Food and Beverage Essay

Hotel Les Fontaines has a strategy that differs very largely from any of its competitors, as it is one of a kind in its region. The company will focus on delivering a service that provides a more personalized and refreshed service style. There would be more attention to detail especially in the restaurant outlet of which has been proposed as this would be a value added for Les Chalets Des Mosses. Also the operation costs would be lower in the restaurant area compared to rooms, as clients who stay at the hotel are budget guest who like to spend less and in return expect quality service and product. The hotel operates for ten months throughout the year. The restaurant opens for service during lunch and dinner. For the lunch period simple, smart, and affordable dishes catering to the customers needs will be served. As most of the consumers will be children from ages four to twelve and parents from early thirties to late forties, a menu healthy and enjoyable menu for the guests will be designed. Even though quick service would be offered for lunchtime the quality of the food and service would not be compromised. This would allow for the restaurant to make a good first impression in order to encourage the guest to return to Pomodoro On the other hand, the dinner will have a drastically different objective. The average dish will be more luxuries and elegant and will be served in an a la carte fashion. The atmosphere at dinner will promote a sensational and comfortable time for our guests. Both the hotels image and the restaurant harmonize in theme. The hotel Les Fontaines provides a great experience for the clienteles, enticing them to return to Les Chalets des Mosses. Vision: Hospitality is all about the individual and at Les Chalets des Mosses we pride ourselves on our unique service culture. We are in business to meet our customer’s needs and promises that each guest will be treated with a positive service attitude at every point of contact. From the hotel manager to the cleaner and everyone else in-between plays a vital role in delivering a memorable guest experience. Mission: The mission of the restaurant is to deliver the most comfortable and soothing experience for the clients. With exceptional service, responsible stewardship, and high quality food an excellent experience can be provided. Therefore, the Pomodoro’s main objective is to focus on the customers’ best interests. Les Chalets des Mosses provides budget travelers and tourists with a choice of excellent hospitality products that offer excellent value for money, while assuring a good return to owners and inspiration to employees. Objective: The main object of Les Chalets de Mosses is to have a return on investment within two years form Pomodoro’s. Building a loyal customer base and a long-term marketing strategy are what Hotel Les Fontaines is seeking to achieve. Pomodoro is an ambitious concept that is currently, planning on growing and expanding by the year 2020. Also the Pomodoro is trying to aim for eighty to eighty-five percent occupancy rate for the lunch, which will operate for two and a half hours daily. As for dinner Pomodoro’s is trying to attract around seventy to seventy-five percent occupancy. By having a total of hundred twenty seats prepared in the restaurant, the Pomodoro will be the main focus of the company’s F&B branch. The restaurant has made a completely different transition from its original concept. Not only did the restaurant change in its size, the type of services and it dishes the market segments has also changed. The most effective sales and marketing tactics have been selected to define the restaurant’s image. The name, Pomodoro, is the first major change to help identify the new Italian restaurant that has opened in Les Chalets des Mosses. The restaurant also has a bar, which would play an important role as while guest are waiting for the table they could spend time at the bar. During the waiting time guest’s may spend money at the bar allowing the restaurant to further maximize its revenue. Also, this new concept of the bar would be perfect after a long day at the ski slopes. The Hotel Les Fontaines will also incorporate three major principles (Schultz & Horvath, 2008). The first principle is the training and development process of staff members. By creating a strong and effective program for the staff members, the employees will be able to satisfy even the specific needs of the customers. The Hazard analysis and critical points (HACCP) will be incorporated in the training program to deliver a food safety and social responsibility. With this our guests would feel at ease to eat at Pomodoro’s and families would be more than happy to be with their children. The training program will have to take place before the restaurant begins to operate in 2013. The second principle is the ability to operate efficiently. The restaurant should be able to deliver highly effective operations to the clients. Lastly, the culture of customer service should be noted. Without the necessary service to deliver the satisfaction and gratification of the consumer, a loyal customer base cannot be built. Les Fontaines will incorporate the referral marketing for the market strategy. The referral marketing is no doubt the best way to maximize the revenue and raise the awareness of the company and standards to the local customers (Schmitt, Skiera & Bulte, 2011). F&B Strategy: Diversification is one of the strategies that best fit the new operations situation, as Les Fontaines is in search of a new product and market (Gine, Pisano, Sorell, Szigety, 2006). The restaurant has taken extreme measures to differentiate itself from the competition in the Les Mosses region. As the restaurant caters to a niche market, it will have minimum competition with the surrounding business in the region. This is due to the fact that Pomodoro’s offers various activities for children of which the surrounding hotels do not offer. The psychographic, demographic, geographic, and purchase behavior of clients were analyzed in order to help Les Chalets des Mosses strengthen it own image (Yankelovich, Meer, 2006). In order to create such strategy, the restaurants must create an engaging and rigorous loyalty program. The goal of the hotel is to have local customers who will visit the hotel on a regular bases during the various events that take place in the region of les mosses. Since, the hotel will promote its special offers via newsletter through the zip code, not only does the newsletter grab the customers attention, but also the local customers will become frequent clienteles. This marketing strategy would benefit the whole hotel, not just the restaurant. By sending out newsletters promoting events or special offers in both the hotel and restaurant it may encourage guest to not only use the food and beverage outlets but also to stay and enjoy the experience. The company will take a step forward by taking surveys of the clienteles regarding the activities and subjects that interest them. This way Les Fontaines will be able to predict what the clientele’s hobbies or taste are and provide a service that incorporates partnerships with other companies. For example Pomodoro’s can promote a snow-tubing event to the customers by providing ticket deals. According to Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor and the reigning guru of competitive strategy, competition within an industry is driven by five basic factors (Porter, 1979): 1. Threat of new entries. 2. Threat of substitute products or services. 3. Bargaining power of suppliers. 4. Bargaining power of buyers. 5. Rivalry among existing firms. We understand that using one strategy is impossible in todays society, as the range of customers are more diverse as globalization has a larger impact in today’s society. The Les Fontaines will be promoted in various ways. The newsletter will act as a tool to commercialize the company’s anniversaries and offers. Unlike, the other rivals the company will begin to engage the customers with a more personal touch. The snow tubing company in Les Mosses will further advertise the hotel and vice verse due to their partnership. Furthermore, the referrals will function as the company’s key promotional tool. Both Pomodoro and hotel Les Fontaines will attract customers through the various services, products, offers, and business proposals. None of the competing hotels and F&B outlets substantially reshaped their business strategies and market segments like Pomodoro’s. The awareness of the hotel will most definitely rise as the customers and other partnering companies spread the word. The company will have a dominating number of advertisements in comparison to the other competing ventures due to their various partnerships. The hotel provides a pleasant and sophisticated service that was specifically designed to differ from other surrounding hotels within the region. Both the restaurant and the hotel will offer a personalized touch to the service that will be provided. This will attract new customers and build strong customer relationships, as the customers will return to the venture on a frequent basis. Despite the cluttered market, the unique products that were designed to meet the specific needs of the customers makes the Les Fontaines stand out from its competitors. List of References: Gine. F, Pisano. G, Sorell. M , Szigety. M. (2006). R&D Portfolio Strategy, Diversification And Performance: An Information Perspective. (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University) Retrieved from http://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy/ar/1 Porter, M. E. (1979). How competitive forces chape strategy. (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University)Retrieved from http://hbr.org/1979/03/how-competitive-forces-shape-strategy/ar/1 Schmitt, P., Skiera, B., & Bulte, C. V. D. (2011). Why customer referrals can drive stunning profits. (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University)Retrieved from http://hbr.org/2011/06/why-customer-referrals-can-drive-stunning-profits/ar/1 Schultz, G. C., & Horvath, A. G. (2008). Strategic plan: 2008-2013. Informally published manuscript, Finance & Business, Pennsylvania State Yankelovich D, Meer D. (2006). Rediscovering Market Segmentation. Retrieved from: http://hbr.org/product/rediscovering-market-segmentation/an/R0602G-PDF-ENG

Elements / Characters Essay

Crisostomo Ibarra – Also known as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsilan, a Filipino who studied in Europe for 7 years. The love interest of Maria Clara. Son of Don Rafael Ibarra. Elias – Ibarra’s mysterious friend and a fugitive. Kapitan Tiyago – Also known as Don Santiago de los Santos the known father of Maria Clara. Padre Damaso – Also known as Damaso Verdolagas, a Franciscan Friar and Maria Clara’s biological father. Padre Salvi – Also known as Bernardo Salvi. Maria Clara’s secret admirer. Maria Clara – Maria Clara de los Santos, Ibarra’s sweetheart and illegitimate daughter of Padre Damaso and Pia Alba. Pilosopo Tasyo – Also known as Don Anastasio. Known to be a crazy person by his neighbors but actually quite a wise person. Ibarra seeks advice from him. Sisa – The Mother of Crispin and Basilio, who lost her mind after losing her sons. Basilio – The elder son of Sisa. Crispin – The younger son of Sisa who died because he was punished by the soldiers who was accusing him of stealing money. Alperes – Chief of the Guardia Civil and mortal enemy of the priests. Donya Victorina – Victorina de los Reyes de Espadana, a woman who thinks she is in the same class as the Spanish people or a social climber. Donya Consolacion – Wife of the Alperes and also a social climber who abused Sisa. Don Tiburcio de Espadana – Spanish husband of Donya Victorina and pretends to be a doctor. Linares – A distant nephew of Don Tiburcio de Espadana, the would-be fiancà © of Maria Clara. Don Filipo – A close relative of Ibarra, and a Filibuster. Senyor Nol Juan – The one who supervised the making of the school. Tarsilo at Bruno – Brothers, whose father was killed by the Spaniards. Iday, Sinang, Victoria,at Andeng – The friends of Maria Clara. Kapitan-Heneral – The most powerful official in the Philippines. A friend of Ibarra who hates secular priests and corrupt officials. Don Rafael Ibarra – The deceased father of Crisostomo Ibarra. Kapitan Pablo – Leader of the rebels whose family was destroyed by the Spaniards. Padre Sibyla – A Filipino friar who spies on Ibarra. Pedro – Abusive husband of Sisa. â€Å" Noli Me Tangere † Capitan Santiago de los Santos, or Capitan Tiago, hosts a dinner in his house at Calle Anloague. In the party there were important people who attended, such as Padre Damaso, Padre Sibyla, Liutenant Guevara, Laruja, Donya Victorina de Espadana, and Don Tiburcio de Espadana. Capitan Tiago then enters the living room and introduced Crisostomo Ibarra to the guests as the only son of Don Rafael Ibarra and that he just arrived from Europe. At dinner over â€Å"Tinola†, the guests were conversing about Crisostomo’s travels to several countries and then Padre Damaso interfered and embarrassed Ibarra and so he left the party.

