The Punjab Government has decided to re-introduce examinations for primary and middle standards to give a boost to the academic standards in Government schools. The different sections of the society were also consulted while taking this important decision in the larger interests of the students, said Punjab Education Minister Daljeet Singh Cheema on Sunday.
Cheema said that it has been conveyed to the Government by the general public, the representatives of almost all the political parties and also the educational experts to re-introduce the examination system for these classes to ensure a better academic scenario in the Government schools.
A resolution to this effect was also unanimously passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha which was later forwarded to the Government of India. Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal had also written to PM Narendra Modi urging him to re-introduce the examination process. Punjab Government was firm on the decision and all the formalities have been completed in this regard, said Cheema.
The examination system for these classes was abolished some years back due to the 'no detention' policy of the Central Government. Giving further details, Cheema said that about 2, 25,786 students were enrolled in the 13,053 primary schools and to cater to the examination needs of these students as many as 3,907 examination centres have been set up in the State. Similarly, 2347 examination centres have been established for about 2,33,013 students enrolled in 8th class of about 6286 of middle, high and senior secondary schools in the state.
The Minister said that the Government has kept it in mind while setting up the centres especially for the students of the primary classes that the centres are located near the schools. The existing staff and basic infrastructure in the middle, high and higher secondary schools have been taken into consideration while setting up of the examination centres. He added that there would be table marking by the primary school teachers primarily to ensure absolute transparency in the entire examination process.