25 JUNE : HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has said that the govt will try to pass the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill in the ensuing session of the Parliament, which seeks to make education a fundamental right of every child in the age group of six to 14 years.
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 . Unveiling his 100-day plan, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the single board would replace various boards in the country and would hold a uniform examination for all students on the pattern of combined law admission test being organised for admission to law institutions.
As part of efforts to reduce "trauma" of students and parents and make the admission process smooth, government favours a single school board at the all-India level and make 10th board examination optional.
"By a single board, a student can decide which university he wants to go. It is happening in the law (courses). The aim is to reduce the trauma," he told reporters.
Noting that students and their parents are spending sleepless night at the time of board examination, Sibal said the government wants to make 10th exam optional for students wishing to continue in the same school.
"If a student is wanting to go for pre-university course, he may appear for 10th board exam. But in case of a student pursuing the course in the same school, he need not appear in the class-10 exam for promotion to class-11," he said, adding that an internal assessment would suffice.
The government also plans to set up autonomous overarching authority for higher education and research based on the recommendations of Yashpal committee and the National Knowledge Commission.
"We must detraumatise students who sometimes commit suicide," Sibal said, emphasising the need for change in the system of marking.The government will introduce a system to replace the present assessment procedure of giving marks to awarding grades which will reduce stress, he said.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will be the first board to introduce the grading system in the country. A proposal is pending in this regard.
The government will explore the possibility of setting up an independent accreditation body for schools to ensure quality. At present, the schools are not accredited to any agency, Sibal said.
The government also wants to set up an All India Madrassa Board which will award degrees equivalent to CBSE and other boards. The board will frame policy to impart secular and technical education to Muslims without interfering the religious teachings.
"We will strive to evolve a consensus on this issue," he said, adding that efforts would also be made to amend the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act to further strengthen it.