'Centre to soon end policy of not failing students till std 8'

Union Minister of state for HRD Ram Shankar Katheria today said that in view of the deterioration in standards of primary education in the country, the government would soon end the policy of not failing students or automatic promotion till class VIII.
Speaking to reporters here, Katheria said, "The quality of primary education needs to improve. The situation is especially bad in rural areas. Therefore, we would soon scrap the policy of not failing the students till class VIII, which was introduced by the previous government."
"Teachers as well as common people are of the view that students, who are promoted under this policy, cannot fare well in class IX," he said.

Asked about Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bill, which has been opposed by IIM-Ahmedabad fearing that it would erode the institute's autonomy, the minister said, "Through this Bill, we want to encourage and improve the IIMs. We do not want to weaken any government body by undue interference. But we would not also allow any government body to have its own way all the time (manmaani nahi chalne denge)."
To another question, he said that government had no plans to dismantle the University Grants Commission (UGC).
The Director of IIT-Indore may be appointed in a couple of months, he said.