Lady Gaga has become famous for her outfits which she designs herself?? The pop sensation leaves many people wondering, what was she like before the fame? You’d be pretty surprised, but Lady Gaga was pretty vanilla at one point.? Now two photos from her high school yearbook have appeared. One is a teen aged Gaga, who then was still going by her real name Stefani Germanotta, the other photo is Germanotta as a child before a piano. Both photos come from the 2004 Convent of the Sacred Heart School yearbook.

Personally, I think Lady Gaga looked much better in high school. I’m probably one of the few people who dislikes Lady Gaga, but I’d be more impressed if she had a little less style and a little more substance. I know that will probably piss a few people off, but I just feel she is a very clever product of marketing. Kudos for her for figuring out a gimmick that works. Only time will tell if it will last over time.

The school’s superintendent Frances Gallo made the recommendation last week, stating the move was necessary due to “callous disregard” by the union. In August 2009, the school’s superintendent wrote in a message to students’ parents: “Remember, we need YOU if we are to reach our potential: All Children and Adults Achieving at High Levels.”

The teachers at the high school make $70,000-$78,000, as compared to a median income in the town of $22,000. This exemplifies a nationwide trend in which public sector workers make far more than their private-sector counterparts (with better benefits).

The MPs said graduates applying for post-graduate certificate of education (PGCE) courses should have at least a lower second at degree level. The MPs welcomed government plans to require teachers to hold a licence to practise to “weed out poor performers”. Teaching should also be established as a Masters-level profession in time.

The cross-party Commons education select committee said it was clear “the bar must be raised across the board”. Its Training of Teachers report said: “It is of great concern to us that those with no A-levels, or those with just a pass degree, can gain entry to the teaching profession.”

The examinations of two subjects — Textile Engineering and Fiber Science, and Mining Engineering (MN) — were conducted using computers by these institutes. About 1,700 candidates were registered for these examinations which were conducted simultaneously in eight cities over two shifts Monday. The online examination was conducted in GATE 2010 this year for the first time and depending upon the experience, it might be repeated on a larger scale in subsequent years, the official added.

The written version of the exam in other 19 papers shall be conducted all over the country Feb 14. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conducted computer-based CAT for the first time in the last week of November and first week of December. Technical glitches and virus interrupted the online test, forcing the IIMs to conduct a second phase of CAT for over 8,000 aggrieved students Jan 29 and 30.

Oxford’s traditional rival, Cambridge University, retains its second-place ranking, with St Andrews University moving up from fifth spot last year to third place in the 2010 tables. Britain’s oldest universities still dominate the high rankings this year, with the London School of Economics fifth, Edinburgh seventh, and Imperial College London eighth. But universities founded in the 1960s have also made the top 10: Warwick retains fourth position and Loughborough the tenth spot; Bath ranks ninth, up from 13th last year. Sussex has leapt 15 places to 18th, and Herriot-Watt rises from 52nd to 22nd place this year.

Prof Paul Curran, vice-chancellor of Bournemouth University, which has come top of the post-1992 universities for the second year running, said its 32nd ranking was down to investing in staff. “We focused very clearly on academic excellence and investing in academic staff and our performance has improved dramatically. “We’ve recruited 150 new staff over two years and doubled the number of staff who have doctorates, which has improved the student experience.

“Academic staff who are really enthusiastic about their subject is what we think students want, and the results would indicate that.” Newer universities tend to do less well in the Guardian’s tables because they spend less money on teaching, they have lower ratios of staff to students, and their students are less happy with the feedback they get.

Paul Marshall, executive director of the 1994 group of smaller, research-intensive institutions, said: “The excellent performance of 1994 group universities in these national league tables, achieving 10 of the top 18 places, highlights yet again that our members are second to none in delivering a world-class academic experience. “Deciding on which university to attend is an increasingly important choice in a very competitive jobs market.

“Savvy students have worked out that 1994 group universities deliver the very best academic experience through a combination of world-class research, a commitment to research-led teaching, and the highest levels of student satisfaction.” Dr Wendy Piatt, director-general of the Russell group of older research-intensive universities, said they continued to excel.

“Evidence demonstrates that learning in an inquiry-based environment, where teaching is enriched by research, provides a real benefit to students. “The high-quality teaching and research undertaken by our universities builds the UK’s knowledge base and gives our students highly employable critical thinking and leadership skills.”

She said Russell group institutions scored highly in the most important categories, including career prospects. “Our universities have, for many years, been developing a range of schemes to enhance graduate employability, including work-based learning, internships in coveted professions, and tailored guidance to help students consolidate the skills that are valued by employers,” said Piatt.

The top three places in the league table for specialist institutions have shifted, though conservatoires still dominate. The Royal Academy of Music ranks first, up from third place last year, taking over from the Courtauld Institute, which drops to second place in the 2010 tables. The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama falls to third place from second last year.

Aditya Narayan Mishra, President of the Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Association (FEDCUTA) in his statement clearly mentioned that University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry are not taking care of the need of central university professors. This is the only reason why they are protesting.

Further, he also added that one of their key demands is that the UGC must take into account central university teachers’ promotion on the basis of experience. UGC had told central universities that promotion of teachers would depend on the quantum of research they have done and their involvement in the university’s extra-curricular activities, besides teaching experience.

According to a recent government survey, there has been marked improvement in the basic education scenario in the country as most children get access to schools with the exception of states like Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal, which are lagging behind.

As per the survey, there is one upper primary school for every set of 2.27 primary schools as compared to 2.45 schools in 2006. In many states, the ratio is one to two and all this “suggests that by and large schooling facilities have been created and are available across the country”. The number of schools imparting elementary education has improved from 1.19 million in 2006-07 to 1.28 million across 633 districts of the country now.

