Primary education standard in Uttar Pradesh 'very weak': Congress VP Rahul Gandhi

AMETHI: Choosing the occasion of Teacher's Day to attack the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi today said he found the standard of primary education in the state "very weak".

"There is a need for qualitative improvement in the standard of education for which everyone will have to work together," the Congress Vice President was quoted as saying at a function at A H Inter College in Musafirkhana here.

Some of the teachers who attended the function said Rahul noted that he has found the standard of primary education in Uttar Pradesh to be very weak during his tours of the state.

"The foundation (primary education) is very weak and the progress that ought to have taken place in the field of education has not been achieved," he was quoted as saying.

"Children are the future of society and the progress and future of society and country depend on them," he said on the second and last day of his two-day visit to his constituency.

"Good teachers do not create doctors or engineers, but good human beings," he said, lauding the 'guru-shishya parampara' (teacher-student tradition).

Teachers are the torch bearer of the society and they never retire, but render their services throughout their lives, he said.

Rahul felicitated 34 teachers of his constituency and presented them with shawls and mementos.

Earlier, the local unit of Bharatiya Kisan Union held a protest against "dismal" power supply situation here and raised slogans before the Munshiganj guest house where Rahul met people of his constituency.

The protesters were led by BKU local president Rita Singh, who said, "He (Rahul) only said that the matter concerned the state government and there is nothing that he can do."