Have taken up challenge to provide quality education: CM

Thanking the media for exposing the chink in the education system in Bihar by unearthing the so-called toppers scam, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said his government has taken up the challenge to clean up the system and impart quality education in the state.
"Thanks to the media for exposing the toppers scam. This helped in further improving education system in Bihar," he said addressing a function on Teachers Day here.
"Till we end corruption in education we will not rest," the CM said.
For ensuring quality education in the state, he said, all aspects of education were being taken care of and special emphasis was being given to teacher training.

After according state honour to some selected teachers, the CM said his government has in the past 10 years given top priority to education.
Due to sustained efforts, the percentage of out-of-school children has now come down to 1 per cent from the previous 12.5 per cent, he said.

He referred to the bicycle scheme launched by his government and said it gave a boost to education among girls and has been "appreciated world over".
"The state is spending more than 20 per cent of its budget on education," he claimed.
All the universities have been asked to formulate an academic calender and follow it strictly, he said.

However, Kumar lamented that gross enrollment ratio in the state is still low at 13 per cent as only a small section continued education after 12th standard, primarily due to poverty.
Keeping this in mind, the state government has decided to launch several schemes under "seven resolves" including providing interest-free education loan of up to Rs 4 lakh which would be launched on October 2, he said.
Programmes have been made to provide skill to 1 crore youths who do not wish to pursue higher studies.
He also listed ambitious schemes like providing monthly allowance of Rs 1000 to youths for two years to find jobs without financially troubling family and free wi-fi services in colleges and universities.