After marching orders from CM
Interim charge of board given to additional chief secretary, school education; search panel to find a new chairperson within 30 days
CHANDIGARH/SAS NAGAR: Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) chairman Balbir Singh Dhol resigned from his post on Thursday.
Dhol, a retired Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officer, quit after being directed by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to tender his resignation from the post for “failing to meet the due diligence standards” of appointment. “The resignation will pave the way for a major shake-up of the education department in the light of the poor Class 10 board exam results,” said an official spokesman.
The chief minister’s directive was conveyed to Dhol by education minister Aruna Chaudhary. The minister obtained his resignation, which was immediately accepted. “He was a political appointee and had to go,” Chaudhary told Hindustan Times.
However, Dhol said he had tendered his resignation due to “personal reasons”.
On his short stint as board chairman, the retired PCS officer said he had been working for almost 40 years. His exit came just days after poor results of government school students in Classes 10 and 12 in board exams disappointed the state top brass. In Class 12, the overall pass percentage slipped to 62 this year from 77 in 2016.
Similarly, there was a dip in Class 10 pass percentage to 57 from last year’s 72.
Amarinder, who was upset over the “shockingly poor” board exam results, had asked for overhaul, telling the minister to prepare a blueprint for education standards in the state. The CM has sent out a strong message that nobody will be allowed to play with the future of the children of the state, said the spokesman.
The interim charge of PSEB has been handed over to additional chief secretary, school education, and instructions issued for setting up a search committee for selection of chairperson in the next 30 days, said the spokesperson.
The committee headed by the chief secretary will have additional chief secretary, school education, and vice-chancellor, Panjab University, as members.