• Kapil Sibal’s proposal to alter the structure of education through making the Class 10 board examinations optional is a welcome move. As of today, the Class 10 board examination doesn’t have much value and the stress it creates is fruitless but devastating. The education system desperately needs a thorough and balanced revamp. The aim of reforms should be to make the system simpler and more transparent.

— Vinod C. Dixit

Ahmedabad

Not the real problem

• Kapil Sibal seems to be under the impression that it is simply the Class 10 board examination that’s traumatic. It is equally, if not more, traumatic to get a child admitted to kindergarten in a reasonably good public school. It is not the actual Class 10 examination that’s a source of concern, but the opportunities forfeited should the student fail to achieve a certain percentage of marks. It stands to reason however that if an institution has the facility for higher secondary education it should admit the student clearing the Class 10 boards irrespective of his or her percentage of marks.

— H.C. Johari

Kolkata

Letting go

• This refers to the editorial ‘The maharaja’s airs’. A government enterprise in India can never operate as profitably as a commercial one. Many PSUs, despite huge assets, have poor balance sheets. These companies have grown in size but not profitability. The problem is that these state enterprises work in a non-profit manner and politicians don’t care. However, this can’t go on for ever; a sense of profitability must condition the functioning of government enterprises. Perhaps it is time to handover Air India to private hands.

... contd.