Political parties in Punjab today pitched for introducing English as the medium of teaching in government schools of the state.
After state minister Daljit Singh Cheema moved a resolution in the Assembly on education, Leader of Opposition, Charanjit Singh Channi said government schools were in a "pitiable" condition with several of them running without principals.
Government schools are left only for students from poor families. The standard of education in these schools is bad and many of them are closing down, the Congress leader said.
"A huge gap is being created between the wards of rich and poor in the state. While English is the medium of instruction in private schools, in government schools it is Punjabi.
"As far as education is concerned, all should get equal opportunity. Making english as the medium of instruction in government schools will help students to compete globally and in the development of the state, Channi said.
Alleging that no private school in Punjab is following the RTE Act, which is a grave "injustice" to the poor, he said, "The poor can't afford fees of private institutions. There is a need to set up a regulatory body on this matter."
Channi said around 50,000 children are out of schools in Punjab, 21,000 government schools do not have furniture and 1,700 schools are without toilets.
He also alleged that post-matric scholarships are not reaching Dalit students and there is a "scandal" going on running into crores of rupees.
SAD MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu too said English should be the medium of instruction in government schools.
Noting that the shortage of 20,000 teachers in government schools must be overcome, he said, schools at villages must be upgraded and it should be made compulsory for teachers to "actually take classes" there.
"A certain percentage of attendance of students in government schools should be made compulsory for their appearing in examinations," the SAD MLA said, and emphasised on introducing sports as a mandatory subject.
