The Union human resources development ministry plans to extend the Right To Education Act to the secondary school level after implementing it till Class 8 across the country. The decision to extend RTE to Classes 9 and 10 is likely to be taken after the approval of state governments is sought at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board
of Education (the highest advisory body on education) on June 7. The meeting will be chaired by HRD minister Kapil Sibal.
Official sources said the government wanted to go ahead on this as it would benefit over 30 million children at this level across the country. The RTE Act is considered one of the UPA-2 government’s major achievements, and this extension would send a positive message to the people, it was felt.
“Once the approval of CABE is received, the government is also likely to seek the approval of state education ministers at a meeting due on June 8,” sources added.
The state governments’ consent is needed as it is they who must implement the Act.
The CABE meeting will also discuss a law to prohibit unfair practices in school education and finalise the national vocational education qualification framework in partnership with industry.