By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: It is indeed a matter of satisfaction and a bold step taken by Punjab Education Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema who
has brought to light the short comings in his own department and takes steps to ractifiy the wrongs done by his predecessors.
Dr.Cheema has highlighted the fact that 80, 000 students in Matric exam had failed in English paper and 35, 000 have failed to even
clear the exam in Punjabi language, our mother toungue and official language of Punjab Government.
The facts projected by Dr.Cheema of course show the poor state of education system in Punjab even though Chief Minister Parkash
Singh Badal is always in denial mode. It is hard to accept the ground realities and easy to cover up the shortcomings. Dr. Cheema
had summoned 220 English teachers from all over the state to know the reason why 80, 000 students had failed in English subject. To his utter surprise, many of the teachers had given wrong spellings of words in their submissions. Later amother fact emerged that the social studies teachers are taking Emglish classes due to shortage of English teachers in Government schools.
It is necessary to diagnose a problem before starting treatment. Dr. Cheema has wisely identified the disease and designed an orientation course for English teachers and they would be trained before taking classes. The minister has made a good begining to improve the teaching standards. Punjab Government and the minister himself are against provvision in the RTE-Right to Education-not to drop any child till eighth class. The teachers and students both have taken it otherwise and lost seriousness in studies. To some extent it is the result of RTE clause that students were failing in Matric class exam taken by School Education Board.
The Education Minister deserve pat for accepting the problem.He needs to fill the vacant posts of teachers in schools. Most of the schools at primary level are without teachers. The SAD-BJP government has drawn a policy to selecdt only one school in the two kms radious and close the rest of schools for lack of enrolment. It is the duty of state government to encourage children to come to school. Not only that morality demands it but the constitution of India also provides for compulsary education to all children till the age of 14 years. It is matter of shame that Punjab has registered a drop out rate of 60 to 70 percent at higher secondary level.
Punjab needs to open more schools and provide quality education at primary level. The private sector is not for the poor and deserving students. Private schools cater to middle and upper middle class or the rich. There is no room left for the down trodden. There is no purpose of giving reservation in jobs unless an equal opportunity is provided at school level. The system is rotten at grass root level and Dr. Cheema must address the issues with bold face.