Exclusive Interview Of Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia On Education System
- PC : NDTV
‘Don’t treat your children like slaves. Add wings to their dream and let them live freely’
Delhi government schools have always made headlines. The reasons are results or teaching techniques.
How Delhi government school students prepare for their board exams? How they are different from school students? What Delhi education department is doing to impart quality education?
To get the answers, MY Result Plus took an exclusive interview of Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia.
Excerpts from the interview:
A recent survey revealed that 74 per cent students can't even read the Hindi text properly. How should the government ensure quality education?
The survey was conducted by me two years ago. We found that students of sixth standard can’t even read Hindi text book properly. Then we started a scheme to teach them separately. Earlier, there was a tradition that whether the child can read or not but he/ she should complete the syllabus. Send them to next class. We thought to stop it. We ensured that the students should know how to read because without reading they won’t understand what he / she is studying. We started Mission Buniyaad along with MCD and Nagar nigam students to make that 74% students learn how to read. Today, I am happy that the ratio of those 74% students has diminished to 20 % in Delhi government schools.
With a pass percentage of 90.68 per cent, the capital’s government schools have outperformed private institutions. What do you want to say on this?
This is the result of the hard work done by the Delhi government school teachers. Our directorates and education ministry are trying to support the teachers who have worked very hard. Delhi government school students are performing better than private schools. I am elated that the Delhi government schools have outperformed private institutions.
What are the new technologies and techniques being adopted by Delhi government schools for quality education?
There are two aspects of quality education. The first aspect is facility. There should be proper facilities in government schools. We are building up new schools with proper infrastructure. State mangers are being commissioned to ensure that there are proper desk, toilets and black boards in government schools.
The second aspect is quality education comprising trained teachers. To avail proper training, we are sending teachers in Singapore, Germany, Cambridge, Harvard and Finland.
Along with IIM Ahmadabad, we have designed a course for our principals. This apart, we have also sent our teachers in American universities and schools to learn.
Decision has been taken by the Delhi education department to give extra classes during summer vacations? How is it useful for the students? What is the response from the parents?
The decision was a part of Mission Buniyaad as I mentioned earlier. It was particularly for those 74 per cent students who can’t even read the Hindi text properly. During summer vacations, the teachers made them learn how to read Hindi textbooks.
Over the last couple of years, Delhi government had taken a number steps to ensure quality education? How is it beneficial to the students? Are private schools also implementing it?
Yes, Delhi education department had taken a number of steps to ensure quality education. Happiness curriculum is the most popular among the students. They enjoy the 30-minute happiness period every day. During these classes, we make students learn how to focus on study (mindfulness). The students do emotional exercises and discussions. Today, if we joke that we should stop conducting these classes then the students raise objections.
As far as private schools are concerned, we ensure that they remain within the national framework of education - especially transparency in admission process and fee hike.
What is your message to the students/ parents?
I want to tell the students that it is your life. Live life based on your own abilities. A few people will come to you and force you to become doctor. If you want to become an artiste then go ahead and achieve your goal in life. Don’t become doctor. Become engineer if you want to become engineer. I want to convey my message especially to the parents. Don’t treat your children like slaves. Leave them to live life in their own way. Add wings to their dream. Help them to grow and don’t become their owner. Always remember that a baby is born to you and not a slave. There is a huge difference between raising a child and a slave. You will enjoy raising a child but not slave.
