SUNDAY 3 CHENNAI A CLASS THAT MAKES … to surprise the children when they return after the long...
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3 SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER 2017 CHENNAI Around Town SANTHOSH MATHEVAN Chennai, Oct 8: Education is not just relying on pen and paper but, is a holistic phenomenon. When one steps into class 5D of Chennai Middle School in MGR Nagar, this sense of being holistic could be felt right away. The environment of the classroom and the way the 26-year-old teacher and a K K Nagar resident, Gilbert Ram, handles the class makes one want to go back to school and pursue studies under his guidance. So, what’s special about Gilbert’s classroom? News Today reporter recently visited his classroom and it was not a conventional one. Gilbert, along with his friends, was giving a makeover to the old government school classroom. The theme was the famous Minions. ‘I have named my children Minions. I play videos from Despicable Me movie series and they love it.’ Guess what? Gilbert was giving the physical makeover during the Pooja holidays to surprise the children when they return after the long quar- terly holidays. ‘We have sketched and coloured a lot of freaky minion expressions on the walls and I am sure they will be impressed by this,’ says Gilbert. Why was Gilbert taking all these ef- forts? Just to make them happy? No. He says. ‘A classroom environment would be the first one that makes a kid feel comfortable. Simply sitting on benches and looking at black- boards will surely lead them to hate education.’ Adding to his birth name, Ramal- ingam, the 26-year-old teacher and part-time movie critic, works in a MNC and he is on two years sab- batical leave. He is teaching govern- ment school kids under a fellowship programme of Teach for India (TFI), a national-level NGO based out of Pune. ‘Actually, I write movie re- views under the pen name Gilbert (nickname given by his uncle), and so it turned out to be the used name,’ he chuckles. But, Gilbert was not alone in his painting mission. When Gilbert Ram asked his bestie Arunkumar, Rajalakshmi and a couple of others regarding painting his class as per a theme, they stepped in without hesitation. ‘Before the first term holidays began, we had vague ideas about what to do. A good friend of mine, Shrikrithika Nagarajan, who studied architecture at NIT Tiruchi and cur- rently working as an interior design- er, agreed to help us out and came on day one to kickstart the project,’ said Rajalakshmi. They handed over the scraping and primer coating to professionals and intense discussions happened each day about designing the class. Arun’s version was quite emo- tional. ‘Drawing each Minion gave us satisfaction and colouring each Minion gave us goosebumps. It was a cherishable experience and full of fun. Each day, we also had friends volunteering.’ As time was short, the team got the work done by coming in immediately after work in the case of master artist Shrikrithika, and staying overnight in the case of other volunteers. Shrikrithika said, ‘Working with Gilbert and his friends was an awe-inspiring experience. A team of people from various walks of life came together for one cause - to help their friend provide a conducive and nurturing academic environment for kids who hardly have access to two meals a day.’ ‘Starting from scratch, the rush and excitement of a deadline that came a week too soon, a little helplessness at the dearth of funding, the groggy high of doing overnight sessions for planning and execution after our regular office schedule, were a few of the challenges we faced,’ remem- bers Shri. However, it was all enjoyable: bond- ing over the highs and lows, working with different volunteers every night, sketching, painting and reminiscing about their schooldays, and giving the kids the best they could. ‘With the preparatory work leav- ing us with hardly four days, we managed to complete the intended décor with the timely intervention by Yashwanth, an aspiring artist, and his contribution and encouragement,’ she added. The team unanimously said when the classroom was fi- nally ready, they went to sleep with a sense of satisfaction, three hours before the alarm rang to start a school day again. ‘When I looked at the kids’ happy and excited faces and heard their screams of delight the next morning, I felt all the pains of the past week melt away, and a sense of purpose, pride and satisfac- tion wash over,’ said Shri excitedly. The judges had judged! Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali along with his family members called on newly appointed Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday. While exchanging pleasantries, during the discussion, the Prince of Arcot said that with the presence of the Governor, and with his rich experience in dealing with men and matters, the State will progress and witness several developments in the future. NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 8: The Tamilnadu government has issued orders to hike theatre ticket prices by 25 per cent against the backdrop of the film industry bodies not releasing any new movies to protest the levy of 10 per cent local body tax in the State. As per a government order on Sat- urday, it was decided to raise the price of film tickets by 25 per cent following representations by various film industry associations. The maximum ticket price in multi- plexes and air-conditioned theatres in Chennai would now be Rs 160 while the minimum will be Rs 50. The new ticket prices come into ef- fect from 9 October. The government had formed a high level committee to examine the film fraternity’s issues following their indefinite stir in July against the implementation of the goods and service tax. In July, ticket prices were revised from the base price of Rs 120 and one ticket cost Rs 153 inclusive of 28 per cent GST. An additional Rs 30 was charged as convenience fee if tickets were booked through the internet taking the total price of one ticket to Rs 183.50. For those tickets that were priced at Rs 100 or less, the GST was fixed at 18 per cent. The strike was later withdrawn. However, the Tamil Film Producers Council and exhibitors recently de- cided not to release any movies from 6 October to protest implementation of 10 per cent local body tax on top of the 28 per cent GST. Following this, seven new movies were not released on Friday. The industry bodies have demand- ed that the 10 per cent tax introduced last month, be scrapped. As per the recommendations of the com- mittee, the government hiked the ticket prices by 25 per cent over the existing base price, the government order said. For multiplex and air-conditioned theatres in Chennai, the maximum ticket price would be Rs 160 while minimum Rs 50. For non-ac theatres, a maximum of Rs 120 per ticket will be charged and minimum of Rs 40, it said. For multiplexes and ac theatres that are located outside Chennai city, the maximum price will be Rs 140 while minimum will be Rs 50. For non-ac theatres, the maximum ticket price would be Rs 100 and minimum Rs 30. For those ac thea- tres operating under municipal cor- porations, the maximum ticket price will be Rs 50 while minimum Rs 10; non-ac (Rs 30 and minimum Rs 7). The maximum ticket price in ac theatres in municipalities will be Rs 40; minimum Rs 30; non ac thea- tres (maximum Rs 30, minimum Rs four; town panchayats ac theatres (maximum Rs 25; minimum Rs 15); non ac theatres (maximum Rs 25; minimum Rs 4) Theatres operat- ing under village panchayats will charge a maximum of Rs 15 per ticket in ac theatres while it will be minimum of Rs 7; non-ac theatre (Rs ten maximum; minimum Rs 4), the order said. According to the government order, the committee comprises additional chief secretaries and secretaries of various departments besides members of the Film Producers Council and Tamil Film Chamber of Commerce. A CLASS THAT MAKES CHILDREN FEEL COMFORTABLE Teach for India fellow Gilbert Ram goes extra mile to make teaching holistic in govt school COMFORTABLE Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy inaugurated the Central Instrumentation Laboratory during the Vels University’s silver jubilee celebration at its Pallavaram campus in Chennai on Saturday. Vels Group of Institutions chairman Ishari K Ganesh is present. Watching movies in theatres to cost more Govt hikes ticket prices by 25 % To come into effect from tomorrow Air India Ltd regional director (co-ordinator) Southern Region, M V Joshi, general manager (commercial) A Rambabu, regional sales manager R Srinivasan and Air India officials with the winners of Air India Tourism Quiz 2017 held at Mamallapuram on Saturday. Over 52 teams from leading corporates, IT Companies, Banks, Railways, PSUs participated in the quiz programme. Kiran forms core group to fight dengue Puducherry, Oct 8 (PTI): Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has constituted an eight-member official level core group to prepare an action plan to combat dengue and also breeding of mosquitoes in the union territory. She held discussions with officials of various departments at Raj Nivas on Saturday after reviewing the steps taken so far to curb spread of dengue. An action plan would be prepared in the next two days by the core group which comprises of District Collector, Directors of Local Administration, Health, Vector Control Research Centre, JIPMER, School Education and the Information and Publicity besides Chief Engineer of PWD, an official release said. Gilbert Ram painting class 5D of Chennai Middle School at MGR Nagar. Children in the classroom. NT Bureau Chennai, Oct 8: ‘By 2050, 60 per cent of the jobs we have now will become irrelevant. So, we must think what the future will look like for the education sector,’ said Malaysian Government Chief Secretary, Ali Hamsa. Delivering the 7th convocation address of B S Abdur Rahman Crescent University at its Vandalur campus on Saturday, he said, ‘Ma- laysia has adopted National Trans- formation 2050 plan which has many achievements to its credit.’ On public-private partnership, Ham- sa said, ‘While we consider the public sector to be a lubricant, we trust the private sector to be the engine of growth. Representatives of private and public sector meet once a month (12 civil servants and 12 from private sectors) to discuss various issues’. ‘Malaysia follows a five year plan and is currently in the 11th plan. It keeps improving on education, social and health sectors,’ he said. On the occasion, Hamsa was con- ferred honorary doctorate by the university Vice-Chancellor Sahol Hamid Bin Abu Bakar. The Vice-Chancellor also gave away degree certificates to 1,105 students which included 15 PhDs, 820 under graduates (UG) and 270 post graduates (PG). The university chairman, Board of Management, Abdul Qadir A Rah- man Buhari presented gold medals and certificates to UG and PG rank holders. ‘It is very satisfying to see students placed in various meritorious posi- tions across a wide spectrum of com- panies. Recently, we inaugurated a new School of Law in the university campus,’ said Adbul Qadir. Crescent has tied up with foreign universities such as Purdue Univer- sity, Missouri State University and University of Central Florida in USA, Plymouth University and Cambridge University ESOl exams in UK, Curtin University of Technology and Deakin University in Australia, he said. ‘60% jobs will become irrelevant by 2050’ 1,105 students get degrees at 7th convocation of Crescent University Malaysian Chief Secretary conferred doctorate Malaysian Government Chief Secretary Ali Hamsa presenting a degree certificate to a student at the 7th convocation of B S Abdur Rahman Crescent University at Vandalur on Saturday. The university Vice-Chancellor Sahol Hamid Bin Abu Bakar and chairman, Board of Management, Abdul Qadir A Rahman Buhari are present. ‘While we consider the public sector to be a lubricant, we trust the private sector to be the engine of growth’
Transcript of SUNDAY 3 CHENNAI A CLASS THAT MAKES … to surprise the children when they return after the long...
3SUNDAY8 OCTOBER 2017CHENNAI Around Town
SANTHOSH MATHEVANChennai, Oct 8:
Education is not just relying on pen and paper but, is a holistic phenomenon. When one steps into class 5D of Chennai Middle School in MGR Nagar, this sense of being holistic could be felt right away. The environment of the classroom and the way the 26-year-old teacher and a K K Nagar resident, Gilbert Ram, handles the class makes one want to go back to school and pursue studies under his guidance.So, what’s special about Gilbert’s
classroom? News Today reporter recently visited his classroom and it was not a conventional one. Gilbert, along with his friends, was giving a makeover to the old government school classroom. The theme was the famous Minions.‘I have named my children Minions.
I play videos from Despicable Me movie series and they love it.’Guess what? Gilbert was giving the
physical makeover during the Pooja
holidays to surprise the children when they return after the long quar-terly holidays. ‘We have sketched and coloured a lot of freaky minion expressions on the walls and I am sure they will be impressed by this,’ says Gilbert.Why was Gilbert taking all these ef-
forts? Just to make them happy? No.