Liebeck v. McDonalds 1994

The case of Liebeck vs. McDonald’s, also known as the McDonald’s case is one of the most controversial tort cases, which according to many did not end with victory either on the part of the plaintiff or of the strong defense, but rather on the time’s growing debates on tort laws and how courts deal and resolve tort cases.   It may sound ridiculous but this case started with a simple cup of coffee.   This is not an ordinary case wherein one could easily which party has been negligent.   In fact, it can be said that both parties have been negligent and have their own faults of the incident that gave rise to the dispute.   In important to order to understand the case better, it is important to know the facts of the case and how the court decided. The Facts: This case was filed by Stella Liebeck of New Mexico, who, in February 1992, while in the passenger seat of her grandson’s car, was severely burned by McDonalds’ (The Actual facts About the McDonald’s Coffee Case, n.d.) coffee after it spilled on her legs, groin and buttocks causing third-degree burns (Bracken, 2005).   From an ordinary perspective, one can view this as an ordinary scenario in restaurants and coffee shops and among coffee drinkers, especially those who consume their coffee in moving vehicles. But this is not the case in the McDonald’s case. The case was anchored on the claim that McDonald’s have been negligent and that their coffee has been extremely hot beyond the normal temperatures of coffee served in other coffee shops and restaurants.   According to the article, The Actual Facts About the McDonalds’ Coffee Case, â€Å"McDonalds’ coffee was not only hot, it was scalding—capable of almost instantaneous destruction of skin, flesh and muscle†. Ms. Liebeck, was at that time 79 years old and ordered coffee from the local McDonald’s which in turn served the hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup at the drive-through window.   After receiving the order, his grandson allegedly pulled his car forward to give way to other customers and again stopped to allow Ms. Liebeck to add creamer and sugar to her coffee.   In order to do this, she held the cup with her legs so that she may be able to open the lid and add in the creamer and sugar.   However, as she removed the lid, the hot content poured to her lap causing the complained damages. This is as opposed to the claim that the car was in motion and the Liebeck was driving the car when the incident happened (The Actual Facts About the McDonald’s case, n.d.).   With this incident, it can be seen that at one point, the Liebeck’s can be said to have been contributors to the accident as what McDonald’s have claimed that Liebeck was the proximate cause of the injuries she sustained.  Ã‚   McDonald’s claimed that it was Liebeck who has been negligent and not them because as customers, they should have known that coffee is hot and they should be extra cautious in handling coffee especially while in a vehicle whether it be in motion or in full stop. According to the vascular surgeon, Ms. Liebeck suffered full thickness burns at about six percent of her body.   She stayed in the hospital for eight days and underwent skin grafting, debridement treatments.   She now comes to the court for the settlement of her claim for $20,000 to cover her m edical expenses as a result of the incident.   However, McDonald’s refused to pay. In its argument, McDonald’s argued that consumers know coffee is hot and that its customers want it that way.   They however admitted that its customers were unaware that they could suffer third-degree burns from the coffee and that a statement on the side of the cup was not a warning but a reminder since the location of the writing would not warn customers of the hazard (The Actual Facts About the McDonald’s Case, n.d.). The Issue The issue in this case is whether or not McDonald’s has been negligent causing the accident complained off making it liable to pay the medical expenses. Held: The decision of the court is anchored mainly on tort laws and decided by determining who has been negligent in the incident that caused the harm being complained about.   After trial, the jury ruled in favor of Liebeck awarding her a total of $200,000 in compensatory damages, which however was alter reduced to only $160,000 after a finding of the jury that McDonald’s was not solely responsible for the accident but instead, Liebeck was also 20 percent at fault for the coffee spill (The Actual Facts About the McDonald’s Case, n.d.). In addition, the jury also awarded some $2.7 million as punitive damages, an amount equal to McDonald’s total sales for two days.   However, the court again lower this punitive award of damages to $480,000 although the judge found McDonald’s to be â€Å"reckless, callous, and willful†Ã‚   (The Actual Facts About the McDonald’s Case, n.d.). According to Bracken (2005), this ruling of the jury is based upon the determination from the documents presented that Liebeck’s medical bills totaled to about $10,000 due to the injuries she suffered.   Bracken (2005) also explained that this case â€Å"is an example of why tort cases should not be merely decided on the simple facts†.   Nevertheless, despite the public nature of the case and the loud news that the incident has made, the public really don’t know how the case really ended as the parties came into a secret settlement whose nature and stipulations have never been revealed to the public at all (The Actual Facts About the McDonald’s Case, n.d.). As it is provided by Bracken (2005), the McDonald’s case illustrates the implication that cases should not be decided on based solely on the face value of the case because at first instance, it can be easily said that McDonald’s was negligent.   However, reviewing the facts of the case and based on human experience, Liebeck has also been negligent enough that the injuries she suffered cannot be blamed on one party alone.   Her own actions and decisions may have also contributed to the happening of the accident. She has been negligent in handling the cup of coffee, which a normal person would always believed to be hot and can cause injury even without actually knowing its actual temperature.   This is the reason why I think the jury made a mistake in the case because I consider the incident as purely an accident, which may have only been aggravated by Liebeck’s negligent handling of the hot coffee.   A normal person would always take extra precaution in handling potentially harmful objects.   I consider McDonald’s serving of the hot coffee to be totally acceptable in its aim to provide the best coffee for its customers. The case of McDonald’s should have been judged after an in-depth investigation to determine McDonald’s alleged negligence for three main reasons (Bracken, 2005).   First, according to Bracken (2005), â€Å"this is not the first lawsuit regarding the temperature of McDonald’s coffee illustrating continual negligence by McDonald’s†.   Perhaps one of the strongest arguments against McDonald’s is the fact that there have been previous complaints and similar incidents that may somehow pertain to its negligence in handling its products and in serving them to customers. Past experiences should have been enough to encourage the company to do something with their hot coffee in order to avoid future similar incidents.   But, this did not happen; McDonald’s seems to have neglected its responsibility to its customers over and above their responsibility to provide the best coffee in town; which is to provide them with safe products as well. Secondly, â€Å"the testimony indicated that McDonald’s coffee is served at between 180 and 190 degrees† (Bracken, 2005).   According to McDonald’s, this temperature is based upon a recommendation that coffee should be served on the above mentioned temperature in order to achieve the best taste that customers crave about (Bracken, 2005).   On this aspect, there can be not much question but only on issues why McDonald’s seems to have neglected the fact that they knowingly know that the extreme temperature of their coffee can cause serious injuries.   They should have at least used more secure packaging than Styrofoam cups. Thirdly, Bracken (2005) also noted how the articles presented failed to indicate that â€Å"McDonald’s attempted to warn consumers of its extreme nature since the company served coffee above the temperature a reasonable nature since the company served coffee above the temperature a reasonable person would expect to receive or consume coffee† (Bracken, 2005). Admittedly, McDonald’s have been negligent on this aspect.   In sum however, after considering all premises, I still believe that the jury erred in ruling in favor of Liebeck and the awards for damages to be excessive. This case could in fact serve as a precedent for all other future cases wherein complainants may come to court of similar complaints only to extort sum of money from companies like McDonald’s.   Clearly, it can be said that McDonald’s has not been solely accountable and negligent in the case.   Liebeck was also negligent.   Hence, it could have been enough thet the court awarded her sum of money to cover all her medical expenses and small amount in compensatory and punitive damages for the injuries she sustained.   This could have been one way to educate the consumers that they also have the corresponding responsibility to themselves and not to fully pass it on to providers like McDonald’s. As a restaurant owner, perhaps one of the waking realization that this case brought is the fact that because tort cases are almost always linked to negligent acts, it is important to be very careful in all aspects of safety in the overall operations of the business.   One very obvious mistake on the part of McDonald’s is their failure to give sufficient warning to the customers of the extreme temperature that may cause damage to them.   Incidents like the McDonald’s case could have been avoided if customers have been warned, the least on cup labels or by the restaurant staff that extreme temperature could be harmful. It is sad to note that although many businesses have genuine intentions to satisfy and to protect their customers; negligent acts, probably by reason of lack of knowledge or foresight seem to cause more controversial issues that lead to the numerous cases decided and being heard in court dockets. References Bracken, K.   (2005).   Liebeck v. McDonald’s. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from https://listserv.du.edu/pipermail/torts-russell/2005-August/000010.html The Actual Facts About the McDonalds’ Coffee Case.   (n.d.).   Retrieved February 17, 2008, from http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm      

