The Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal advocated the need to introduce core curriculum for mathematics and science in all school boards for drawing a common entrance exam for admission to the professional courses.

Mr. Sibal, addressing a two-day annual conference of Council of Boards of School Education in India (COBSE), said that there should be uniformity in the course content for mathematics and science for making students capable to compete any competitive exam both for job and admission seeking.

The Minister added, ''We should set up a system of core curriculum in respect of professional courses. This will ensure a level of uniform and equivalence of quality.''

Urging states to ensure fluency of three languages among students, Mr. Sibal said that due respect should be given to Hindi to strengthen national integration. He also asked state boards to introduce grade system as soon as possible informing that CBSE schools will soon introduce the system which will lead to a paradigm shift in the existing education system.