He says. ‘A classroom environment would be the fi rst one that makes a kid feel comfortable. Simply sitting on benches and looking at black-boards will surely lead them to hate education.’Adding to his birth name, Ramal-
ingam, the 26-year-old teacher and part-time movie critic, works in a MNC and he is on two years sab-batical leave. He is teaching govern-ment school kids under a fellowship programme of Teach for India (TFI), a national-level NGO based out of Pune. ‘Actually, I write movie re-views under the pen name Gilbert (nickname given by his uncle), and so it turned out to be the used name,’ he chuckles.But, Gilbert was not alone in his
painting mission. When Gilbert Ram asked his bestie Arunkumar, Rajalakshmi and a couple of others regarding painting his class as per a theme, they stepped in without hesitation.‘Before the first term holidays
began, we had vague ideas about what to do. A good friend of mine, Shrikrithika Nagarajan, who studied architecture at NIT Tiruchi and cur-rently working as an interior design-er, agreed to help us out and came on day one to kickstart the project,’ said Rajalakshmi.They handed over the scraping and
primer coating to professionals and intense discussions happened each day about designing the class.Arun’s version was quite emo-
tional. ‘Drawing each Minion gave us satisfaction and colouring each Minion gave us goosebumps. It was a cherishable experience and full of fun. Each day, we also had friends volunteering.’As time was short, the team got the
work done by coming in immediately after work in the case of master artist Shrikrithika, and staying overnight in the case of other volunteers.Shrikrithika said, ‘Working with
Gilbert and his friends was an awe-inspiring experience. A team
of people from various walks of life came together for one cause - to help their friend provide a conducive and nurturing academic environment for kids who hardly have access to two meals a day.’‘Starting from scratch, the rush and
excitement of a deadline that came a week too soon, a little helplessness at the dearth of funding, the groggy high of doing overnight sessions for planning and execution after our regular offi ce schedule, were a few of the challenges we faced,’ remem-bers Shri.However, it was all enjoyable: bond-
ing over the highs and lows, working with different volunteers every night, sketching, painting and reminiscing about their schooldays, and giving
the kids the best they could.‘With the preparatory work leav-
ing us with hardly four days, we managed to complete the intended décor with the timely intervention by Yashwanth, an aspiring artist, and his contribution and encouragement,’ she added. The team unanimously said when the classroom was fi-nally ready, they went to sleep with a sense of satisfaction, three hours before the alarm rang to start a school day again. ‘When I looked at the kids’ happy and excited faces and heard their screams of delight the next morning, I felt all the pains of the past week melt away, and a sense of purpose, pride and satisfac-tion wash over,’ said Shri excitedly. The judges had judged!
Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali along with his family members called on newly appointed Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday. While exchanging pleasantries, during the discussion, the Prince of Arcot said that with the presence of the Governor, and with his rich experience in dealing with men and matters, the State will progress and witness several developments in the future.
NT BureauChennai, Oct 8:
The Tamilnadu government has issued orders to hike theatre ticket prices by 25 per cent against the backdrop of the fi lm industry bodies not releasing any new movies to protest the levy of 10 per cent local body tax in the State.As per a government order on Sat-
urday, it was decided to raise the price of fi lm tickets by 25 per cent following representations by various fi lm industry associations.The maximum ticket price in multi-
plexes and air-conditioned theatres in Chennai would now be Rs 160 while the minimum will be Rs 50.The new ticket prices come into ef-
fect from 9 October. The government had formed a high level committee to examine the fi lm fraternity’s issues following their indefi nite stir in July against the implementation of the goods and service tax.
In July, ticket prices were revised from the base price of Rs 120 and one ticket cost Rs 153 inclusive of 28 per cent GST.An additional Rs 30 was charged
as convenience fee if tickets were booked through the internet taking the total price of one ticket to Rs 183.50. For those tickets that were priced at Rs 100 or less, the GST was fi xed at 18 per cent. The strike was later withdrawn.However, the Tamil Film Producers
Council and exhibitors recently de-cided not to release any movies from 6 October to protest implementation of 10 per cent local body tax on top of
the 28 per cent GST. Following this, seven new movies were not released on Friday.The industry bodies have demand-
ed that the 10 per cent tax introduced last month, be scrapped. As per the recommendations of the com-mittee, the government hiked the ticket prices by 25 per cent over the existing base price, the government order said.For multiplex and air-conditioned
theatres in Chennai, the maximum ticket price would be Rs 160 while minimum Rs 50. For non-ac theatres, a maximum of Rs 120 per ticket will be charged and minimum of Rs 40, it said.For multiplexes and ac theatres that
are located outside Chennai city, the maximum price will be Rs 140 while minimum will be Rs 50.For non-ac theatres, the maximum
ticket price would be Rs 100 and minimum Rs 30. For those ac thea-
tres operating under municipal cor-porations, the maximum ticket price will be Rs 50 while minimum Rs 10; non-ac (Rs 30 and minimum Rs 7). The maximum ticket price in ac theatres in municipalities will be Rs 40; minimum Rs 30; non ac thea-tres (maximum Rs 30, minimum Rs four; town panchayats ac theatres (maximum Rs 25; minimum Rs 15); non ac theatres (maximum Rs 25; minimum Rs 4) Theatres operat-ing under village panchayats will charge a maximum of Rs 15 per ticket in ac theatres while it will be minimum of Rs 7; non-ac theatre (Rs ten maximum; minimum Rs 4), the order said.According to the government order,
the committee comprises additional chief secretaries and secretaries of various departments besides members of the Film Producers Council and Tamil Film Chamber of Commerce.