Human Resource Management at Camair-Co Assignment

Human Resource Management at Camair-Co - Assignment Example The intention of this study is human resource management as the field of management within an organization where the human resources or the employees are taken care of or considered for their optimum utilization for the company’s objectives as well as providing them with welfare services. Thus the plans for the organizations and the human resources management are significantly associated with each other and it is the responsibility of the human resources manager to look after the duties of the HR team towards their efficient performances for the achievement of the organizational success. The significance of the human resources management lies in its integration with the business policies of an organization, the best manner in which they can fit into each other, its association with the organizational ethics, culture and values, its dedication towards achieving the organizational objectives, following appropriate employees policies and determining a suitable organization of the human resources in the delivery of their organizations. Thus the role of the human resources management plays a significant role in the efficient and effective performances of the employees attempting to motivate them and maintaining relationships with them for the ultimate success of an organization. The overall study would reflect the relation of the human resources management of the organization and its significant impacts on the ethics, culture, and performances of the organization and how the company keeps its position up in the competitive environment. 2. Camair-Co: A Brief Portrait: Camair-Co is an airline company established in the Republic of Cameroon expecting to provide with international standards of airline services as well as improved airline infrastructures. The Transport Ministry of Cameroon is in charge of supervising the technical development and operations of the company and the Ministry of Finance looking after the financial aspects of the company. Any activitie s in relation to the air transport are provided by the company efficiently for its customers. The company has successfully developed from the partnership of the State of Cameroon and the Consulting group of Lufthansa (History, 2011). The team of professionals forming the human resources in the company involves both local and foreign skills and expertise. The culture and values of the company are highly maintained and the employee relations are considered

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DC Circuit Basics - Assignment Example Mathematically, ‘Q’ is directly proportional to ‘C’ keeping ‘V’ constant. The latter proves the same point. In question 3, the diagram has a voltage source and a resistance, in the form of a lamp. In order for the lamp to light a complete circuit in order for the electric current to flow is necessary. The electrons flow from high positive potential to low negative potential (in conventional current) through a low resistance path. In case, the circuit is not complete, the electrons encounter a high resistance path i.e air or vacuum. The latter causes no current to flow leading to the lamp not lighting. Mathematically, the ohms law provides reason. Ohms law is stated as: The current drawn from a battery is linked with the potential difference across the battery. When two batteries were attached the potential difference was twice as much as when a single battery was connected. Applying the latter fact with Ohms law: Since the same toy car is used each time, we can safely assume that ‘R’ is constant. This gives the relation, I is directly proportional with V. When V is halved then I must also be halved. Therefore, option B being correct. Substituting the values for the blender and car vacuum separately we find that the power drawn for the blender is 480W while power drawn by the car vacuum is 60W. And so, we can conclude that the blender draws more

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Doing gender Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Themes of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Themes of Huckleberry Finn - Essay Example Blacks however, were a different story. The blacks were not free and were kept as slaves. This is shown while Huck and Jim are on the raft. Jim uses the color of Huck’s skin to threaten others; this example was a real life example of how slavery was and how people used it. Since slavery was so powerful and such a large means of life, Jim knows that Huck has an advantage because he is white. As chapters 23- 25 are explored the ignorance of racism begins to be diminished between Huck and Jim. Huck begins to see that Jim is a person just like him. Once he realizes that blacks and whites are the same he can see the true ignorance of racism. This realization is important to the theme since it opens the eyes of Huck which symbolizes much of America. America slowly began to realize that whites and blacks are equal and freedom for the slaves was necessary. Since Huck is able to accept the fact that Jim and he are similar individuals after Jim has been captured, this plays into the themes of the book. Huck begins on a new adventure. This adventure is to free his friend even though he has been taught different. If slavery was not such a huge theme, Huck may not be as motivated to seek his new found friend and stand for

Cultural Sensitivity Essay Example for Free

Cultural Sensitivity Essay The San Joaquin Valley of California is nestled in the center of the state. Within the San Joaquin valley the rich culture of the Mexican people can be seen in almost every facet of living. There are also many nursing schools in the area, approximately five in the area in which I reside. The most current statistic from the census bureau regarding the percentage of Hispanics in Tulare County is 62. 3% (USCB, 2014). This means that over half of the inhabitants of the county are Hispanic. The knowledge, understanding and grasp of cultural sensitivity on the part of non-Hispanic as well as Hispanic nurses is paramount in being able to give the best possible care. The purpose of this writing is to inform the reader of the need to address cultural sensitivity towards the Mexican and Mexican American people and their battle with diabetes. This is a very prevalent disease in this county and amongst this ethnic group. Cultural competency is paramount in communicating effectively and getting the message across that diabetes is a serious but manageable condition (Grant and Letzring, 2003). Mexican American Culture and Diabetes In the Tulare, County area the Mexican American culture can be seen in all areas of healthcare. Many of these people are diabetic. Cultural and dietary differences create challenges in dealing with diabetics in this demographic. Nurses that are culturally competent to their town, city, state or country and who understand what makes up their population may find it more manageable to communicate with their Hispanic patients (Wood, 2004). An excellent article on this subject is entitled Leisure time activity of Mexican Americans with diabetes. This article deals with the issue of Mexican Americans and what they do or do not do in their leisure time and how it affects their diabetes. The aim of the research was to find the proportion of Mexican Americans with diabetes who do and do not exercise as well as preferred types of leisure time 3 Cultural Sensitivity according to age and gender. In addition, the question of the relationship between leisure time activity and treatment of diabetes is discussed. This study found that only six of every ten Mexican Americans with diabetes exercise (Wood, 2003). It was also found that gardening and walking were the most preferred type of leisure time activity. Cultural differences are machismo, language barriers and spiritual beliefs. This can make it challenging for the treating nurse to accomplish his or her tasks. Nurses and Mexican Culture Nurses may find it challenging however, understanding the Mexican culture and learning more of their language is most helpful. In professional practice a registered nurse will find it helpful in knowing that in the Mexican culture it is common for the man to be the strong leader of his family. Also, the men will not want to be present during visits to the Doctor for what they deem as female problems which can be anything from a UTI to a breast exam. In addition there is a culture of hot and cold that affects much of the health and lifestyle of the Mexican American patient. Many refer to placing heat on a hurt area, thereby increasing inflammation to what may be an injury. At other times ice is placed on an area of the foot that is itching. The itching is coming from a tingling they feel that is related to diabetic neuropathy. It should be noted that many Mexican Americans are what many term as Americanized, meaning that they are and have become mainstream in the American culture vs the Mexican culture. However, because many are raised by Mexican parents they too, are just like many of us, bicultural with one culture being dominant. Touch is also an important aspect for nurses to consider in treating the Mexican American. In those that are Americanized this is not an issue. However, for those that are still deeply rooted in their Mexican culture the sex of a nurse could be an issue and create barriers to 4 Cultural Sensitivity care. An example of this would be a male nurse treating a married female. These types of circumstances can make treating their diabetes more difficult. Wood states that In the USA, Mexican Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes then non-Hispanic whites. This deems attention to the need for nurses to be culturally competent. Some of the competencies a nurse needs in treating the Mexican American patient are finding out if they speak English, if they raised in the United States, and finding whether they are second, third or fourth generation and so on. In treating the Mexican American patient the nurse can also offer information in a simple manner. Many times, due to a macho personality that has been glorified in the culture the patient may feel offended or condescended to. In addition one can simplify too much and this too could compound the problem. There is a fine balance that can be made easier to navigate by conversing and educating patients in what may seem a non-clinical approach. Conclusion The need for nurses to be culturally competent is paramount in giving the best possible care. In this group being competent in knowing how to treat a Mexican American patient in the best way possible is to be sensitive in communication by addressing the patient and at times the entire family as this is very normal for their culture. The article that is the subject of this writing concludes by stating several of their findings one of which is that employment and responsibilities limits the time they have for leisure to early evenings when it is dark and safety becomes an issue. Treating diabetes in this ethnic group is best done by realizing what the culture believes, thinks and what it is they eat. I find the eating part just as enjoyable as the rest. 5 Cultural Sensitivity References Barker, A. M. Denisco, S. M. (2013). Advanced practice nursing: Evolving roles for the transformation of the profession. (2nd ed. ). Connecticut: Jones and Bartlett. Grant, MS, RN, L. , Letzring, JD, EdD, T. (2003). Status of Cultural Competence in Nursing Education. The Journal of Multicultural Nursing Health, 9(2), 6-6. United States Census Bureau. (2014, December 4). Retrieved January 21, 2015, from http://quickfacts. census. gov/qfd/states/00000. html Wood, F. (2004). Leisure time activity of Mexican Americans with diabetes. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 45(2), 190-196.

