Punjab Education Minister D S Cheema was today appointed by Union HRD Ministry as head of a sub-committee constituted to study the problems of government schools in the country and work out a comprehensive plan to improve their education standards.
The committee has been asked to submit report within one year, a statement from Punjab government said.
At a meeting of Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) at Vigyan Bhawan here, HRD Minister Smriti Irani expressed hoped that as Chairman of the Committee he would be able to play a meaningful role in improving the condition of government schools especially those located in remote rural and tribal areas.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is very passionate about improving conditions of government schools and she hoped that the committee headed by Cheema would live up to his expectations, Irani was quoted as saying in the statement.
Cheema, earlier, raised the issue of reintroducing exams for class V and VIII that was supported by Haryana and other states.
He said that UPA government committed a blunder by abolishing these examinations that has weakened the very foundation of primary education system and NDA government should take corrective steps in this regard.
He said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has already made a request with the Prime Minister in this regard.
Raising concerns over declining interest of students in medical stream, Cheema said HRD and Health ministries should join hands to reduce cost of medical education besides reducing the length of course of medical stream.
Health Minister J P Nadda supported his contention.
Irani also supported Cheema's request for making NCC compulsory for physical education course, and said Union government would soon take decision in this regard.
