New Delhi: Only few days are left for the implementation of the historic Right to Education Act from April 1. The coming up act enfolds a complete new message of elementary education of equitable quality is now the right of every child'. Human Resource Minister, Kapil Sibal has also asked support from the chief ministers (CMs) to cooperate in universalising elementary education.
HRD Minister has chosen Delhi to initiate with the RTE, instead of some educationally deprived state. In the letter issued to CMs makes six suggestions. He has asked states to start social mapping exercises to ensure availability of neighborhood schools. In this regard, he has asked states to start geospatial mapping to delineate the catchment areas of neighborhood schools. Further, Anshu Vaish, School secretary, has also sent separate letters to state officials for better implementation.
Furthermore, Sibal has asked CMs for special training for out-of-school children, so that they can be enrolled in the age, according to class. Since, RTE stipulates a teacher student ratio of 1:30, the Minister has asked states to maintain it. To achieve the ratio, CMs have been asked to put in place a system of re-deployment of teachers so that the problem of imbalance in teacher deployment is addressed. Nevertheless, states have been asked to keep in mind domestic responsibilities of women teachers.
Mr Sibal, in his letter, has also stressed on the importance of teachers in the implementation of RTE and has asked states to fill teacher vacancies. He has also asked CMs to lift economy orders, in case if it is coming in the way of fresh recruitment. This will help in ensuring that the RTE mandate of maintaining school-wise pupil teacher ratio is fulfilled. He also added that since RTE mandates training of all untrained teachers within five years, states should prepare a plan that facilitates all untrained teachers.