Improving Health Rural Areas Nigeria Health And Social Care Essay

Improving Health Rural Areas Nigeria Health And Social Care Essay This paper talks about poverty and how we can improve the health structure of people living in rural areas of Nigeria. Poverty creates ill- health because it forces people to live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation. Poverty creates hunger, which in turn leaves people in danger to disease. Poverty denies people access to reliable health services and affordable medicines, and causes children to miss out on routine vaccinations. Poverty creates illiteracy, leaving people poorly Informed about health risks and forced into dangerous jobs that harm their health. It also seeks to discuss ways in which healthcare could be improve in the rural areas with the use of ICT. Furthermore, this paper seeks to document the problems associated with the lack of ICT in rural areas in Nigeria. On the other hand also it seeks to analyze the benefits of ICT when applied with healthcare delivery in the rural areas. Also it talks and suggests about medical practice like telemedicine, sharing of data through a database and sharing of experience that only ICT can bring about in the rural areas are only one of its kind approaches that can improve healthcare in the rural areas. Also how government would attempt or help to solve and reduce poverty in rural areas in the Nation such as electricitys, good roads for transportation and good communication network systems, well qualified doctors with adequate drugs for treatments. Introduction Health care is the treatment and prevention of illness. Health care is delivered by professionals in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and allied health. People living in rural area of Nigeria lack qualitative health care system such as good hospitals around, drugs and good professionals to examine them and even health education or health awareness program that could help educate them on how to live a healthy life. The whole idea of this project is to explain how we can improve healthcare in rural areas through the use of ICT. In Urban areas of Nigeria, so many health care deliveries are introduced such as Federal Medical Centres, Teaching Hospitals, Private Hospitals and Clinics located in states which have more equipments than rural areas that provide good equipments to examine patients at different kind of diseases. In Rural areas, health care is very poor and has no good equipments to treat patients with a particular disease. Also the people have to walk too far to receive bad treatment in a hospital that has neither professional doctor nor good drugs for treatment. Based on my private interview with a man in yola bye pass explain how healthcare affecting his own village saying: People are too poor and receiving lower income as such they cannot afford to go to the urban areas to receive good treatment because they are very poor and they cannot afford to go to school so as to maintain good health and no good health centers nearby. So if a woman has a difficult delivery, a traditional cloth is tied between two sticks and we carry her for seven kilometers to the health center. You know how long it will take to walk like that? And no one will help at the process. Lack of good food is the most frequent problem that brings sickness to the rural areas. Hunger and malnutrition are seen as underlying causes of many diseases. They cause weakness and exhaustion and making people more susceptible to infections. Many people say they eat only once a day and sometimes have nothing for lunch or dinner at the end. The poorest people rely on what they can find growing natural or by catching fish and shellfish. In towns, Hunger is less remarkable or noticeable than it is in rural areas. Hunger is highly seasonal, in both rural and urban areas. In rural areas, the season is determined by the agricultural cycle. In urban areas, it often corresponds to the rainy season, when there are fewer jobs in construction and vending. Women in rural areas are so weak by hunger as they do not have enough breast milk to feed their babies. Parents worry constantly about providing enough food for their children. Methodology My Research is based on online sources and interviews which help me to gather information. I also asked questions to people around me about rural health clinics to witness the healthcare situation in area of poverty in the Nation. How can we improve poor peoples health by the used of ICT? It is unquestionable that healthcare in rural Nigeria is in a terrible stage where needs suppose to be address by the help of the governments. There are many ways in which it can be improved. Yet, we are focusing more on the development with the assist of information technology. In the rural areas of Nigeria, information are usually composed and analyzed to provide information for health employees as well as global health programs in the nation. These information help out to bring useful health care to the people. This data is significant so that they can make important decisions as to the healthcare of the people. But, this is not easily done as most of the data are collected manually on paper. This leads to several problems. We as people due make mistakes and incorrect data maybe recorded and inconsistencies may result. The loss of data can be very detrimental to the process of providing healthcare to the people. The introduction of ICT will go a long way to check these constraints to healthcare provision. A structure can be developed to serve as an inner information storeroom which will provide information to healthcare workers in different rural areas. It will be designed at collecting, storing and analyzing data for each rural region. For instance, we can regularly collect data about those infected with HIV/AIDS. This data can be analyzed to get an close into the spread of the disease and the annual growth of the population living with AIDS. The implementation of this system will serve many purposes. Most importantly, it will aid the government in better policy-making as regards to healthcare. Also, government will be able to make more informed decisions as regards to areas where more resources are to be focused. Statistical figures can be derived from the data collected, which researchers in the field can make use of. Patients will benefit from the system, through faster and better service delivery. Ultimately, the provision of healthcare to rural areas can be made in more organized manner, while conserving such resources as money, time and effort. Telemedicine in Rural Healthcare areas of the Nation One of the good qualities of ICT in rural areas healthcare is telemedicine. Telemedicine is the use of ICTs to give healthcare over long distances and can also be used to improve healthcare (Darren Wilkins, 2009). Telemedicine helps in the upgrading of healthcare in a number of ways to save lives. One of the good advantages of telemedicine is that it saves the cost of transportation as well as providing quality healthcare to people living in the rural areas who dont have access to good hospitals, drugs and qualified doctors. Also, it could save the cost and time of people in rural areas going all the way to the cities to receive treatment. A patient in a remote village where there is no clinic may not have to travel the long distance into the city to get medical attention. If a system can be set up, so that doctors can give patients remote assistance, the time and risk spent travelling to the cities can be reduced. This can be done through the use of mobile phones. If it is a minor i llness, the patient can call doctor and explain the symptoms he or she is experiencing, and the doctor can prescribe some drugs and send the prescription to the person at the moment. Then the patient can buy the prescribed medicine from the local stores nearby. Solutions to the Problems of health care in Rural Nigeria by using ICT. Provision of power to the hospitals: The government should kindly improve to put solar systems to all the hospitals in rural areas because it will help in having lights when NEPA took off and it will help also when a doctor is in theater room operating or any emergency machine which requires light to operate. Condition for internet: Hospitals should have access to the internet so as to enable them get access to E-learning to people across. Government should get to know the real meaning of ICT into the healthcare system as of keeping of staff records, payroll and access to the internet. Government should allow private institutions and nongovernmental organizations to facilitate healthcare services There is a need to show up the affordability of basic healthcare solutions to the rural areas using ICTs. Conclusion Generally, integration of ICTs into the health care system will go a long way in fostering better healthcare coverage and affordability to the rural populace. Endemics would be better handled and responded to incase of occurrences. The use of databases would give a foundation for coming up with funding plans, study and analysis of diseases and their causes in the rural communities. Also all my solutions and suggestions would be meant if and only if the government will intervene in this so as to make it easier for the people living in rural area of Nigeria.

Area Based Regeneration Programmes | Evaluation

Area Based Regeneration Programmes | Evaluation Area based regeneration programmes contribute to managing social exclusion but they do not resolve the problem. Critically discuss this statement. The following is a critical discussion of the statement that area based regeneration programmes contribute to managing social exclusion yet fail to resolve the problem. Area based regeneration programmes were developed for various reasons, such as tackling poverty, economic regeneration, reducing unemployment, and managing social exclusion. That the latter was not the sole or exclusive objective of the area based regeneration programmes may explain whether these programmes have or have not resolved the problem of social exclusion. There are also arguments that social exclusion is not a problem that could be completely resolved by any single political, economic, and social policy operating by itself. Social exclusion could be understood in different ways so that some organisations or individuals may be believe that managing it or resolving it would be harder or easier than other people would expect. The management of social exclusion without resolving the problem as a whole may or may not be a commendable achievement within its own right, even if it still leaves the problem of social exclusion in existence, this to will be critically discussed. Area based regeneration programmes came into existence to counteract the damaging economic and social consequences of industrial decline in Britain’s inner cities like Liverpool, London, or Birmingham; and in some of the country’s most heavily industrialised areas such as North Eastern England, the Clyde, and South Wales from the1970s onwards. These industrial areas were locations were the Conservatives electoral support had often been weak although until the Thatcher government the party had been content to subsidise industries in these areas. Previously, government policies did not specifically attempt area based regeneration programmes to tackle social exclusion. Instead governments aimed to use Keynesian economic policies to maintain full employment, and when necessary would keep factories, coalmines, and shipyards open in run down areas with government subsidies. Where any regeneration had taken place it had usually been the replacement of slum housing with new hou sing estates and tower blocks (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003 p. 12). Government policies were meant to reduce, manage, or resolve social exclusion by helping people upon an individual basis by targeting social security, health, education, and housing policies to those that needed that help the most. Individuals rather than geographical areas, or local communities were the focus of help from the government. To tackle social exclusion governments had also introduced legislation to reduce social and economic discrimination, such as race relations and equal pay legislation (Coxall, Robbins, Leach, 2003 p. 397). Ironically enough the impetus for the development of area based regeneration programmes would occur under the Conservative governments after 1979, which were not initially interested in managing social exclusion or implementing area based regeneration programmes. Running these regeneration programmes was contrary to the Thatcherite ethos of reducing state involvement in social and economic policies. Thatcherite economic policies ended subsidies to the nationalised industries leading to factories, coalmines, and shipyards closing down. Those closures and the collapse of uncompetitive private sector companies lead to high unemployment in former industrialised areas and the inner cities, that in turn increased levels of social exclusion (Moran, 2005 p. 14). The Thatcher government only began area based regeneration programmes as a response to the inner city riots of 1981, which, highlighted the problems that social exclusion and economic decay could cause (Taylor et al, 2000 p.331). At this point the social exclusion and economic deprivations in the former industrial areas and the inner cities reached levels that had not been witnessed since the hard hitting depression of the 1930s (Jones, 1999 p. 8). At first the Thatcher government seemed unable to slow down the increasing levels of social exclusion let alone manage or reduce that problem, which it considered less important than lowering inflation, weakening the trade unions, and rolling back the state. Of course increasing levels of unemployment actually meant that expenditure on social security benefits increased rather than decreased. No doubt the Thatcher government was helped in its decision to start area based regeneration programmes by the availability of European Union regional development funds, that were allocated to the most economically deprived and socially excluded regions within the member states. This meant that the government was able to receive extra funding to regenerate the areas most severel y affected by the recession of the early 1980s, and were by-passed any economic recovery or moves to manage social exclusion (Moran, 2005 p. 100). Area based regeneration programmes were primarily aimed at economic regeneration to reduce unemployment, and its linked social consequences such as rising crime levels and increased incidence of social exclusion. It was believed that reducing unemployment would manage and perhaps eventually remove social exclusion, whilst social security benefits were supposed to help those that did not or could not work. The Conservatives established regional development corporations to carry out regeneration programmes in the inner cities and former industrial areas, for instance regenerating parts of London, Birmingham, and Liverpool. However under the Conservatives the main efforts to manage social exclusion were confined to helping individuals through government training schemes such as Training for Work and the Youth Training Scheme (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003 p. 16). New Labour was keen to extend area based regeneration programmes to proactively manage, and perhaps eventually resolve social exclusion, and increase measures to reduce unemployment. New Labour extended its New Deal initiative to cover deprived areas within the New Deal for Communities programme (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005 p. 175). The New Deal for Communities programme was meant to be in a slightly different form to previous area based regeneration programmes as local community groups were supposed to have a greater influence over the projects selected to regenerate their local communities (Fisher, Denver, Benyon, 2003 p. 216). Generally community groups have welcomed being able to have an influence over the projects selected to regenerate their communities. Community groups before New Deal for Communities often felt excluded from the decision-making processes relating to the areas in which they lived in (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005 p. 175). Not every New Deal for Communities programme has gone well, most notably the Aston Pride Project which failed due to a poor relationship between the community groups, the local authority, and various government agencies. The project was closed down early amidst allegations of corruption within the community groups and counter allegations of racism within the local authority and government agencies (Dale, May 28 2004). Whilst area based regeneration programmes have been largely effective at managing social exclusion, there are limits to explain why these programmes are unlikely to resolve the problem of social exclusion altogether. When area based regeneration programmes have been completed there maybe new businesses that have moved to that location and sometimes the standard of housing has been improved, certainly positive achievements, yet not likely to resolve social exclusion by themselves (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005, p. 175). Both Conservative and New Labour governments have found through experience that area based regeneration programmes are more likely to succeed in managing and eventually resolving the problem of social exclusion when used in conjunction with other initiatives, such as tackling discrimination, poor housing, health and education services. Social exclusion will also need reduced crime levels to stand a chance of being managed (Jones et al, 2004, p. 619). Schemes such as Training for Work New Deal can lower unemployment, yet there are limits on what they can achieve. Completing those schemes has made people more employable, although they may gain employment outside of the deprived or regenerated areas that they live in. New Deal is probably here to stay as part of New Labour’s welfare to work strategy. New Deal itself targets extra help to those groups that have found it harder to find or keep jobs, such as lone parents and the disabled (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005 p. 316). These groups are more vulnerable to suffering from social exclusion without living in areas that are economically or socially deprived. These groups are not only helped by New Deal, they are also helped by tax credits and child tax credits. The government wished to improve the opportunity for all children with better education provision and the Sure-start programme for children from deprived areas or families with low incomes. New Labour has also attempted to tackle social exclusion am ongst pensioners with the introduction of pension credit (Seldon Kavanagh, 2005 p.315). Therefore it can be concluded that area based regeneration programmes have helped to manage social exclusion without being able to remove the problem itself. Area based regeneration programmes were primarily set up to lower unemployment and reduce social exclusion that was higher in the inner cities, and former industrial areas such as North East England, and South Wales. The Thatcher government in many respects made the problem of social exclusion worse rather than better as it pursued economic and social policies that increased unemployment, crime, and social deprivation. The inner city riots of 1981 got the Thatcher government to start area based regeneration programmes in order to maintain political stability, and economic growth. It however became harder to manage levels of social exclusion due to the sell off of council houses that made it harder for people on low incomes to afford their housing costs. The beginning of EU spending to boost and regenerate the most run down areas in the community provided extra funding for the British government to spend more on managing social exclusion. New Labour has been much more interested in managing and if possible resolving the problem of social exclusion by using area based regeneration programmes in combination with other measures such as Surestart, New Deal, and EU regional development funds. New Labour has tried to increase the amount of area based regeneration programmes in existence with its New Deal for Communities initiatives which have included local community groups in the decision-making process and have contributed to managing social exclusion effectively aside from the Aston Pride Project. Bibliography Coxall B, Robins L Leach R (2003) Contemporary British Politics 4th edition, Palgrave, Basingstoke Dale P – Aston Pride race bias allegation, Birmingham Post May 28 2004 Fisher J, Denver D, Benyon J, (2003) Central Debates in British Politics, Longman, London Jones B, (1999) issues in British Politics Today, Manchester University Press, Manchester Jones B, Kavanagh D, Moran M, Norton P, (2004) Politics UK, 5th edition, Pearson Longman, London Moran M, (2005) Politic and Governance in the UK, Palgrave, Basingstoke Seldon A Kavanagh D, (2005) The Blair Effect 2001 – 5, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Taylor P, Richardson J, Yeo A, Marsh I, Trobe K Pilkington A (2000) Sociology in Focus, Causeway Press Limited, Ormskirk

