Examination strategy for better result | Summer vacation fee

For better exam results simply drink water
Mar 14: The key to examination success could be as simple - and as cheap - as a glass of water.

Children who have a drink of water before sitting tests fare up to a third better, researchers have found.

The reason why isn't clear, but it could be that information flows more smoothly between brain cells when they are well hydrated.

In one of the first studies of its kind, researchers from the University of East London looked at the effects of water on the performance of almost 60 boys and girls aged between seven and nine.

Half were given a 250ml glass of water to drink, and 20 minutes later, both groups were subjected to a battery of tests. One test, designed to assess visual attention and memory, involved spotting the differences between two cartoons. The water-drinkers scored 34 per cent better, the research journal Appetite reports.

They also did 23 per cent better on a more difficult version of the test and 11 per cent better on a third task that required them to cross out specified letters from a sequence. In tests designed to assess short-term memory there were no differences between the two groups.

Researcher Dr. Caroline Edmonds said: "Children who had a drink of water performed significantly better on a number of tasks. Our findings suggest that consuming water benefits cognitive performance in children."

It is possible that water improves the flow of information between brain cells, added Dr. Edmonds.

Other possibilities include the water drinkers not being distracted by feeling thirsty.

Previous studies have shown that drinking water boosts the brainpower of adults.

Giving teenage boys fish at least once a week boosts their intelligence, a study suggests.

Experts found 15-year-olds who ate fish regularly scored better on IQ tests when they reached 18 than those who rarely ate it. The more fish they ate, the better they did, the child health journal Acta Paediatrica reports. The link held true even when the level of the boys' education and their parents social status was taken into account.

The researchers, from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said: "These findings are significant because the study was carried out between the ages of 15 and 18 when educational achievements can help to shape the rest of a young man's life. A number of studies have already shown that fish can help neurodevelopment in infants, reduce the risk of impaired cognitive function from middle age onwards and benefit babies born to women who ate fish during pregnancy. However we believe that this is the first large-scale study to explore the effect on adolescents." The News

Academics voice reservations over education policy
Hyderabad: The Institute of Sindh Affairs has expressed reservations on new education policy and demanded appointment of a commission before its implementation.

In a joint statement issued here on Friday, eminent educationists Prof Asif Ali Kazi, Prof Ameer Ali Qadri, Prof Saeeda Basheer Chandio, Zafar Rajput and others said that the teachers, students and parents should be given representation in education commission and revision of syllabus of A and O levels, government schools and seminaries. They also called for introducing uniform education system throughout the country on the pattern of India for providing equal opportunities to 80 per cent students belonging to middle and lower middle classes as well as to four million students of seminaries. Dawn

Post your comments

Summer vacation fee issue
Karachi: Sindh Chief Secretary Fazalur Rehman has asked the provincial education secretary to take stern action against those private schools which have raised their tuition fee or are charging summer vacation fees from their students in violation of the prescribed rules.

Taking notice of public complaints in this regard, he told the secretary to submit to him a report on the action within a week.

The chief secretary said that charging of summer vacation fees was illegal and there would be no compromise on such a collection.

He also took notice of teachers' absence from their duties at various government educational institutions and issued directives to resolve the problem. Ppi/App

Post your comments

Education policy ignores special children
Lahore: One of the astonishing features of the draft of the National Education Policy 2009 is the absence of a policy framework for promotion of special education for special children.

The draft offers action plans for promotion of various tiers and types of education, including school and college education, literacy and non-formal education as well as technical and vocational education, but is silent on the special education front.

Stakeholders believe that special education had always been ignored in the country and that its exclusion in the draft policy was also a proof of fact that authorities were lax in providing opportunities of quality education to special children.

The draft Education Policy designed by Shaukat Aziz government had been placed on the Federal Education Ministry's website www.moe.gov.pk for quite some time. The general public was requested to read the draft and give feedback to the Education Ministry. The feedback of the provinces was also sought while the meeting of the Inter-provincial Education Ministers (IPEM) held in February also tried to reach a consensus on the draft policy.

Federal Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani has said on various occasions that the National Education Policy 2009 would be announced on March 23.

Prof Dr Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal, the dean Faculty of Education at the Punjab University, believes that special education had never been the focus of any government in Pakistan adding it was because of this that the contribution of private sector in the field of special education was more than that of the public sector. Education policy covered all tiers and types of education, he said. To a question, Dr Iqbal said a major chunk of population benefited from general education unlike special education.

To a question about inclusion of policy actions for promotion of literacy and technical education in the draft policy, he said the country had commitments to promote literacy. He said the need to benefit from technical education demanded a more focused approach. He, however, was of the view that guidelines for special education should also be included in the national education policy.

According to the minutes of the meeting of the IPEM, Fazle Manan, the director education from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), had commented that the upcoming education policy must include education for special children by adding provision on inclusive education.

Women issues discussed
Lahore: The Punjab University (PU) Department of Psychology & Applied Psychology organized a seminar in the seminar hall of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in connection with International Women Day, at New Campus on Friday.

According to a press statement, renowned beautician and Smile Again Head Musarrat Misbah was the chief guest on the occasion while Department of Psychology & Applied Psychology Chairperson Prof Dr Rukhsana Kausar were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Musarrat Misbah said that there were a number of women problems and World Women Day should be celebrated everyday. She said women have to work hard and sacrifice a lot to progress therefore they must be prepared for it.

Prof Dr Najma Najam said universities were a platform to bring positive change in the society. She said 52 per cent population of the country comprised females but in practical life, women were behind. She said there was a dire need to encourage women in this regard.

Dr Nasira Jabeen, speaking on the occasion said we must salute women who achieved their targets in lives facing all the hurdles bravely. She said women were very brave and highly courageous.

In her address, Dr Zeba said that the objectives of female students after getting admission in the varsity should not only to get degree but progress in practical life.

Dr Ehsan Malik also spoke on the occasion. Prof Dr Rukhsana Bajwa, Prof Dr Samar Fatima, Lahore Medical & Dental College Principal Shaheena Asif, Dr Shahla J Akram and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Later, a painting exhibition of female artists was opened while the students of the department also set up stalls on the occasion. The News

Post your comments