New Delhi: The right of children to free and compulsory education may be extended from nursery to class X, if CABE, a top body advising the Centre and States on education sector reforms, accepts a proposal in this regard.
The report by sub-committee on extension of the RTE Act and the controversial no-detention policy will be considered by the The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) in the meeting scheduled to be held on August 19.
According to TOI, "The meeting will be chaired by the human resource development minister Smriti Irani. Education ministers from states besides academicians and distinguished people from several fields will also attend the meeting."
Presently, children between six and 14 years studying from Class I to VIII are eligible to take admission under the RTE Act.
The CABE sub-committee in its report submitted in 2012, had identified issues such as entry age for pre-school under the extended framework, qualification and capacity building of teachers at the pre-primary level, age of children in secondary education and duration of secondary education.
During the last meeting the then HRD minister M M Pallam Raju had said that the proposal needed comprehensive discussion before a decision on extending RTE's purview was arrived at.
Besides extension to the pre-primary level, the panel had also suggested ensuring child-centered pedagogy, play-way method and holistic development as critical elements of pre-school education and stressed on the need for effective coordination with Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
For RTE's extension up to the secondary level, the sub-committee had suggested assessment of existing infrastructure, appointment of additional teachers and recommended consultations with all stakeholders including the state governments.
The role and regulatory mechanism of the private sector and sharing of financial responsibility between the Centre and states were some of the other issues highlighted by the panel for detailed discussion.