The principals' meet of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GHSHEB) held on Tuesday may bode many changes in the future, especially for English medium schools and their students. The GHSHEB has received a memorandum from English medium schools, asking for a separate merit list for their students in both the SSC and HSC examinations.

The memorandum stated that, every year, English medium students were unable to secure marks in parity with Gujarati medium students because of the lack of teachers for assessment of the formers' papers. The principals also raised the issue of errors found every year in English medium textbooks.

"The board does have enough English medium teachers to assess the answer papers. One of the reasons for this is that many English medium schools do not have adequate permanent teachers who can be sent for the assessment. Those who are not on the payroll cannot be sent for assessment, while the permanent teachers are unwilling to travel to and from their area to check the papers," the principal of an English medium school said on the condition of anonymity.

He further said that it may have been the first time (on Tuesday) that GHSHEB chairman Hasmukh Adhiya and vice-chairman HK Patel had addressed the English medium principals' meet entirely in the English language.

Meanwhile, the GHSHEB made it clear that the coming board examinations will be conducted in a strict manner and that no sympathy will be shown to students involved in cases of cheating and copying.

A GHSHEB official present at the meeting said, "The principals offered many suggestions and asked questions on issues faced by English medium schools affiliated to the GHSHEB. They suggested a separate merit list for English medium students, which the board is considering. The principals also sought action from the GHSHEB on errors in the textbooks, in order to have better-quality education."

DNA-Daily News & Analysis Source: 3D Syndication