A CLASS THAT MAKES CHILDREN FEELCOMFORTABLE� Teach for India fellow Gilbert Ram goes extra mile to make teaching holistic in govt school
COMFORTABLE
Apollo Hospitals chairman Dr Prathap C Reddy inaugurated the Central Instrumentation Laboratory during the Vels University’s silver jubilee celebration at its Pallavaram campus in Chennai on Saturday. Vels Group of Institutions chairman Ishari K Ganesh is present.
Watching movies in theatres to cost more
� Govt hikes ticket prices by 25 % � To come into effect from tomorrow
Air India Ltd regional director (co-ordinator) Southern Region, M V Joshi, general manager (commercial) A Rambabu, regional sales manager R Srinivasan and Air India offi cials with the winners of Air India Tourism Quiz 2017 held at Mamallapuram on Saturday. Over 52 teams from leading corporates, IT Companies, Banks, Railways, PSUs participated in the quiz programme.
Kiran forms core group to fight dengue
Puducherry, Oct 8 (PTI):Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has constituted
an eight-member official level core group to prepare an action plan to combat dengue and also breeding of mosquitoes in the union territory. She held discussions with offi cials of various departments at Raj Nivas on Saturday after reviewing the steps taken so far to curb spread of dengue. An action plan would be prepared in the next two days by the core group which comprises of District Collector, Directors of Local Administration, Health, Vector Control Research Centre, JIPMER, School Education and the Information and Publicity besides Chief Engineer of PWD, an offi cial release said.
Gilbert Ram painting class 5D of Chennai Middle School at MGR Nagar.
Children in the classroom.
NT BureauChennai, Oct 8:
‘By 2050, 60 per cent of the jobs we have now will become irrelevant. So, we must think what the future will look like for the education sector,’ said Malaysian Government Chief Secretary, Ali Hamsa.Delivering the 7th convocation
address of B S Abdur Rahman Crescent University at its Vandalur campus on Saturday, he said, ‘Ma-laysia has adopted National Trans-formation 2050 plan which has many achievements to its credit.’ On public-private partnership, Ham-
sa said, ‘While we consider the public
sector to be a lubricant, we trust the private sector to be the engine of growth. Representatives of private and public sector meet once a month (12 civil servants and 12 from private sectors) to discuss various issues’. ‘Malaysia follows a fi ve year plan
and is currently in the 11th plan. It keeps improving on education, social and health sectors,’ he said.On the occasion, Hamsa was con-
ferred honorary doctorate by the university Vice-Chancellor Sahol Hamid Bin Abu Bakar. The Vice-Chancellor also gave
away degree certifi cates to 1,105 students which included 15 PhDs,
820 under graduates (UG) and 270 post graduates (PG). The university chairman, Board of
Management, Abdul Qadir A Rah-man Buhari presented gold medals and certifi cates to UG and PG rank holders. ‘It is very satisfying to see students
placed in various meritorious posi-tions across a wide spectrum of com-panies. Recently, we inaugurated a new School of Law in the university campus,’ said Adbul Qadir.Crescent has tied up with foreign
universities such as Purdue Univer-sity, Missouri State University and University of Central Florida in USA,
Plymouth University and Cambridge University ESOl exams in UK, Curtin University of Technology and Deakin University in Australia, he said.
‘60% jobs will become irrelevant by 2050’� 1,105 students get degrees at 7th convocation of Crescent University � Malaysian Chief Secretary conferred doctorate
Malaysian Government Chief Secretary Ali Hamsa presenting a degree certifi cate to a student at the 7th convocation of B S Abdur Rahman Crescent University at Vandalur on Saturday. The university Vice-Chancellor Sahol Hamid Bin Abu Bakar and chairman, Board of Management, Abdul Qadir A Rahman Buhari are present.
‘While we consider the public sector to be a lubricant, we trust the private sector to be the
engine of growth’
