To strengthen the State’s primary education at the grassroot level, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday reiterated his demand from the Central Government to amend the Right to Education (RTE) Act by re-introducing board examination system for Classes V and VIII.
The Chief Minster also demanded that students failing in annual examination till Class VIII should not be promoted to the next class as “promoting the students, irrespective of their results, are showing a bad impact on the standard of education”.
Badal, interacting with the media persons after performing ground breaking ceremony of Central University of Punjab in 500 acres of land at its main campus at Ghudda, said that under the present provisions of Right To Education Act, no student can be failed till Class VIII and till Class X students do not appear for any board examination.
“Consequently, the application of these provisions has appalling impact on the standard of education. I have already raised this issue with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has unanimously passed resolution for bringing in required changes in the RTE Act,” he said.
Earlier addressing the gathering at varsity campus, the Chief Minister said that it was a matter of pride for the Malwa area, where this varsity has come up, as universities are most important component of higher education. “People of an area can take advantage of such prestigious institutions only if the primary education is up to mark and of high standard,” he said.
He said that the varsity has already brought laurels for the state by figuring in the list of top-notch 13 central universities in country. Badal asked the Chancellor Dr Sardara Singh Johal to ensure that varsity adopts schools or colleges near its campus and prune the students of these educational institutions to clear various academic challenges.
Responding to a query on agrarian crisis in the state, Badal said that that the country’s bread grower was today reeling under crisis, which required immediate policies from the Centre for benefit of the farmers.
Badal, reacting to a query on flood-like situation in various districts, said that the farmer who has suffered losses due to flood of his fields will be adequately compensated with Rs 8,000 per acre compensation amount after conducting due survey.