The sword of de-recognition hangs over the 44 deemed universities. But many of them say they were not informed about the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry’s affidavit, nor were their facilities inspected.

One of these is the National Museum Institute of History, Art, Conservation and Museology. The university is located in Delhi and has 100 students. It also boasts of prominent alumni, including Congress President Sonia Gandhi and industrialist Anil Ambani’s wife Tina Ambani.

“Our university has worked as a deemed university for the past 21 years. It started working in 1989. This is a very small but known university… We haven’t got any communication about this from the ministry. We have only heard about the court affidavit in newspapers,” said a senior official in the university’s registrar office on condition of anonymity.

Officials at Lingaya University in neighbouring Faridabad, Haryana were equally surprised to see their name on the affidavit’s list of university’s facing de-recognition.

“This is an unfair decision. They did not notify us. It will be a big loss to our around 100 students. What I don’t understand is that no government official visited our institute! Have they seen our facilities or inspected? How can they put our university’s name in the list without proper scrutiny?” asked an irate Rajan Mittal, Lingaya’s Senior Resource Manager.

Mittal added that the university would wait for an official intimation before moving to the Supreme Court in the matter.

The country has nearly 100 deemed universities that function as stand-alone universities but don’t give affiliation to other institutions.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday emphasized that the concept of deemed universities would be abolished from the country’s education system but also assured that students already enrolled would not suffer in the process.

Noida’s Jaypee Institute of Information Technology is another deemed university with a student strength of 600.

“We are not aware of any such situation and have not got any notice from the court. We are all surprised that the institution’s name was in the list of (44 universities facing de-recognition),” said J.P. Gupta, the university’s Vice Chancellor.

Date of Examination: 02-05-2010 (Sunday)

JAM 2010 will be held on 2nd May, 2010 for Admission to M.Sc. (2 year), Joint M.Sc.-Ph.D., M.Sc.-Ph.D. Dual degree, MCA and M.Tech. in Geophysical / Geological Technology programmes at the seven IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) for the academic year 2010-11.

Application forms/online registration will be available from 22nd December, 2009. For details, visit http://jam.iitm.ac.in or refer to the Employment News of 19th December, 2009 or University news dated 7th December, 2009.

Important dates

Commencement of sale of Information Brochure & Application Forms, and Online application form submission: 22nd December, 2009 (Tuesday)

Last date for the requests for Information Brochures & Application Forms by post to reach JAM office of IIT Madras: 18th January, 2010 (Monday)

Last date for issue of Information Brochures & Application Forms at Bank counters: 22nd January, 2010 (Friday)

Indian Institute of Technology

Organising Chairman, JAM – 2010, IIT Madras, Chennai – 600 036

Entrance Examination (PGM-CET 2010) for Medical Postgraduate Courses (MD/MS/Diploma) will be held on Sunday, 24th January, 2010 from 10.00 a. m. to 1.30 p. m.

The cost of application form along with the Information Brochure of PGM-CET 2010 and Examination fee is Rs. 1800/- to be payable by Demand Draft / Pay Order drawn on any Nationalised or Scheduled commercial Bank in favor of “Director, Medical Education and Research, Mumbai” payable at Mumbai.

The Brochure and Application Form will be available at the following Government Medical Colleges from 18/12/2009 to 02/01/2010 (Excluding Sundays and State Government Holidays). Aspiring candidates should go through the eligibility criteria as per the PGM-CET-2010 brochure, before purchasing the application form. .

Name of the Colleges

1. Grant Medical College, Byculla, Mumbai
2 B.J. Medical College, Pune
3 Dr. MM. Medical College. Solapur
4. Government Medical College, Miraj
5. Shri Bhausaheb Hire Govt. Medical College, Dhule .
6 R.C.S.M. Government Medical College, Kolhapur
7 Government Medical College, Nagpur
8 Shri Vasantrao Naik Govt. Medical College, Yavatmal
9. Govt. Medical college, Akola
10 Government Medical College, Aurangabad
11. Government Medical College, Nanded
12 Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Medical College, Ambajogai, Dist. Beed.
13. Government Medical College, Latur

Duly filled Application form should be submitted in person from 18/12/2009 to 02/01/2010 (Excluding Sundays and State Government Holidays), at any of the above centers. The application form should not be sent by post/Courier, such forms will be rejected without any intimation.

Eligibility Criteria

1) A candidate must be an Indian National.

2) Candidates who have passed final M.B.B.S. examination and completed one year internship training from recognized medical college included in the schedule of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and situated in Maharashtra, affiliated to Non-Agricultural
Universities established under Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994 or the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Act, 1998 and who have obtained registration either from the Medical Council of India or Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) will be eligible to appear for
PGM-CET 2010.

The candidates who have passed final MBBS examination completing
internship by 30th April 2010 are also eligible.

3) Eligibility for in-service candidates will be as per criteria laid down by the Public Health Department for M.M.& H.S. Medical Officer candidates and E.S.I.S. candidates; and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for BMC candidates.

4) The candidates who are domiciled in Maharashtra and who have obtained admission under 15% quota for All India Entrance Examination (AIEE) for MBBS course and who have obtained the degree from a University situated outside the State of Maharashtra will also be eligible for PGM-CET-2010.

5) The candidate who has obtained MBBS degree from Deemed University is not eligible to appear for PG M-CET-2010.

Important Dates

PGM-CET 2010: Sunday, 24th January, 2010 from 10.00 a. m. to 1.30 p. m.

Last date for submission of form: 02.01.2010

Directorate of Medical Education and Research

Govt. Dental College & Hospital Building, St. George’s Hospital Compound, Mumbai – 400 001

Tel: 022 – 22620361-65
Fax: 022 – 22620562 / 22652168