New syllabi, terror scare major concerns as 11 lakh pupils embark on month-long journey today

The long and anxious wait is finally over for lakhs of students attempting their Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams. As the class XII exams begin from Thursday, students and parents are expecting nothing short of a harrowing time this year.

Says Anahita Nair, a commerce student from Sathaye College in Vile Parle, "We have been told to expect a slightly tougher paper than last year by our school and coaching class. I have also heard that we all will be frisked at the exam centre and checked for mobile phones. I hope this will not cause delay in sitting for the exams."

Tech students of SIES, Nerul held annual festival

Nerul-based SIES College is abuzz with activities and the latest was TatvaMoksh-09, a three-day annual festival by the students of School of Technology. The festival which was held last week had a plethora of events from dancing, singing, fashion show, photography web designing and more. According to organisers, the event was a platform for all students to exhibit their respective talent.

It will be finalised in the senate meeting

Vice-chancellor of the University of Pune (UoP) Narendra Jadhav said that the management council of the university on Wednesday approved the budget for 2009-10. "But the finalisation of the budget will take place only in the senate meeting to be slated on 28 and 29 March," he said. Jadhav was briefing mediapersons about the decisions of the management council.

The university will offer stipend to all 240 students pursuing MPhil at the university and candidates attached to the postgraduation centres in affiliated colleges.

Colleges, NGOs join hands to help students & parents overcome stress

With board exams drawing close, the stress level of the students is on the rise. Digging their head into the pile of books for last-minute revision, the building pressure is taking a toll on the young panicky minds. In a bid to offer nervous students with some amount of respite, colleges and NGOs have come up with a helping hand.

Four students from Jaipur have secured positions among the top 10 scorers in exams of different Company Secretary (CS) programmes.

The results of CS courses were declared on Wednesday by the Institute of Company Secretary of India.

Megha Garg achieved 3rd rank in the foundation programme while Ravi Mansaka stood 2nd in the executive programme at national level. In the final year course, Omprakash Kasera and Raghav Bajaj bagged 2nd and 6th positions respectively. Gagan Jain, a student from Pali, secured first rank in the final programme of the CS course.

The Pune University Teachers' Assn asks UoP, affiliated

colleges to fill vacancies

The Pune University Teachers' Association (Puta) on Wednesday demanded that the University of Pune (UoP) and its affiliated colleges should fill the vacant posts of sports director and director of physical education respectively for the benefit of students involved in sports activities.

Addressing a press conference, the teachers' association alleged that around 70% of the university affiliated colleges are yet to fill the vacant posts of the director of physical education.