Sibal has more radical reforms up his sleeve |
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Kavita Chowdhury (Mail Today) |
New Delhi, March 13, 2010 |
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Don't judge a child by one exam. That's the high point of Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal’s almost 40-minute speech at the India Today Conclave 2010 on Friday.
Outlining his vision on education reforms in the country, the minister said: “After all, one examination on one day cannot decide your child’s fate.” The current examination system does not take into account the fact that a child might have an off- day (may not perform to the best of his ability) on the day of the exam, Sibal said while delivering his address on the ‘ Future of Education’ at the conclave. He wanted students to get, say three chances in six months to improve upon their scores.
Pitching for radical education reforms, he said a change in the system was needed to discourage rote learning and the practice of teaching only from textbooks.
Sibal has already brought in landmark changes at the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) Class X level. Students will no longer have to appear in board exams. Instead, they will be tested throughout the year — based on their textbook curriculum, knowledge of trivia, analytical ability and group discussions.
The minister also made a case for merging the IIT entrance exam with a proposed single countrywide test for sciencebased subjects.
Sibal said the Right to Education Act and private- sector role could ensure quality and improve the standard of education and infrastructure in every educational institution in the country.
To woo private players in schools and in the higher education sector, he said tax rebates and soft loans should be made available.
He said the Right to Education Act would help empower women — with 50 per cent participation in school managing committees.
“This will bring about women’s empowerment and, at the same time, they will ensure that their children go to school,” he added. Sibal said the gross enrolment ratio was “ unacceptable” and a “ national disaster” because for every 100 children going to school, only 13 manage to reach college.
Describing the coming years as a “decade of infinite possibilities”, he said: “My aim is that by 2020, of every 100 school-going children, 30 would go to college.” “For the first time, the state has committed to give all children access to education and that too quality education,” he said.
He also spoke about his ministry’s proposed landmark Bills, pending clearance from the Union cabinet. Some of these — such as the Foreign Education Providers Bill, the Educational Tribunal Bill and the National Accreditation Authority Act — could bring sweeping changes to the higher education system.
The proposed accreditation authority and the National Council of Higher Education and Research ( NCHER) would transform the country’s higher education set- up, the minister said.
The Prohibition of Malpractices Bill would help the government crack down on fake institutions and enact stringent penalties for defaulters, he added.
He also advocated an increase in the stipend for higher education such as PhDs.
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