Slammed by own,Sibal gets PM praise

“I pay tribute to my colleague Kapil Sibal for the zeal,dedication and enthusiasm that he has brought to bear on the work of this most important ministry of Union government,that HRD Ministry is,” the PM said in his address to the recipients of National Teachers Awards,to be given away by the President on Sunday.

Calling on teachers to take on the challenge and opportunity to provide quality education to children,Singh said through teachers the nation aspired to inculcate “our commitment to the values of democracy,and values of equality,justice,freedom,secularism,respect for human dignity and human rights in children. I urge you to develop in our children independence of thought,action and capacity of carefully considered decision-making,based on reason and understanding”. The PM also raised the issue of corporal punishment and said the ban on corporal,detention and expulsion under the Right to Education Act had led many teachers to question how discipline would be maintained.

“The answer to this important issue was given by well-known philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti,who said ‘discipline is an easy way to control a child,but does not help him understand the problems involved in living’. If the teacher can give full attention to each child,observing and helping him,then compulsion or domination or discipline in any form may be unnecessary,” said the PM.

Meanwhile,Sonia Gandhi will,on September 8 ,launch 35 new Jawahar Navodaya Vidayalaya (JNV) buildings via video-conferencing. The fact that the JNV scheme was launched by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985-86 makes the event special. More so,since it is the 66th birth anniversary of Rajiv,and the JNVs celebrate their 25th anniversary this year.