Will retain SAD-BJP policy of exams for Classes V, VIII

Amaninder Pal

Contrary to her senior Cabinet colleagues, who are vowing a strict review of some important decisions taken by their predecessors, Minister of State for Education Aruna Chaudhary said the Congress government would follow the previous SAD-BJP government’s policy of conducting annual examination for Classes V and VIII even as there is no provision for such an evaluation under the Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

Chaudhary, one of the two women ministers in the government, said she would continue the deliberations initiated by her predecessor Daljit Singh Cheema with the Ministry of Human Resources and Development for the revival and implementation of the annual assessment system in state-run schools.

“The annual examinations are a crucial step in the school education system. Without this, school passouts face trouble in senior classes. The annual assessment not only helps in the evaluation of students, but also of the teachers. Hence, we will put in efforts to strengthen the policy initiated by previous government,” said the minister.

Heading the department having one-third of the government’s employee base, the minister is mindful of the challenge she is set to encounter on the administrative front. Hence, one of her initial tasks is to set in order the procedure of transfers in the department.

“I have realised that apart from devising strategies to enhance the quality of education, the challenge here will be the transfer of employees, especially the teaching staff. My primary task thus is to devise a transparent transfer policy. I want the transfer process be made online so that the staff can track the status of their transfer application,” added Chaudhary.

She added that she was aware of the grievance of the senior employees over the appointment of Punjab Civil Services (PCS) officers as Directors of Public Instructions (Schools) and (Colleges).

“I will ensure that such appointments will me made strictly in accordance with the rules,” she added.

Chaudhary, who admits that she is still trying to grasp the functioning of the department, also counted high dropout rate of students among 6-14 year age group as one of her primary concerns.

“High dropout rate is recorded among the students of this age group, especially in the border belt of the state. The rationale of schemes like mid-day meal is to enhance enrolments. Curbing high dropout rate will be on my priority list,” she added.