Passing maths, science, english not comp

Lily

B.R
Staff member
PASSING MATHS, SCIENCE, ENGLISH NOT COMPULSORY


Chandigarh February 20:
Punjab government has decided the students appearing in the Punjab State Education Board’ matriculation examination will not have to pass in mathematic , science or English to pass the examination.
A decision that passing in these subjects will be compulsory from the 2009 session was taken by the government in October 2008 but it is learnt Education Minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur has reversed the earlier decision. Sources add the “review” decision was taken after it was pointed out to her in case students were not passed in these subjects the results of the board would drop from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
At present students appearing in the matriculation examination through the Punjab School Education Board can fail in any two subjects (except Punjabi) and still pass the examination. Generally both mathematics and English are ignored being “difficult” subjects. However the Education Department had guidance of the minister decided to revamp quality of the board examinations. In October 2007 the board decided to have seven subjects for Class X from session 2008-09: English, Punjabi, Hindi, mathematics, science, social science and computers.
The government made it compulsory to pass in Punjabi (as before), maths, science and English. The students could however fail in one of the rest of the subjects. The decision has now been reversed and the old system would continue. Dr Dalbir Singh Dhillon, chairman of the Punjab School Education Board today said the review decision was taken as there were not enough teachers in schools to teach these subjects well. “Once we have the requisite number of teachers , we would be making the passing of these two subjects compulsory,” said Dr Dhillon.
Sources however said the decision was political one as it would become embarrassing for the government to justify sudden sharp drop in pass percentage of the board. Students failing in maths, science and English constitute large number in the board examinations as these subjects are considered tough. Despite the fact that it is not compulsory for the students in class X the board pass per centage ranges between 60 and 70 per cent. In case the two subjects are made compulsory the results would take severe beating. Almost 3.6 lakh students appeared in the exam last year.
Parliamentary Secretary Harish Dhanda who is a member of the board said he did not want to comment on the decision. “But there is no doubt level of maths and science subject taught in India is very difficult as compared to corresponding classes in other countries. It becomes difficult for students to cope with ,” he added.
 
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