racismhf Free Huckleberry Finn Essays: Prejudice and Racism :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:   Racism  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The twentieth century has come to an amazing finale.   Racism, ethnic prejudice and hate are on the decline.   Perhaps some of these changes can be attributed to the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in which Mark Twain addresses the issues of racism and slavery. He writes in a humorous, almost childish way, yet the themes are clear and poignant.   Twain utilizes Huck Finn and Jim as the ideal characters because they are the ones at the end of the novel who realize slavery is wrong.   Mark Twain establishes the ideals by portraying them through the protagonists, Huck and Jim and criticizes the failure to live up to them by portraying them through the antagonists, Miss Watson.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Prejudice can be observed throughout the novel by the way the other characters treat Huck.   Twain portrays Huck as an average boy of his time, mischievous, adventurous and funny.   The society Huck lives in labels him "uncivilized" because he has an abusive, drunk father.   "By and by pap got too handy with his hick'ry and I couldn't stand it.   I was all over with welts" (Twain page #).   Here the reader can observe the ultimate failure of an uncivilized person.   Pap is an alcoholic, a dead beat and a racist.   Nevertheless, society also considered Huck   "uncivilized" because he did not wear shoes did not always attend school and he smoked.   Society criticized Huck as uncivilized due to physical appearance when really Huck turned out to be more civilized than any other character in the novel because he learns how to respect Jim.   Through the ironic criticism of society trying to civilize Huck, Huck teaches us a lesson on bein g civilized.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the novel, Jim runs away from his slave owner, Miss Watson.   By doing a thing like that Jim could have been killed or beat.   The people of Jim’s society would not have even listened to him or even considered his reason.   "Well, you see, it 'uz dis way.   Ole missus-dat's Miss Watson- she pecks on me all de time, en treats me pooty rough, but she alwuz said she wouln' sell me down to Orleans. ... but she could git eight hund'd dollars for me" (Twain page #).   Twain wanted to show, through Jim, just how cruel people were and how those feelings were condoned by society.   Twain also shows the ideal of freedom through Jim and the failure to live up to that freedom when Miss Watson sells him.

Difficulty In Making An Important Decision :: essays research papers

Difficulty In Making An Important Decision Assignment: Describe a particular time in your life when you had difficulty making an important decision. During the course of our lifetimes we make many significant and difficult choices that affect us. These choices affect our personal and professional lives. Therefore, we make these choices with much thought and care. One of the most difficult and important decisions I have made was changing careers. Changing careers at this stage of my life, mid-life, was very difficult. Preparation for my new career required me to resign my job. The former position was providing a major portion of my family's income and most of the medical benefits. Some means of earning a living while preparing for a new career was foremost on my mind during this stage. If I spent to much time and energy pursuing a job to provide a means for supporting my family while retraining, I might not do a sufficient job of retraining for a new career. Another difficulty equally as important as the the financial one was the possibility of failing at a new endeavor or not being able to find a new job. These possibilities made me feel uncomfortable and insecure. If I failed or could not find a new position, what would my family think of me? Failing at a new career would also cause me to lose confidence in myself. These concerns, failure and financial, and not finding a new job made this decision very difficult. The decision to choose a new career was an extremely important one. The sole function of a career is not just to provide a means to make a living; it should have a larger purpose. The work I was doing did little for others, and in fact, served only a small, special interest group. In addition to pursuing a meaningful career, a career should be satisfying, and make some

How to Do a Jedi Mind Trick

How To Do A Jedi Mind Trick Everyone wants to be persuasive. It is the power of influence, and gives you the ability to sway one's mind. After you have learned the proven Jedi Mind Trick method, you will have increased your ability to use your persuasive powers. The Jedi Mind Trick is an ancient method used and taught by those attuned with the Force. The Force is a metaphysical power that is contained in all beings and things, and enhances mental abilities. By using the Force along with a well practiced Jedi Mind Trick, you can learn to non-violently manipulate a target's thought.The first step is confidence. When combining self confidence with fast talking, your audience will struggle in finding flaws in your argument and will be forced to agree with you. Confidence is also synonyms with expertise. Once others believe that you is actual fact, they will think that you are right and will follow you. You will achieve true confidence when you also believe what know and believe what you say. Body language is the second step of the Jedi Mind Trick.Using slight head and hand gestures to help send subtle, yet powerful, messages to your audience. These help create emphasis on the choice you want your target to make. You want the individual to feel as though they are making the suggestion or coming up with the idea themselves. Once you feel that they are catching on, reinforce the idea by telling your target what a good one it is and frame it positively. Please keep in mind that some individuals with highly developed mental facilities are resistant to the Force and Jedi Mind Tricks.Examples include mothers, nerdier older brothers, and George Lucas. George Lucas cannot by affected negatively by the Force, because he created the Force and is therefore impermeable. If you are ever caught in a failed Jedi Mind Trick, quickly abandon your attempt and continue honing your abilities on weaker targets. Do not lose hope as you will need to practice your skills and apply them to day to day interactions in order to be successful. The uses for the Jedi Mind Trick are limitless.Those who have successfully practiced this great ability have been able to reap the rewards. Applying these steps have helped many get out of traffic citations, receive phone numbers from potential dates, and have been given seats at their favorite exclusive restaurant without a reservation. These are just a couple of example that have helped so many change their lives. Once you have integrated these simple steps into your daily live, you can easily combat those slight annoyances that may be holding you back from enjoying the life that you deserve.

