointed out that there is age restriction for MPSC and UPSC examinations. “Law is an equally noble profession that ensures justice and it is important to have young,healthy and rational lawyers,” he said. There are many professionals who complete the three-year law course and work as part-time lawyers. “Although it generates money for them,they are not necessarily dedicated and they don’t strive for justice,” he said.

AADITI JATHAR