Jaya slams Sibal's proposals

Opposing Union Human Resources Development Minister, Kapil Sibal's proposal to withdraw the 10th standard examination and make the 12th standard exam common, AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa said the move appeared to have been made "unilaterally" and without "proper application of mind".

Opposing Union Human Resources Development Minister, Kapil Sibal's proposal to withdraw the 10th standard examination and make the 12th standard exam common, AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa on Wednesday said the move appeared to have been made "unilaterally" and without "proper application of mind".

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"His (Sibal's) announcement that the system of Board Examinations at the 10th standard level would be withdrawn and the 12th standard examinations would be a common examination for the whole country appears to have been made unilaterally and without proper application of mind," she said in a statement here.

She said a pass in tenth standard is the pre-requisite today for entry into several diploma and ITI courses. It is also considered the basic qualification for certain categories of jobs.

"To do away with this examination arbitrarily puts a tremendous burden on students and parents who wish to pursue such courses of study or wish to take up employment due to their dire financial condition," she said.

"Further, this decision has been taken without any consultation with state governments about its benefits or consequences.

This attitude not only smacks of unilateralism but is also a blow to the autonomy of states," Jayalalithaa said.