Exclusion Clauses Essay

Over the past few decades, with the development of contract law, more and more people has paid attention to the exclusion clauses contained in a document which is signed by the parties. Many contracting parties use this technique to avoid liability for breach of contract. In this essay, exclusion clauses can be defined as a clause included in a contract to either limit or exclude liability of a party in breach of the agreement. (also termed exemption clauses or exemption clauses. ) Consequently, it is argued that whether the party will be bound by the exemption clause which is signed by the parties or not. Therefore, this essay will analyze the exemption clause with signature based on several court cases and illustrate the effect of an unsigned exemption clause by using a short hypothetical scenario and a court case. Signed Exclusion clauses As a general rule, a person who signs a document which contains contractual terms is bound by the clause of the document. To be specific, if a party signs a contractual document incorporating an exemption clause, it will automatically form part of the contract. Therefore, Signature can ordinarily bind a person to the terms even if he has not read or understood the terms set out in the document. What has come to be known as the principle in L’Estrange v Graucob was expressed by Scrutton LJ as follows: ‘When a document containing contractual terms is signed, then, in the absence of fraud, or, I will add, misrepresentation, the party signing it is bound, and it is wholly immaterial whether he has read the document or not. ‘ According to the case of L’Estrange v Graucob [1934] 2 KB 394, the plaintiff bought an automatic cigarette machine from the defendants. She signed a contract called sales agreement which include several clauses, but did not read. When she discovered the machine was defective, she tried to sue Graucob for breach of contract, but the defendant was able to rely on the exclusion clause incorporated into the written contract. From this case, it can be seen that since the plaintiff has signed the sales agreement, the contract and the exclusion clauses has taken effect. In addition, the contents of the document were represented correctly and no fraud on the part of the defendants. Therefore, L’ Estrange is bound by the exclusion clauses. However, the rule in L’ Estrange v Graucob will not apply under some circumstances. Firstly, if the signed document could not reasonably be regarded in the circumstances as likely to contain contractual terms, the party will not be bound by the signature. In the case Le Mans Grand Prix Circuits Pty Ltd v Iliadis, the plaintiff was injured while driving a go-cart at the defendant’s racing track. P was invited there as a guest to help the promotion of D’s go-kart track and did not pay for the attendance at the track. The defendant wanted to avoid liability by relying on an agreement, signed by the plaintiff which includes an exclusion clause. The count made a decision that the defendant was unable to rely on the exclusion clause so as to avoid liability. Because the plaintiff attended defendant’s track was not in pursuance of a commercial dealing of relationship with the defendant. Thereby, the entry form was just a driver registration form, not a contract. In other word, the document which the plaintiff had signed was not contractual, although the agreement contained plaintiff’s signature, he was not bound it because the signed document could not reasonably be regarded in the circumstances as likely to contain contractual terms. Secondly, a person who misrepresents the clause and its effect is not allowed to rely on the exemption clause to escape liability. The case of Curtis v Chemical Cleaning and Dyeing Co clearly illustrate the legal position. In this case, Curtis took a wedding dress to the defendant’s shop to have it dry cleaned. The shop assistant asked her to sign a ‘receipt’, and the plaintiff was told by the shop assistant that the document was to exempt defendants from liability for damage to the beads and the sequins. The plaintiff signed the document, which in fact included a clause that the company is not liable for any damage howsoever arising. The dress was stained by the defendant who later tried to rely on the exclusion clause. The Court judged that the clause is not effective and the defendant cannot rely on it. Because in this case, the exclusion clause had been misrepresented as only beads and sequins would be affected. and the plaintiff thought she was only running the risk of damage to the sequins and the beads on the dress. Unsigned exclusion clauses In our daily life, the exemption clause also contained in some unsigned document, such as tickets, invoices, receipts, vouchers and so on. Upon most situations, these unsigned documents may not be binding in contract unless they are properly included into the contract. Although, Signature is the most common way to confirm the effectiveness of a contract, that no means if you don’t sign the form you could not be bound by it, in some particular cases it is. Firstly, a hypothetical scenario will be made to illustrate the effect of exclusion clause in an unsigned document. Alex had toothache seriously, he went to a pharmacy and bought a box of Panadol. Before he took the tablets he saw the introduction and even the container has written on that ‘must follow the doctor’s advice, if you don’t follow the advice, there is not liable for any harm of your body’ but he didn’t care about the warning and take three tablets. On the following day, Alex felt dizzy and nausea. After the diagnosis from doctor, it can be considered that these symptom due to the effect of medicine. Then, Alex sued the medicine company. Under this situation, the defendant can avoid liability by exemption clause even though Alex did not sign the document. As the common law said that exclusion clauses contained in unsigned documents are not valid unless a reasonable person would expect the document to contain contractual document and a reasonable notice is given. In this case, contractual terms can be expected to find from the introduction and container of the medicine. In addition, company also takes reasonable steps to bring these clauses to Alex’s notice. Thus, the plaintiff was already bound by the exemption clauses. Another court case for the unsigned exclusion clause is the case of Parker v South Eastern Railway Co, plaintiff left his bag at cloakroom in a railway station and he got a ticket. On the front of the ticket said ‘See back’, the other side include an exclusion clause which shows that company will only be responsible for the value of package within 10 pounds. When the bag could not be found, Parker sued the company for 2410 pounds. However the court judged that the plaintiff was bound by the exclusion clause on the ticket even though he did not sign it. Because the company has already gave the plaintiff sufficient notice of the existence of the clause and a reasonable person would expect to find these terms. According to the basic principle in contract law which said that the unsigned exemption clause will be bound if reasonable notice has been given. Conclusion To sum up, exclusion clause can be classified as signed document and unsigned document in this essay. When considerate the effectiveness of a clause, every aspects should be analyzed. Although the signature is an important factor to prove if the clause is valid, it does not mean that all the exclusion clauses included in a signed document can be bound with a signer. To the contrary, the exemption clause in an unsigned document can also be valid in some situation. Therefore, any party who wish rely on the exemption clause to avoid liability should incorporate the clause into a contract with sufficient notice and make sure the behaviors of the party is reasonable.

American nurses association

The American Nurses Association is a professional service organization that represents the entire registered American nurses’ population. It aims to promote health care services to every human being. It believes that health care is a right of every citizen and a restructured development and implementation of health policies is needed. Furthermore it is dedicated in producing highly skilled nurses in the field of medicine. At the local and state level, the roles and functions of ANA are to persuade every individual to go into nursing by promoting an advance nursing profession by setting up high standard nursing practices.In return, a competitive workplace is attained producing a realistic perspective of things that transpire as a nurse. Registered nurses are also helped by the association by conducting continuous research base projects for nursing. The field is continually being expanded. It also pushes for better compensation for nurses. It calls for a better working condition for nurses and implements strategic techniques in which nurses can deliver their services more efficiently and effectively locally.Thus, the local and the state benefit largely from these practices, where in services will not be delayed and are delivered cost-effectively. Nationally, ANA is in the forefront on the call for a massive restructuration of the health care programs. They believed that the health care is in crisis, and the cost of care continues grow while its quality suffers and the problem should be addressed to the policy makers, health professionals and the public.Through its political and legislative programs, ANA has taken solid positions. It expresses its desire for a restructure program by delivering primary health care services in community based settings. On its agenda also is an expanded participation of nurses in delivering those services and obtaining federal fund for practice, training and future ventures in the field of nursing. The association also discuss es the importance of safer needle devices to people.It aims to protect the rights of patients and provide them access to a better health care system. It aims to offer public and private plan of standard package of essential health care services to every citizens. The American Nurses Association exists not primarily to protect the welfare of the registered nurses. It is an organization that commits its loyalty on things that would help the public benefit. The health of the people and an efficient way of delivering services at low cost is the association primary concerns.The organization’s unwavering efforts are major boost that contribute to health care reforms on both state and national level. References (Levit, 2001) (Aiken L. H. , 2000) Aiken L. H. , C. S. P. , & Sloanne D. M. . (2000). Hospital Restructuring: Does it Adversely Affect Care and Outcomes? Journal of Nursing Administration, 457-465. Levit, K. , Smith C, . Cowan C. , Lazenby H. , Sensenig A. , Catlin A. ,. (200 1). Trends in US Health Care Spending. Health Affairs, 154-164.

