New Delhi: Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that a set of Delhi government schools will be de-affiliated from the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and will be affiliated to the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE) from the 2021-22 academic session, according to news reports.To start with, 20-25 Delhi government schools will be affiliated to DBSE from the 2021-22 academic session, Kejriwal said, hoping that all the state-run and private schools will come under the new board within four to five years.Addressing an online media briefing, Kejriwal told PTI that the present education system focuses only on learning by rote that needs to be changed, adding that high-end-technique will be used to teach students under the new education board.According to the Indian Express, Kejriwal stated that the three primary goals of the board are to produce “kattar deshbhakt (staunch patriots)”, “good people” and to prepare students to not be reliant on the job market for employment.The decision to set up Delhi’s new education board was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by the chief minister.Also read: Delhi Govt’s ‘Push Out Policy’ for Class 10 Students Forces Thousands To Drop Out of SchoolThere are currently around 1,000 Delhi government schools and about 1,700 private schools, and most of them are affiliated to the CBSE, he said. The chief minister said that all the schools in the national capital will not be brought under the new education board in one go.The government has set aside Rs 62 crore to set up a separate state board of education, the Indian Express reported.Education minister Manish Sisodia will chair the new board and it will be overseen by a governing body. Its everyday activities will be coordinated by an executive body headed by a CEO, the report added.The decision about the government schools to be affiliated with the DBSE will be taken after consultations with principals, teachers and parents concerned, Kejriwal told PTI.According to the plan, private schools in the national capital will have an option to get affiliated to the DBSE.Shailendra Sharma, principal advisor to the Directorate of Education, told the Indian Express the curriculum committee has submitted a set of recommendations till class VIII and the curriculum for the secondary and senior secondary sections will need to be worked on now.Asked whether the Delhi government will be required to get the nod from the Union education ministry, an official told PTI that forming a state education board completely falls under the state government’s domain.“Education is a state subject and that the Centre does not interfere in it. Every state is entitled to form their own board, they have to pass it in their cabinet,” the official said.Official also said that central universities, including Delhi University, recognise all state education boards and take their students when admission process in their colleges starts.“Once the Delhi education board is functional, central universities will also take students passing from DBSE,” he added.At the online press briefing on Saturday, Kerjiwal said that the government decided to set up its own school board as the next step of “experiments” like introduction of ‘happiness’ and entrepreneurship curricula, training of school teachers and principles being done in the education field.Also read: All Delhi Govt Vehicles To Switch To EVs Within 6 Months. a Panacea for Air Pollution?He asserted that the DBSE announcement will not only influence education system in Delhi but will also have a deep impact on the education system of the country in future.He added that the board will be of international standards and cooperation will be sought from various global bodies. The government has studied best practices at international levels and will bring them to the board and schools in Delhi.“This education system will be responsible for suggesting the course and career of every child as per his aptitude and needs and teach him with emphasis on understanding, not through rote, and personality development,” the chief minister said.He said that high-end technique will be used to teach the students.A notification on the establishment of the new education board is expected soon.The 2021-22 academic session of CBSE will begin in April.(With inputs from PTI)
