Panel formed by Punjab govt on education policy to study exam reforms, dropping enrolment

A panel constituted by the Punjab government under Punjabi University vice-chancellor Dr BS Ghumman will look into the decreasing enrolment in government schools and existing infrastructure.

The 12-member committee has been tasked with studying the reasons for the sharp drop in enrolment in the government and government-aided schools in the state. The panel constituted for framing the state education policy will also look at the role of private schools in the state and the need to regulate them, besides interventions required for improving the quality of education.

“The focus of the new policy will be on bringing uniformity and equity in education, enabling inclusive education, strengthening teacher education, introducing e-governance in school administration, evaluation of the existing infrastructure and manpower and encouraging participation of private/public corporate sector and non-governmental organisations. It will also suggest interventions required to make the state an educational hub,” said an education department official.

The committee, which was set up by the school education secretary last month, has Punjab School Education Board chairman Manohar Kant Kalohia, director general of school education Prashant Goyal, National University of Educational Planning and Administration’s former professor Dr Marmar Mukhopadhyay, Panjab University professor Dr Kuldeep Puri, Central Square Foundation chairman Ashish Dhawan, Pratham director Dr Rukmani Banerjee, Centre for Civil Society senior manager, research, Diptasri Basu, government senior secondary school lecturer, Punjabi, Dr Davinder Boha and retired teacher Sucha Singh Khattra as members. SCERT director will be its member secretary.

“The committee will also take into consideration the earlier state policies and education policies in other states and hold consultations with various stakeholders before framing the state education policy,” he said.