Higher Education Essay

The report is based on information and impressions which the delegation obtained during the study tour. Information was also gathered from sources such as the websites of the organisations and institutions visited and from agencies including the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) in Australia, World Education Services (WES) in the USA, IAU and UNESCO/IAU among others. At several places in the text, sources have been specifically mentioned. An additional list of sources can be found in the appendices. 3 The report describes the system of education in India and the quality assurance system. Chapter 1 introduces the administration of the school system and the organisation of primary, secondary and higher secondary education, while Chapter 2 provides information about technical and vocational education. Chapter 3 outlines the system of higher education by reviewing the institutional structure with a discussion of both public and private education. Information on degree structure and grading systems is included, as well as examples of some bachelor degree programmes. In Chapter 4, teacher training at higher secondary level and at university level is described. Chapter 5 presents India’s response to globalisation in the higher education sector. The last chapter deals with the quality assurance work in education, both at secondary and higher level. Impressions and reflections about the education system and how it functions are incorporated into the report in frames where appropriate. Country Profile India is one of the world’s oldest civilisations, dating back to 2,500 B. C. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded the country in about 1,500 B. C. ; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursion starting in the eighth century and Turkish in the twelfth century were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late fifteenth century. By the nineteenth century, Great Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru helped end British colonialism through non-violent resistance. India achieved independence in 1947. The Republic of India was established in 1947 and comprises 32 states and Union Territories, the latter controlled by the central government. The country covers about 3. 3 million square kilometres with a population of 1. 029 billion and dominates southern Asia. It is slightly larger than one-third the size of the United States. India is home to 17% of the world’s total population, accommodated in an area that is 2. 4% of the world’s total area. India has the world’s twelfth largest economy and the third largest in Asia behind Japan and China, with a total GDP of around $570 billion. Services, industry and agriculture account for 50. 7%, 26. 6% and 22. 7% of GDP respectively. The United States is India’s largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2003 was $18. 1 billion. There are some 16 official major languages and 844 dialects. Among these languages, English enjoys associate status, but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication. Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people. The other official languages are Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit. Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language. Hinduism (80. 5%), Islam (13. 4%), Christianity (2.3%), Sikh (1. 9%) are the major religions in the country. The literacy rate is 52% (of the total population of age 15 or older). 4 Chapter 1 General Education Administration of Education The central and the state governments have joint responsibility for education, with freedom for the state governments to organise education within the national framework of education. Educational policy planning is under the overall charge of the central Ministry of Human Resource Development which includes the Department of Elementary Education and Literacy and the Department of Secondary and Higher Education. The Ministry is guided by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) which is the national level advisory body. The education ministers of all the different states are members of the board. The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) (1961) defines the National Frame Curriculum for classes I – XII. It also functions as a resource centre in the field of school development and teacher education. State Councils of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) are the principal research and development institutions in all the states. At secondary level, school boards at state level affiliate schools and set examination standards in accordance with the national framework. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Council for Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) cover all India besides the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). National Policy on General Education Under the national constitution, education was a state matter until 1976. The central government could only provide guidance to the states on policy issues. In 1976 the constitution was amended to include education on the concurrent list. The initial attempts of designing a National Education Policy were made in 1968 but it was only in 1986 that India as a whole had a uniform National Policy on Education. The National Policy on Education 1986, modified in 1992, defines the major goals for elementary education as universal access and enrolment, universal retention of children up to 14 years and substantial improvement in the quality of education. The National Policy of Education of 1992 also aims at vocationalisation of secondary education and greater use of educational technology. The policy has been accompanied by several programmes such as the District Primary Education Program (DPEP) launched in 1994 and the National Campaign for Education for All (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan) launched in 2001/2. A proposed bill on the right to education (draft, November 2005) stresses the right of all children from age 6 until their 15th birthday to receive elementary education either in school or non-formal education (NFE). The Indian government is preparing the universalisation of secondary education (USE). The main aim is to provide high quality secondary education to all Indian adolescents up to the age of 16 by 2015, and senior secondary education up to the age of 18 by 2020. 5 Crucial problems in India are teacher absenteeism, noted by UNESCO in 2005; high teacherpupil ratios; and inadequate teaching materials and facilities, particularly in rural areas. At the other end of the scale, children attending urban schools, especially middle and upper class children in private schools, are subjected to extreme competition from a very early age in order to qualify for admission into the best schools. In 1979-80, the Government of India, Department of Education launched a programme of Non-Formal Education (NFE) for children of 6-14 years age group, who cannot join regular schools – drop-outs, working children, children from areas without easy access to schools etc. The initial focus of the scheme was on ten educationally backward states. Later, it was extended to urban slums, and hilly, tribal and desert areas in other states. Source: – UNESCO: India, updated August 2003 and Annual Report 2004/5, Ministry of Human Resource Development, India (overview). – Newsletter, October-December 2005, International Institute for Educational Planning, UNESCO. Learning without Burden, NCERT, 1993, reprinted 2004. – Annual report 2004/5, Ministry of Human Resource Development, India (annexes). School Education A uniform structure of school education, the 10+2 system, has been adopted by all the states and Union Territories (UTs) of India following the National Policy on Education of 1986. Elementary school, Class I – VIII, is recognised as the period of compulsory schooling, with the Constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right. A majority of the states and Union Territories (UTs) have introduced free education in classesI-XII. In states/UTs where education is not free for classes IX and above, the annual fee varies considerably. The pre-school covers two to three years. The elementary stage consists of a primary stage comprising Classes I-V (in some states I-IV), followed by a middle stage of education comprising Classes VI -VIII (in some states V-VIII or VI -VII). The minimum age for admission to Class I of the primary school is generally 5+ or 6+. The secondary stage consists of Classes IX-X (in some states VIII-X), and a senior secondary stage of schooling comprising classes XI-XII in all states. In some states/UTs these classes are attached to universities/colleges. The number of working days of school education in a year is generally more than 200 days in all the states/UTs. Participation in primary and secondary education The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), which indicates the number of children actually enrolled in elementary schools as a proportion of child population in the 6-14 years age group, has increased progressively since 1950-51, rising from 32. 1% to 82. 5% in 2002-03, according to statistics published by the Ministry of Human Resource Development in India. The rate of increase in GER of girls has been higher than that of boys. The dropout rate at the primary level (Classes I-V) declined from 39% in 2001-02 to 34. 9% in 2002-03. However the GER only covers 61% of children from classes VI to VIII. 6 In 2002/3 the dropout rate was estimated at 34. 9% at the end of lower primary classes and 52. 8% at the end of upper primary. The dropout rate was 62. 6% at the end of secondary school (Class X). There are wide disparities among the different states in the number of children completing primary and secondary school from less than 20% to more than 80%, according to the central statistics from the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Source – Selected Educational Statistics 2002-03. Provisional. Ministry of Human Resource Development, India – Annual Report 2004/5. Ministry of Human Resource Development, India – Secondary Education. Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, India (information on the Department’s website) National Curricula. The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) formulated the first Curriculum Framework in 1975 as a recommendation to the individual states. NCERT was accorded the responsibility of developing a binding National Curriculum Framework through the National Policy on Education (NPE) (1986). NCERT reviews the curriculum every five years on the basis of consultations within the whole school sector. The core areas of the curriculum are common. Teaching of English is usually compulsory in classes VI-X in most of the states/UTs. NCERT published a New National Curriculum framework in 2005. The New National Curriculum will be introduced in textbooks in three phases: Phase one, 2006-07: classes I, III, VI, IX and XI. Phase two, 2007-08: classes II, IV, VII, X and XII Phase three, 2008-09: classes V and VIII NCERT has gradually been changing the curriculum from traditional information provision to be more learner-oriented and competence-based. National Curriculum Framework 2000 The National Curriculum Framework 2000 operates with the concept of the Minimum Levels of Learning (MLLs) identifying certain essential levels of learning for each stage of school education. Pre-primary education The National Policy on Education defines the objective of early childhood care and education (ECCE) as being the total development of children in the age group 0-6 years. Early Childhood Education (ECE) or pre-primary education (2 years), part of the ECCE, shall prepare children for school. Teaching at this stage, according to the National Curriculum Framework, comprises group activities, play–way techniques, language games, number games and activities directed at promoting socialisation and environmental awareness among children. Formal teaching of subjects and reading and writing are prohibited. However, NCERT strongly criticised the actual pre-school programmes for exposing children to structured formal learning, often in 7 English with tests and homework, in the introductory notes to the new National Curriculum Framework 2005. The competition for the best education starts at a very early age. Newspapers from September 2005 in India report of tremendous pressure on three-year old children being prepared by their parents for nursery interviews and competing with a huge number of other children for places in the most prestigious private pre-schools. The newspapers report on private persons/institutes that offer help to parents in preparing their children for nursery interviews. Other newspapers report the need for psychological support for children having developed speaking difficulties after having been exposed to onerous preparation by their parents for nursery interviews. Primary education At the primary stage, emphasis is on the process of understanding, thinking and internalising. The National Curriculum contains the following subjects: Subject Language(s) Lower primary Classes I-II The mother tongue/regional language. Lower primary Classes III-V The mother tongue/regional language Upper primary Classes VI-VIII Three Languages — the mother tongue/the regional language, a modern Indian language and English All kind of creative activities including the child’s own creations Essentials of mathematics for every day activities, including geometry – Art education Mathematics Art of healthy and productive living Woven around the world of the learner Creative education, health and physical education, work education, value inculcation Integrated approach Environmental studies – Health and physical education – Science and technology Social sciences – Work education – Integrated approach to music, dance, drama, drawing and painting, puppetry, health and physical education, games and sports, yoga and productive work Experiences to help socio- emotional and cultural development with a realistic awareness and perception of phenomena occurring in the environment Games and sports, yoga, NCC and scouting and guiding Key concepts across all the disciplines of science, local and global concerns Social, political and economic situation of India and the world, including Indian cultural heritage. Academic skills social skills and civic competencies Agricultural and technological processes including participation in work situation Source: National Curriculum Framework 2000 8 In all language education programmes, the stress is placed on the ability to use the language in speech and in writing for academic purposes, at the workplace and in society in general. The duration of a class period may be around 40 minutes and, according to NCERT, the school year should be a minimum of 180 days, and â€Å"†¦A primary school should function for five hours a day out of which four hours may be set aside for instruction. For the upper primary and secondary schools, the duration of a school day should be six hours out of which five hours should be kept for instruction and the rest for the other routine activities. † Secondary education (2 years, grades IX-X) In grades IX-X the scheme of studies should include the following subjects: three languages (the mother tongue/the regional language, a modern Indian language and English), mathematics, science and technology, social sciences, work education, art education, health and physical education. Foreign languages such as Chinese, Japanese, Russian, French, German, Arabic, Persian and Spanish may be offered as additional options. The curriculum in mathematics should take into account both the learning requirement of learners who will leave school for working life, and of students who will pursue higher education. According to the NECRT Secondary School Curriculum 2002-2004 (Vol.1, Main Subjects) the suggested number of weekly periods per subject in grade X is as follows: Subject Language I Language II Mathematics Science and technology Social science Work education or pre-vocational education Art education Suggested number of periods in