Mayor for Class V boards; not to go ahead if people says 'no'

Delhi Mayor Kanwar Sain has mooted an idea to introduce board exams for Class V to improve educational standards in primary schools but said it could beimplemented only after gauging public opinion and consulting other stakeholders.
    
Sain said that if board examination is started in Class V, it will better the teaching standards in schools. "Now, the teachers know that anyway the students will be promoted to the next class, so there is a certain kind of reluctance among them," he said.
   
However, when it was pointed out that this proposal can lead to a controversy as the HRD Ministry has been focussing on lessening the pressure on students, he said, "This is just a suggestion, not a decision."

"Of course, we will have to consult all stakeholders, especially the educationists. I have spoken to a number a educationists and they have welcomed the idea," Sain said.

"Moreover, we will have to gauge the public opinion too. If the people are against it, if they say no, we will not go ahead with it," the Mayor said.

Asked whether he hopes to get support of the Delhi government, which has got greater say in the educational affairs of the civic body since the transfer of a number of central powers relating to MCD to it, Sain said, "I will take the proposal to them and try to convince them."