Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday reiterated his claim of providing quality education to students studying in schools and universities.

Participating at a Teacher's Day function organised by the education department at SK Memorial Hall, Nitish said the government had made steady progress in the last decade in creating infrastructure at schools and colleges and now the focus is on providing quality education.

Without naming former Bihar School Examination Board chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, who is in jail for his alleged role in the intermediate result scam, Nitish said: "We trusted some people and gave them the responsibility, but their performance was not up to the mark. Such people committing mistakes will not be spared, strict action will be taken against such people as per law."

Both Lalkeshwar and his wife Usha Sinha hail from Nitish's home district Nalanda.

The chief minister thanked the media for highlighting the issue. "Had the matter not been reported, these people (persons involved in the scam) would have been carrying out their illegal business without the police and government notice," he said.

The chief minister also talked about his seven resolves that will guide the government in framing policies for overall development of the state. Even the stage at SK Memorial Hall had the imprints of Nitish's seven resolves and the prohibition logo. "The state government will follow the seven resolves for overall development of the state. Students' credit card, skill development schemes for youth and self-help allowance for youths will be launched from October 2," he said.

Under the credit card scheme, a student studying in college or going for higher studies will get a loan of Rs 4 lakh. The state government will act as guarantor and the students will have to repay the loan amount after five years after getting a job. According to education department sources, the rate of interest will be 10 per cent annually.

Under the skill development scheme, students will be given free computer training, English speaking course and other skill development training courses. Under the self-help allowance schemes for youths, the state government will give Rs 1,000 per month to a youth aged between 20 and 25 years for a period of two years. The funds (allowance) is meant for those scheduled to appear in competitive exams. The state government will launch all the schemes from October 2, while the much-acclaimed free Wi-fi scheme aimed at Internet connectivity at educational institutions will be launched from February next year.

Education minister Ashok Choudhary, education department principal secretary D.S. Gangwar, education department special secretary K. Senthil Kumar and others also took part in the function to mark Teacher's Day, held in honour of former President S. Radhakrishnan.

Eleven teachers from government schools were felicitated. Three district education officers were also honoured for making the maximum contribution to the teacher welfare fund.