Panckula, Haryana: On Tuesday, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal tried to explain his plans to carry out education reforms to students, their parents and academicians who attended an interactive session held by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) board in Panckula.
So what kind of response did the minister get about his proposal of making the class X exams optional?
In this first interactive session with students, parents and teachers, the minister cleared doubts.
There were many questions but time was a constraint. So in the end, those in favour of the reforms were told to raise their hands. Most of those present seemed convinced, but two teachers disagreed with the minister.
"I disagree in the sense I feel that class X boards should be there. But the brouhaha which parents have in their mind and which percolates down to the children should not be there," said Harbeena Randhawa, teacher, Vivek High School, Chandigarh.
Sibal was convinced people are beginning to walk with him on the path of educational reforms.
"I was here to learn from each other. I have learnt that this is the best way to move forward. You need to take your children into confidence, your parents and teachers into confidence, especially in an approach like this," said Sibal.
In a country with more than one billion population, educational reform may be easier said than done. Among skepticism, it seems HRD Minister's recommendations are gradually gaining acceptance.