For long, parents in Punjab have moved their children from CBSE schools to the Punjab School Education Board schools. The PSEB syllabus was less cumbersome, the exams easier, and, above all, substantial manipulation was possible. More marks in the board exams enhanced chances of getting admission to the best courses.
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But as entrance exams became more important than marks obtained in the board exams, the advantage diminished. This made the students, and their parents, flock to English medium private schools, where the teaching, they believe, is better. This further dented the credibility of the state board schools.
In a bid to revive the state board, Punjab Education Minister O.P. Soni directed the PSEB to form a committee to revise the curriculum and syllabus, and bring it on par with the CBSE. He directed the board officials to ensure that the students do not have to travel more than 3-5km to reach examination centres.
The minister also instructed the PSEB staff to inspect the schools on a weekly basis, and ensure the infrastructure is on par with modern private schools.
Said Surinder Kaur, a teacher at a government school in Mohali, "We have the option of adopting the CBSE syllabus completely. But the committee will see what is in the best interest of our students—to scale up the PSEB syllabus, or make the shift completely. It is too early to say what will be done."
The change in syllabus will not address the issue of medium of instruction in all government schools, which is currently Punjabi. However, private schools following the PSEB syllabus teach in English.
The change in syllabus will also not ensure that question papers are set to the CBSE standard, and examinations conducted stringently as in the case of the national board. Use of unfair means has plagued the PSEB for long.
