Slogging helps kids resolve reading problems

Slogging helps children resolve reading and writing problems better than the traditional tuition offered by schools, a new study shows.
The study trained, by educationists from the University of Gothenburg, more than 50 nine-year-olds with reading and writing problems for 40 minutes’ daily for 12 weeks, Times of India Reported.
The training comprised intensive and structured exercises in understanding the alphabetical code. It also incorporated space for creativity, play and curiosity, according to a Gothenburg statement. They were then compared with an equivalent group that had been given the traditional remedial tuition offered by schools. “The underlying problem is a limited phonological ability,” or “limited awareness of the sounds that make up spoken words”, says Ulrika Wolff, lecturer in education at Gothenburg who led the study.
The results show that children underwent training coped significantly better than their peers given traditional remedial tuition, and that they did so in all of the areas tested word decoding, spelling, reading speed and reading comprehension. “Structured and individual teaching meant that these children made significant progress.
Reading and writing difficulties often lead to low self-esteem and poor self-confidence, which can make learning to read even more difficult for children,” says Wolff.
Pak power stations should run at full capacity, says Expert: An energy expert and former member Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) Sardar Tariq has said that Pakistan has a generation capacity of 21,000 MWs whereas the demand for electricity is 14,000 to 15,000 MWs.
Talking to Radio Pakistan, Sardar Tariq said that they are generating only 8000 to 9000 MWs as they should have opened power stations. He maintained that they are generating 70 percent of our electricity by thermal power which consumed furnace oil, whereas 30 percent electricity is being generated by hydel power.
He said with the sky-rocketing prices of furnace oil they are unable to provide funds to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to run their plants at full capacity.
The energy expert said shortage of recovery and electricity theft should be checked for contributing in the ongoing energy crisis in the country. Sardar Tariq stated that new projects fueled by Thar coal and Hydel power projects will have to be initiated. He also asked that demand for electricity has decreased due to closure of industry but the crisis is due to the non payment to IPPs. He said Pakistan has massive coal reserves so they should explore ways to utilize this share of coal in power sector.
Fried food good for health: study: A new study has revealed that fried food is always helpful for good health.
Contrary to just about everything you may have heard about the dangers of fried food, it has turned out that it may be helpful for your healthy lifestyle.
In fact, according to a new study, it is a myth that regularly eating fried foods causes heart attacks. There is mounting research that it is the type of oil used in frying the food that really matters. Researchers in UK followed 40,000 people for 14 years and found the amount of oil they consumed made no significant difference in the incidence of heart disease. The research, published in the British Medical Journal, is more evidence, dietitians say, that people should switch to healthier oils from saturated fats like butter, lard and palm oil.
Dialogue process must for Kashmir Issue, says Farooq: All Parties Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwiaz Omar Farooq has said that people of the Kashmir welcome contacts of Indian and Pakistani leaders.
Talking to private news channel, he said that “We have seen meetings of leaders of both countries but their meetings become events. We need constant process in which Kashmiri people play their due role”.
He said that after meeting of leaders of both countries, we are at square one, Kashmir is a core issue. Constant platform of negotiations is necessary for further progress and development. To a question he said that people want improvements of human rights in Kashmir. If India continues brutalities in Kashmir, the talks will be useless.
Permanent process of dialogue with inclusion of Kashmiri leaders is necessary. Without involvement of Kashmiri leaders, the process cannot make any headway, he added.
Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits.
The APHC Chairman, while interacting with a joint delegation of Civil Society and Kashmiri Pandits that called on him at his Nageen residence in Srinagar said, Kashmiri Pandits are an inalienable part of our society and without them Kashmiri society is incomplete, Kashmir Media Service reported. “We have always said that we want Kashmiri Pandits to return. For them the doors of our hearts are always open. The Muslims are ready to receive them with open arms,” he said.
Meanwhile, the APHC Chairman in a statement paid glowing tributes to the noted Kashmiri religious scholar, Maulana Showkat Ahmad Shah, on his first martyrdom anniversary.
Remembering the sincere religious and social services of Maulana Showkat, the Mirwaiz reiterated the pledge to take his mission to its logical end.