Aptitude certificates to replace character certificates: PM

Aptitude certificates would soon replace the school leaving character certificates to help students realise their potential and chart their future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.
Noting that he wants to bring a "small change" with the initiative, Modi said the character certificate has become a ritual which is awarded to everyone including a jail inmate and even to those who have been hanged, making it a "ritualistic" exercise.
As per the initiative, "every three months a software would be developed and questionnaire would be filled up by friends about what are the specialities in a student.
"Does he maintain discipline and is punctual and whether he is friendly. His parents should also fill it. This will help the student realise his potential and chart his future," the prime minister said.

Interacting with students to celebrate the Teachers Day, Modi said he has already asked the department (HRD Ministry) to award the aptitude certificates and "it will happen in the coming days".
Modi favoured an environment where the children has the freedom to decide what to do and realise their potential.

Noting that parents often force their children to do what they could not achieve in their life, Modi said such pressure has left children to only think about degrees and jobs.
Replying to questions from students from across the country at the Manekshaw auditorium here, he encouraged them to develop an inquisitive mind, be curious and not to get deterred by failures in life.

He said the international yoga day event has give a new recognition to India which needs to be "sustained".
"It has never happened earlier when 100 countries have passed resolution on yoga and 177 countries were co-sponsors in the United Nations. This shows the importance of yoga. The world was aware of yoga's strength which perhaps India was even not aware of," he said.
Replying to critics who had raised question about selecting June 21 to celebrate the yoga day, he said the day was picked up as it is the longest day of the year getting maximum sunlight.