CHANDIGARH:Speaking during the Education World Forum in London, the Punjab Education Minister Mr. Vijay Inder Singla today said that the education without active participation of the community is one-sided affair and it would be difficult for government and society as well to improve equity, equality and quality of education without the vigorous involvement of the community.
In his keynote address during the second day of the six days long event, the ministerial education seminar held annually in London, in which ministers from around the world gather to debate future practices in education focused around certain themes, Mr. Singla emphasized on cultural-socio responsibility of the Industrialists also and appealed them to come forward for the infra-development of the schools.
Highlighting the Punjab education department’s unique initiative ‘Each One, Bring One’, the Education Minister informed that the department has started special enrollment drive for government schools to enhance the enrollment at pre-primary level. He said that approximately 2.50 lakhs students have been enrolled in pre-primary classes so far. Mr. Singla said that for increasing the enrollment of government schools, enhancement of language skills of the students and preparing them for the competitive environment, English as a medium of instruction has been introduced in 6113 government primary, middle, high and Senior Secondary schools. Under ‘Each One-Read One’ initiative, reading corners have been established in all the government schools for inculcating the reading habits among government school students, he added.
The Minister said that Punjab School Education Board certificates have been linked with the Aadhaar cards of the students and issued through online mode. For registration of the students, PSEB gets data from e-Punjab portal resulting in convenience to teachers and students. For ensuring fair marking re-evaluation of answer sheets has been started. The text books have been converted into e-books and are now available online. In order to curb the practice of examination cheating, video cameras have been installed in sensitive centers. A mobile app has started for computation and uploading of marks for examiners. Books for primary sections have been revised as per curriculum, he added.
Underlining the bold reforms in education system in the state, he informed the galaxy of minister from different countries that biometric attendance system has been implemented in 1000 schools of the state on a pilot basis. In the remaining schools, biometric machines will be installed by February 2020. Apart from this, IT equipment for smart class rooms such as computers, tablets are being provided to the students. Besides, solar energy is being fully unitized to conserve the environment and save the public exchequer. Solar panel systems are being installed in 880 government senior secondary schools.
The Education Minister also shared that the Punjab is the first state in India to notify online teacher transfer policy for ensuring transparency. The Department has created a separate cadre of teachers for border areas to address the shortage of teachers in far flung areas.