File photo of Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia
Promising a revamp of Delhi's education system, the state government today said it will form its own education board on the lines of CBSE and NCERT, come out with new syllabus and also amend existing education laws.
In a first-of-its kind interaction under one roof, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisosia today met principals of all the government schools at Tyagraj Stadium in New Delhi.
The announcement came during the interactive session.
"Education system in Delhi is working on an Act made in 1973, which has become old. World has moved on but we are still following old law. We have to rewrite it according to modern vision and modern education system," Mr Sisodia said seeking suggestions from the principal to amend it.
"We don't even have our own education board and we need it now along with our own new syllabus. I am not saying that CBSE or NCERT is wrong but we will make our own board as per the demand of Delhi," he said without giving any timeline to the proposal.
While speaking at the interaction session, Mr Kejriwal said that education is on the priority of his government. He claimed that the government's seriousness can be gauged with the first-of-its kind interaction.
"If we can impart better education then within one generation we can eradicate poverty, unemployment and can develop this city. We need to bring two major changes in education system, which is improvement of infrastructure and quality of education," Mr Kejriwal said.
Highlighting the problems of government schools, he said we need better infrastructure. If there are 100 students in one class, then how will a teacher teach them.
In a move to improve infrastructure, government has done mapping of all the government schools and made a list of their infrastructural need.
"Education department has done mapping of all the schools about the requirement of schools and availability of land. We have sent this proposal to PWD department asking them to make enough classrooms so that there are not over 40 students in a class. They will have to deliver these classrooms in next one and half years," Mr Kejriwal said.
Asking to turn government schools into model school, Mr Kejriwal said, "There is only one parameter of model school, a government school in which we can send our kids. Even 90 per cent of government schools' principals send their children to private schools."
Government has also made a list of things which will be there in each model schools. Department has also identified deficiency of benches, desk, laboratories, toilets, computer room and auditorium but implementation will take some time.