degrees and diplomas without commensurate competencies. Education today gives these degrees and diplomas, but more often than not, is pursued only, to postpone the frightening reality of facing life's challenges. These certificates of qualification are only kept in their pockets, as wallets without any money in them. Thus, even though many call themselves graduates and postgraduates, they have in reality just scraped through to pass examinations and have often been unable to derive full benefit

of their learning, and how to apply their education, by way of an acquisition of desirable competencies. College for quite a few of them is a place to form friendships and trivialities and not so much for education. Many of these so-called college goers do not take education seriously and education too, treats them casually.

Thus, our youngsters continue to add low grade qualifications to become graduates and postgraduates. Being devoid of competencies, such graduates and post-graduates start

applying in desperation for jobs more suited for secondary school qualifiers. This results in over qualified employees, falling way behind in career development initiatives.

Can we then rest of our oars and allow the unholy stream to slowly drift us towards disaster? Let us then wake up and address ourselves to reality and reject the gimmicks that govern education, for our children, our nation and our world.

A three-day orientation and workshop, for the 500 strong faculty of MES Indian School concluded on Thursday. This was in sync with the implementation of the second phase of the e-learning project, launched in April 2011 from KG I to class VIII.

The programme focussed on training, to integrate e-learning content and technology with the prescribed curriculum, for classes IX to XII.

S. Chand Harcourt officials Veena Ranjan (Head, Teacher Training), Neenu Puri (Director, Education) and Sarita Mathur (Consultant) were the resource persons here.

The inaugural programme was compered by Sophia Rajani, teacher, Department of Biology and workshop co-ordinator, girls' section. Sheela Pauly, head, Department of

Chemistry, in-charge and co-ordinator of teachers' workshop and orientation programme, boys' section, welcomed the guests. Acting Principal, Aleyamma Mathew presided.

Neenu Puri gave a presentation on the educational transformations that are impacting the newly introduced grading system, and the periodic support and input for teachers, who are handling the continuous and comprehensive evaluation up to class X, in order to, ensure greater effectiveness and objectivity. Sarita Mathur led a lively workshop session through group work and role play, where MES faculty learnt how to “handle” students in their classes, who have learning difficulties.

“MES Indian School is going through an era of educational reforms through an integration of e-learning technology and the

dynamic knowledge content that supports the school's and the CBSE curriculum,” observed Aleyamma Mathew.

The final day of the programme featured an address by principal A P Sasidharan who shed light on how the school will chart its course during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Administration and Human Resources manager, M I Mathew introduced some new general administrative matters of the school, to the new faculty.