| Font Size |
He said the issue of reforms has been put in public domain and discussions have already started on several forums. Sibal said that democracy is about consensus and it is possible that some of the ideas do not translate into realities for lack of consensus. The Union Minister parried a question as to whether he had discussed the reforms with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before making the announcements. "This is not something that I can answer publicly. Prime Minister himself, let me tell bluntly, is extremely keen that the education sector needs reforms," he said.
About making class-X exam optional, Sibal said the government wants to implement it in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which affiliates about 10,000 schools. "The state boards are not concerned with it. Any state government which thinks that I am tinkering with the state board exam system, either they have not read my press release or seen me in the press conference (of June 25) making the statement," Sibal said.
He said the proposal to make class-X board exam optional could be implemented in CBSE in a year's time. The decision can be taken at the ministry level and need not be taken to the Cabinet, he said. About the proposed introduction of grading system, Sibal said, "We will see how fast it can take place". He said some of the reforms he has announced are just ideas. "Some of them are ideas. Some of them are decisions and some are policy and legislative initiatives. The reforms are very difficult when you implement them at village level. We need cooperation from state government and from panchayats. If all stakeholders cooperate this shall be done," he said.
Sibal said the draft Foreign Education Providers Bill has been prepared. Asked if the foreign institutions will implement reservations, he said the government has not decided on the issue. "It depends on what we decide when we move forward," he said, adding that the legis0lation is in draft stage. "But if a foreign university is giving a simple BA degree, why it should not follow the law of the land. It is my personal opinion. It may be overruled by the Cabinet," Sibal said, adding that this issue needs discussions and debate.
Asked about the opposition to the foreign university bill by certain members of the Cabinet, including Jairam Ramesh, Sibal said the Economic Survey has supported Foreign Direct Investment in education and this bill was a step forward in that direction. "I am not going to comment on a colleague. I respect my colleague. I am not embarrassed," he said. Asked about the proposal for having a single All India Board at Class-12 level, Sibal said he has not said about such a board. "I did not say any of that... Uniformity does not mean uniformity in teaching. It means uniformity in standards," he said, adding that the pass percentage in the state boards is as low as 27 per cent.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
Mr.Sibal had to make some loud sound heard within 100 day target imposed by UPA. He has made some suggestions so that the reactions will be heard loud and his purpose is served. Why worry of implementation and consequences and safeguards against failures of untested experimentation etc.?
1. Provide CBSE in all official languages as medium of instruction.2. Instead of unifying all boards, ask all boards to provide percentiles instead of percentages.3. Increase higher education supply by building more institutions in the following categories:a) 100% merit based admissionsb) More in the category existing reservation based ones, ensure that 50% of the seats are merit based only.Increase reservation in primary schools, build more schools in poorer districts and tribal bets. You can't leave that task to religious folks. They can help only divide the country as their agenda is conversion and not upliftment.
What is the benefit if a student passes any exam ? We should teach the students and Give a certificate that He/She has studied 'xyz' Those who need them will evaluate as per their requirement This is already in practice like UPSC,PSC,AIEEE, PMT,NDA,and many similar tests.Let Students exist but not Examinees.
The minister must examine the IRRATIONALITY of his proposals rather than examining the RATIONALITY of objections of the State educationists. Mr. Minister, we are not discussing the role of consensus in a democracy, but about EVALUATION of achievements in education. What are your alternatives to the current procedure? How would you prove the VALIDITY and RELIABILITY of your educational systems, methods and practices? What would be your placement methods in institutions of higher education? What would be your criteria to distinguish excellence, good, mediocre and unacceptable? Indian educational system, institutions, educators and students have proved their excellence. Besides alien curricula, systems, methods, practices and procedure are in the public domain. So before buying alien brands for their, wrap, salesgirls and exterior smell for a higher price, the Minister must recognize international realities, which is, Indian candidates would still be Indian despite foreign degrees
There is a lot of confusion going on with the proposed education reforms. Minister of Education tried to explain it and welcomed a national discussion. All stake holders should welcome it and join the conversation. Central government is not forcing any states to accept the proposed abolision of tenth grade exam in state run schools but central school system only. States have the option to choose.Let the national conversation going. It will be nice to have a national education policy and states follow the central guidence. It is better to avoid too many exams.
What is his rationale for removing class X exams? Havent heard of that at all.Here the rest of world is talking about the Indian education system i.e. the Chinese are trying to teach their kids good English, Obama is asking Americans to study like Indians and Chinese students.And this joker wants to play around with a proven system without a thorough analysis (how long has he been an education minister?).Shame on him!
It is better to have only one Board Exam i.e. for DEGREE (15 CLASS).
Only rationale can be sucullarism, hence proposal must be only from missionary skuls and madarasas. It must be succlullarly taught to all kids how they can save their souls only through Juzzez or Ohllah.