EDUCATION

‘Uniform syllabus needed in schools’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 17 — The state needs to have a uniform education policy and subject content for all children at the school level, said Mr Tota Singh, Education Minister of Punjab, while inaugurating a two-day seminar on ‘teaching subjects at the school level in view of future needs’ organised by the Punjab School Education Board at the ICCSR Complex, Panjab University, here, yesterday.

Mr Tota Singh referred to the need of having a common board. The CBSE, ICSE and state boards need to deliberate on a common platform to have a uniform policy and subject content. English, needs to be introduced as a compulsory subject right from the primary level.

The edge that English has over other subjects in the existing scenario, particularly those wishing to pursue technical fields, needs to be given to all, Mr Tota Singh said.

The board was taking steps to stop copying and ‘outside help’. Five different sets of question papers for a class had drastically reduced cases of copying. More significant was the board’s action to punish the board officials concerned along with the candidate caught using unfair means.

There are approximately 12,900 schools. A thought needs to be given to the quantity of academic work needed according to age of the students. At present, we have children carrying heavy bags. One can witness children as young as three beginning to go to school, which was a little early, he said.

The Education Minister said parents needed to be attached with the education of their wards. This time, parents are expected to visit the school to know their ward’s performance , his weaknesses and steps that could improve the results, Mr Tota Singh added.