TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: Union Human Resource Development Minister Dr MM Pallam Raju defended the Right to Education Act, saying that because of the RTE Act, more than 96% of children are in schools today and more than 11 crore children are being given midday meals.
Responding to queries on the sidelines of the Pan IIM Conference, Dr Raju said that while the first part in the IX five year plan was focused on quantity in education, the XII five year plan will focus on learning outcomes.
“96% of our children are in schools, 11 crore kids are being fed mid day meals through the midday meal scheme. That has been achieved, besides drinking water… toilets in schools, though we are still short in some areas,” Raju said.
The Union minister also said that at the Central Advisory Board of Education, after receiving inputs from the states, has said that the RTE Act should not be diluted.
Responding to the criticism that the ‘no detention’ policy, would lead to students not taking exams or studies seriously, Raju said it was a misunderstanding that the Right to Education Act meant there were no exams or no evaluation of the student.
“The no detention policy is to ensure that the students remain in school. Otherwise if the students begin failing repeatedly, the parents decide to keep them at home. Further, it is a misunderstanding that there are no exams. There is the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation, which means that the child is evaluated continuously and not just through one exam at the end of the year based on which he is promoted or detained,” Raju said.
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had recently termed the no-fail policy of the Right to Education Act, as ‘Kapil Sibal’s foolish policy,’ in a statement to the press.
Says providing quality education major challenge
PANJIM: Union Human Resources Development Minister M M Pallam Raju said that providing quality education is one of the biggest challenges before the Union and state government today.
“One of the important focal areas in 12th five year plan is quality of education. We are very serious about it. We are encouraging the institutions to go for accreditation. It’s the biggest challenge before the government,” Raju said.
The Union Minister said that the Central and state governments need to work together in the field of education with a major focus on quality education.
“Today the main thrust is to ensure that the country has more quality institutions and to provide all necessary support to the existing institutes for their survival,” he said.