grade X 7 6 7 9 9 3 + 2 to 6 periods outside school hours 2 The boards, however, according to NCERT, often offer limited or no optional courses: two languages (one of which is English), mathematics, science and social sciences are the typical examination subjects. A few boards encourage students to choose an optional course from a range that includes economics, music and cookery. Higher secondary/Senior secondary education (2 years, grades XI–XII) The curriculum at this stage is divided into an academic stream and a vocational stream. Academic stream The objectives of academic courses are to promote problem-solving abilities and convey higher levels of knowledge. The curriculum at this stage comprises foundation courses and elective courses. Foundation courses consist of (i) language and literature, (ii) work education, and (iii) health and physical education, games and sports. The study of language prepares a student to both learn and use language in the classroom, the community and the workplace. The choice of the language to be studied is decided by the learner. Work education includes e. g. developmental projects in a village or city. Generic Vocational Courses (GVC) aim at developing employment-related generic skills regardless of the persons’ occupations. The student should choose three elective courses out of the subjects 9 prescribed by the boards. Elective courses may include bridging courses between the academic and vocational streams. The list of courses may include modern Indian languages, Sanskrit, classical European languages and their literatures, English (academic and specialised), other foreign languages, subjects in the sciences and mathematics, computer science, accountancy, business studies, engineering, political science, history, sociology, psychology, philosophy, fine arts and others. NCERT prescribes that courses should be listed together without dividing them into mutually exclusive groups. Nonetheless, several boards restrict the combinations in the form of a ‘science stream’, ‘arts stream’ and ‘commerce stream’. Some schools tailor their classes to medical and engineering courses. Universities restrict admissions based on the subjects and combinations of courses studied in the +2 stage. Sixty percent of the instructional time is devoted to the instruction of elective subjects and forty percent to the foundation course. Vocational stream The introduction of the vocational stream was recommended by the central Kothari Commission (1964-66). The National Policy on Education, 1986 (revised 1992) set a target of twenty-five percent of higher secondary students in vocational courses by 1995. So far, enrolment is far below this. The courses for the vocational stream consist of: †¢ A language course †¢ A general foundation course †¢ Health and physical education, and †¢ Elective vocational courses Vocational education covers areas like agriculture, engineering and technology (including information and communication technology), business and commerce, home science, health and para-medical services and humanities. Language courses are organised to cover the grammatical structures and additional vocabulary particular to the trade or vocation. The general foundation course for the vocational stream comprises general studies, entrepreneurship development, environmental education, rural development and information and communication technology. Vocational electives are organised according to employment opportunities. Practical training is an essential component of the vocational courses, according to the National Curriculum Framework, with seventy percent of time devoted to vocational courses. The certificate issued should mention the competencies acquired and the credits earned. Organisation The organisation of teaching is based either on an annual or semester system. In most cases, a year’s course is divided into two parts to be covered in the two halves of an academic session in the annual system. Marks are accorded to a certain number of periods; the total mark is an average of marks accorded to the different parts of curriculum in an annual or semestrial examination (e. g. a paper corresponding to a 3-hour written examination). 10 The example below copied from the Senior School Curriculum 2007 (Central Board of Secondary Education) illustrates a typical curriculum (in history) and the maximum marks accorded to the different parts of the curriculum. History/Class XI Paper One Unit Part A – Ancient India 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. 30. Total Introduction Paleolithic Cultures and Beginning of settled Life Harappan Civilization The Early Vedic Period Later Vedic Phase and Iron Age South and North-East India Religious traditions Mahajanapada Mauryas Society, Economy and Culture during Mauryan period Post-Mauryan India The age of India from Guptas and after The Society and Culture in the age of Guptas and Harsha †¦ Project Work 100 marks 8 4 8 8 5 2 10 4 10 6 6 8 8 †¦ †¦. 5 8 9 5 2 7 7 Time: 3 Hours Periods 100 Marks Marks. In the semester system, recommended by NCERT, students take a number of credit hours corresponding to their requirements and capacity, and at their own pace. However, only a few institutions have adopted the semester and credit system. National Curriculum Framework 2005 The National Curriculum Framework 2005 points out the need for plurality and flexibility within education while maintaining the standards of education in order to cover a growing variety of children. The Framework recommends that learning shifts away from rote methods and that the curriculum reduces and updates textbooks. Peace education is included as a dimension in education. The new curriculum proposes a broader spectrum of optional subjects, including the revalorisation of vocational options. Courses may be designed to offer optional modules, rather than trying to cover everything and overfilling courses too much. The National Curriculum Framework 2005 also proposes changes within the examination system (examinations for classes X and XII) allowing reasoning and creative abilities to replace memorisation. The children should be able to opt for different levels of attainment. Textbooks 11 Most states have legislated to create bodies for the preparation of syllabi and textbooks. The states have established various mechanisms for the preparation and approval of textual materials. However, a study in 2005, undertaken by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), of textbooks used in government schools (not following the CBSE syllabus) and in nongovernment schools (including social and religious schools) showed that many textbooks reinforce inequalities and neglect rural, tribal or female realities. According to NCERT’ Newsletter, in 2005, CABE proposed the institution of a National Textbook Council to monitor textbooks. Source: – National Curriculum Framework 2000, National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), India – National Curriculum Framework 2005, National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), India – Newsletter July 2005, National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), India – Senior School Curriculum 2007, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), India, 2005 Examination and Assessment In all the states and Union Territories, public examinations are conducted at the end of classes X and XII by the respective State Boards of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. Ministry of Human Resource Development has published a list of recognised state boards for secondary and higher secondary education. The minimum age for admittance to the Secondary School Examination generally varies from 14+ to 16+. The minimum age for Higher Secondary School Examinations varies from 16+ to 18+ years. Some states/UTs do not have an age restriction. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), established by a special resolution of the Government of India in 1929, prescribes examination conditions and the conduct of public examinations at the end of Standard X and XII. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), Delhi, was established in 1958 by the University of Cambridge, Local Examinations Syndicate as a self-financing national examination board. The Council conducts the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (Standard X) and the Indian School Certificate (Standard XII) examinations. CISCE affiliates schools using English as a medium of instruction. The title of the final qualification varies depending upon the examining body. The titles used by the central examining boards are: CBSE: †¢ All India Secondary School Certificate (Standard X). †¢ All India Senior School Certificate (Standard XII). 12 CISCE: †¢ Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE Standard X). †¢ Indian School Certificate (ISC Standard XII). †¢ Certificate of Vocational Education (CVE XII). Information from the procedure of the All India Senior School Certificate (Standard XII) (extract): The Board conducts examination in all subjects except General Studies, Work Experience, Physical and Health Education, which will be assessed internally by the schools based on cumulative records of students periodical achievements and progress during the year. In all subjects examined by the Board, a student will be given one paper each carrying 100 marks for 3 hours. However, in subjects requiring practical examination, there will be a theory paper and a practical examination as required in the syllabi and courses. A candidate may offer an additional subject that can be either a language at elective level or another elective subject as prescribed in the Scheme of Studies, subject to the conditions laid down in the Pass Criteria. A candidate will get the Pass Certificate of the Board, if he/she gets a grade higher than E in all subjects of internal assessment unless he/she is exempted. Failing this, result of the external examination will be withheld but not for a period of more than one year. In order to be declared as having passed the examination, a candidate shall obtain a grade higher than E (i. e. at least 33% marks) in all the five subjects of external examination in the main or at the compartmental examinations. The pass marks in each subject of external examination shall be 33%. In case of a subject involving practical work a candidate must obtain 33% marks in theory and 33% marks in practical separately in addition to 33% marks in aggregate in order to qualify in that subject. A candidate failing in two of the five subjects of external examination shall be placed in compartment in those subjects provided he/she qualifies in all the subjects of internal assessment. A candidate who has failed in the examination in the first attempt shall be required, to re-appear in all the subjects at the subsequent annual examination of the Board. A candidate who has passed the Senior School Certificate Examination of the Board may offer an additional subject as a private candidate provided the additional subject is provided in the Scheme of Studies and is offered within six years of passing the examination of the Board. A candidate who has passed an examination of the Board may reappear for improvement of performance in one or more subject(s) in the main examination in the succeeding year only; however, a candidate who has passed an examination of the Board under Vocational Scheme may reappear for improvement of performance in one or more subject{s) in the main examination in the succeeding year or in the following year provided he/she has not pursued higher studies in the mean time. He /she will appear as private candidate. Candidates who appear for improvement of performance will be issued only Statement of Marks reflecting the marks of the main examination as well as those of the improvement examination. Central Board of Secondary Education Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is one of the three national boards of secondary education in India. CBSE has affiliated around 8,300 schools including government and independent 13 schools. It also affiliates schools in some 20 African and Asian countries. About 200 new schools are affiliated each year. Study teams conduct regular inspections of the affiliated institutions. CBSE has a central office and 6 regional offices. Permanent affiliation is obtained after a number of years. Affiliation is granted according to strict criteria. A list of affiliated schools can be found on CBSE’ s website: http://www. cbse. nic. in. The major objective is to prescribe conditions of examinations and conduct public examinations at the end of Classes X and XII and to grant certificates to successful candidates of the affiliated schools. All affiliated schools follow the national scheme of 10+2. Here is an example of testimonial for All India Senior School Certificate Examination from 2000: CBSE is regulated but not financed by the central government. Financing is assured by fees from the affiliated schools. CBSE accepts private candidates. CBSE develops its curriculum on the basis of the national curriculum framework. The curriculum is revised every 5 to 10 years. Two of the front line curriculum subjects are revised every year. According to CBSE, it strives notably to adapt current teaching methods and content of teaching to an innovative and creative society in the form of subjects such as functional English, bio-technology, entrepreneurship, life skills education, and disaster management. An important objective is the destressing of education, including no homework or examinations in grades I and II and only achievement reports in grades III-V. Information technology is compulsory in grades IX +X. Language studies include a possible 27 different languages besides Hindi and English. One teacher may teach four subjects up to grade X. The board uses the term learner (for student) with emphasis on the learner’s role in learning. Two subjects undergo a performance analysis (marks, questions, learning) each year to cope with poor performance. 14 Examination is monitored and organised to avoid fraud. CBSE issues duplicates of certificates under certain conditions. CBSE also organises in-service training of teachers and special programmes for new principals. Grading Both Standard X and XII are normally marked on a percentage basis. The minimum passmark varies depending upon the subject. According to the UK NARIC, the following marking scheme is used in most states for the Standard XII examinations, in comparison with that used by the central boards. Performance CBSE assessment 85%+, 80-85%, 70- Excellent, Superior, Very A1-A2, B1 80% good 60% – 70% Good B2 50% – 60% Satisfactory C1 40% – 50% Average C2 35% – 40% Pass D Percentages Source: India, International Comparisons, UK NARIC CISCE One, two, three Four Five Six seven Documents The pass-document is issued by the relevant Board of Secondary Education. It shows the type of programme (academic or vocational), the subjects passed and the marks obtained out of total marks as well as the aggregate marks, percentage obtained, and result as well as the overall grade/division. National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) National Institute of Open Schooling (previously known as the National Open School) was established in November 1989 as an autonomous registered society. The institute provides basic programs such as secondary education courses and senior secondary education courses on an open education basis. NIOS conducts examinations twice a year and candidates can appear in one, two or more subjects. Credits are accumulated until the certification criteria are fulfilled. NIOS has at its disposal a network of accredited study centres all over India providing support to learners. Source – India, International Comparisons, UK NARIC (Website) – Secondary Education. Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development, India (information on the Department’s website) 15 Islamic Education India also has a system of Islamic education. Several different sects have their own schools where they teach Islamic subjects and Arabic to mainly (but not only) Muslim children.