Delhi govt comes out with new education reform plan

Delhi government today announced a new education reform plan seeking to check drop-out of students and improve education quality with special focus on the weakest students.
"It's a comprehensive Delhi to
improve quality and stop dropouts after Class 9 failure in government schools," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.
Under 'Chunauti 2018' scheme, students will be mapped and the weakest students given "special focus" to enhance learning levels from Class 6 to 9.
The government will especially focus on "weakest students" of class 9 and ensure that they pass class 10 by 2018, a move aimed at 'leaving no child behind' in its schools.

Sisodia, who also holds the education portfolio, said the "best and dynamic teachers" will work on the weakest students in all schools, besides additional remedial classes for them.

"No-detention policy is not the entire solution to improve quality education. Passing percentage of Class 9 is decreasing every year.
"In 2013-14, 44 per cent of students of Class 9 failed to pass while 48.26 per cent of students did not succeed during 2014-15. In 2015-16, 49.22 per cent of students of Class 9 failed to pass the examinations. We will have to first focus on improving quality education under 'Chunauti 2018'," he said.

Sisodia said though Delhi government has already proposed amendments in Right to Education Act and the proposed bill is pending with the Centre, the city government can take some steps on its own to improve the quality of education in its schools.
"There are students who are intelligent but there are also who are weak in writing, reading and others. Under 'Chunauti 2018', we will map these students and divide them into different groups. Thereafter, government will work on improving their skills.
"Due to 'No detention policy', students easily pass till class 8 but when they come to class 9, most of them fail to pass the exams," he said, adding, if required, the government will hire guest teachers for them. Principals will be given a "free-hand" to hire teachers as per school's requirement.

According to him, extra study material has been prepared by a group of teachers and principals to enhance skills of the weakest wards, and teachers will be rewarded as per the performance of their students.