We could abolish class X board exams: Sibal

Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal has outlined ambitious plans to open up the education sector for increased private participation so that there are enough quality schools and colleges to meet the burgeoning demand for learning.

In a major departure from the tight government control his predecessors sought to exercise, especially over institutions of higher education, Sibal said he intends to introduce far-reaching reforms to ease and expand access to learning. These include changing the rules and regulations for setting up primary and secondary schools to facilitate growth, amending the 10 + 2 board examination system,  permitting foreign universities to set up shop in India and allowing premier Indian institutions to open branches abroad.

Sibal spoke to DNA exclusively on Wednesday soon after the Yash Pal Committee submitted its report on educational reforms. He said the Yash Pal report would be his “guiding beacon” and pivotal in introducing structural reforms.

He also indicated that he is willing to go several steps further than the committee’s proposal to scrap the UGC and AICTE. He said he hopes to set up accrediting agencies for schools as well as colleges, both at the state and national levels, to create norms for quality education.

“We don’t have entry barriers at present for primary and secondary schools. Government schools may be exempted but there should be quality norms for private institutions. And professionals should run these accrediting agencies,” Sibal said.

The new minister is quite clear that primary and secondary education would receive as much attention from him as higher education. He said that he wants to end the trauma of school admissions and board exams for students and parents.

“We need to de-traumatise it and reduce the burden on parents and children. We could, for instance, think of abolishing the class 10 board exam. Why does a child need to appear for a board exam in class 10 if he/she is continuing in the same school?” he said.

He hopes to get the Right to Education Bill passed in the forthcoming budget session of Parliament. This would set the ball rolling for rapid growth of the education sector.