Go slow on abolishing std X Board exam, Karan Singh to Sibal

After prime minister's caution, senior Congress leader Karan Singh today asked HRD minister Kapil Sibal to go slow on abolition of Class X Board exam and introducing grading system.

"It is too soon to take a final decision on that (abolition of Class X Board and introducing grading system). There should be consensus in the industry," Singh told reporters here when he was asked about his views on the two issues.

His comments came a day after prime minister Manmohan Singh gave his views on the matter that he felt no decision should be taken in haste about abolition of the 10th Board exams.

"We are still debating this issue. This is an experiment. We should not take a decision in haste", the prime minister had told a group a children during an interaction organised by a television channel on the occasion of Children's Day.

Government had in September announced abolition of compulsory CBSE Board exams for class X from next academic year (2010-11) and introduction of grading system from current year.

However, Karan Singh said Sibal's ideas were innovative and he has come out of the old education system. He was here in connection with the the inauguration of the first NIIT University here. Emphasising the need for more ITIs in the country, he said the situation is that many people who have passed out from colleges are not getting job.

"Our plus two education system has failed. There is huge need for industrial training institutes in the country", he said.

"There is a need to revamp our current system. We need more ITIs so that students can be siphoned off to useful skills rather drifting towards colleges," Singh said.