New Delhi, June 25: The UPA government has rolled out its plan to reform the education sector in India, starting with providing free and compulsory education and doing away with the ‘trauma’ of Class X Board examinations.
The minister said all step should be taken to enact the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which seeks to make education a fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to 14 years.
“The bill should be passed in this session so that every child is given statutory right to education,” he said.
Keeping this in mind, he said their focus is threefold – “expansion, inclusion and excellence, which in simple terms access, equity and quality”.
No Class X Board exams?
addressing a press conference, Sibal said the government would abolish the Class X Board examinations to lessen the “trauma” on young students.
“We must detraumatise students who sometimes commit suicide,” Sibal said, emphasising the need for change in the system of marking.
He said the biggest challenge the country faces at present is providing quality education to the young.
“We will introduce a single board examination with consensus so that children can give one exam and decide which school or university they want to go,” he added.
The Congress leader said that the Class 10 board exam was not necessary as it laid undue pressure and traumatised students and parents.
“The choice of whether Class 10 boards should be scrapped… is something that school teachers and parents have to decide,” Sibal said.
“There should be a method of assessment different from just sitting for a board exam, determining the percentages and then moving forward. There can be an alternative system and there are many such systems in the world. Percentile system is much better than the percentages,” Sibal added.
Higher education Stating that the government was committed to improve and reform education standards in India, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said an apex panel on higher education will be formed soon.
The autonomous National Commission for Higher Education and Research, which will encompass in itself the existing professional councils and regulatory agencies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Medical Council of India and the AICTE, will be formed within the first 100 days of the new government, Sibal said.
The new education commission is a key recommendation of a government appointed committee headed by well known educationist Professor Yashpal that was formed to advise on renovation and rejuvenation of higher education in India.
He further emphasised on clampdown on the malpractices such as ragging and the capitation fee. “We will have to have a law to punish the culprits who indulge in such activities,” Sibal said.
The Minister also stressed on setting up of independent agency, which would regulate setting up of colleges and new Universities. 5,000 universities, colleges and institutions will be provided with broad band connectivity, he said.
Commenting on the percentage of lesser number of students enrolling for graduation, the Congress leader said that at present the ratio stands at a low of 12.4 percent, which certainly needs a revamp and extend the rate atleast upto 25-30 percent.
The new minister said his focus therefore is on primary and secondary education. The average school dropout rate in India is 39 percent.
On how he proposes to improve the dropout rate, Sibal said: “This is a holistic exercise. We need to reform the school system, which I am working on. There will be community colleges, more polytechnics, vocational training, skill development centres.”
Foreign direct investment in education
Addressing the reporters Kapil Sibal said that the government is strongly in favour of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s education sector.
“FDI must come into India. Entry into the education sector must neither be limited nor over-regulated. I want the system to be accessible from outside too,” Sibal, 61, who is a practising lawyer, Sibal said.
Upgradation of madrassas
In a move to increase the quality of the education of the Students studying in madrassas, he said though the government has no intention to interfere in the religious teachings, but certainly will ensure secular education to the students studying over there.
Further, emphasising on the upgradation of the students of madrassas, Sibal said, Centre is very much focussed on modernising the education system for the Muslim children.
Subsidised education loans
The newly elected HRD ministers decision of subsidising the educational loans comes as a huge relief for the students as well as the paerents.
Open distance learning In order to expand the education system to each and every corner of the country, the government has decided to enhance the broadband system, which will help the students to study from their remote places rather migrating to different cities.
The HRD minister also said that a National Curriculum framework will be implemented for teachers to provide them with high quality teacher training. It will be ensured the teachers appointed will rise to occasion.
Public-private management
Emphasising on public and private sectors to come together in imparting education, Sibal said that public-private partnership will be encouraged and if needed government owned schools will be handed over to private management, but the fee structure will be according to the government.
IANS inputs
Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, June 25: The UPA government has rolled out its plan to reform the education sector in India, starting with providing free and compulsory education and doing away with the ‘trauma’ of Class X Board examinations.
The minister said all step should be taken to enact the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, which seeks to make education a fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to 14 years.
“The bill should be passed in this session so that every child is given statutory right to education,” he said.
Keeping this in mind, he said their focus is threefold – “expansion, inclusion and excellence, which in simple terms access, equity and quality”.
No Class X Board exams?
addressing a press conference, Sibal said the government would abolish the Class X Board examinations to lessen the “trauma” on young students.
“We must detraumatise students who sometimes commit suicide,” Sibal said, emphasising the need for change in the system of marking.
He said the biggest challenge the country faces at present is providing quality education to the young.
“We will introduce a single board examination with consensus so that children can give one exam and decide which school or university they want to go,” he added.
The Congress leader said that the Class 10 board exam was not necessary as it laid undue pressure and traumatised students and parents.
“The choice of whether Class 10 boards should be scrapped… is something that school teachers and parents have to decide,” Sibal said.
“There should be a method of assessment different from just sitting for a board exam, determining the percentages and then moving forward. There can be an alternative system and there are many such systems in the world. Percentile system is much better than the percentages,” Sibal added.
Higher education Stating that the government was committed to improve and reform education standards in India, HRD minister Kapil Sibal said an apex panel on higher education will be formed soon.
The autonomous National Commission for Higher Education and Research, which will encompass in itself the existing professional councils and regulatory agencies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), the Medical Council of India and the AICTE, will be formed within the first 100 days of the new government, Sibal said.
The new education commission is a key recommendation of a government appointed committee headed by well known educationist Professor Yashpal that was formed to advise on renovation and rejuvenation of higher education in India.
He further emphasised on clampdown on the malpractices such as ragging and the capitation fee. “We will have to have a law to punish the culprits who indulge in such activities,” Sibal said.
The Minister also stressed on setting up of independent agency, which would regulate setting up of colleges and new Universities. 5,000 universities, colleges and institutions will be provided with broad band connectivity, he said.
Commenting on the percentage of lesser number of students enrolling for graduation, the Congress leader said that at present the ratio stands at a low of 12.4 percent, which certainly needs a revamp and extend the rate atleast upto 25-30 percent.
The new minister said his focus therefore is on primary and secondary education. The average school dropout rate in India is 39 percent.
On how he proposes to improve the dropout rate, Sibal said: “This is a holistic exercise. We need to reform the school system, which I am working on. There will be community colleges, more polytechnics, vocational training, skill development centres.”
Foreign direct investment in education
Addressing the reporters Kapil Sibal said that the government is strongly in favour of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in India’s education sector.
“FDI must come into India. Entry into the education sector must neither be limited nor over-regulated. I want the system to be accessible from outside too,” Sibal, 61, who is a practising lawyer, Sibal said.
Upgradation of madrassas
In a move to increase the quality of the education of the Students studying in madrassas, he said though the government has no intention to interfere in the religious teachings, but certainly will ensure secular education to the students studying over there.
Further, emphasising on the upgradation of the students of madrassas, Sibal said, Centre is very much focussed on modernising the education system for the Muslim children.
Subsidised education loans
The newly elected HRD ministers decision of subsidising the educational loans comes as a huge relief for the students as well as the paerents.
Open distance learning In order to expand the education system to each and every corner of the country, the government has decided to enhance the broadband system, which will help the students to study from their remote places rather migrating to different cities.
The HRD minister also said that a National Curriculum framework will be implemented for teachers to provide them with high quality teacher training. It will be ensured the teachers appointed will rise to occasion.
Public-private management
Emphasising on public and private sectors to come together in imparting education, Sibal said that public-private partnership will be encouraged and if needed government owned schools will be handed over to private management, but the fee structure will be according to the government.
IANS