Union Cabinet Extends Deadline For Teachers To Complete Training
The Union Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend the Right To Education (RTE) Act which will make it compulsory for teachers to acquire minimum qualification. The said amendment in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, will allow elementary teachers who are in-service and untrained to complete their training which is essential to maintain the standards of school teaching. The amendment is expected to improve the overall quality of teachers, teaching methods and as a resultant the learning outcomes of children. The amendment will also reinforce the central government's continuous emphasis on improving the quality of elementary education.
An official statement by the cabinet said that, "The amendment will ensure that all teachers, in position as on 31st March, 2015, acquire the minimum qualifications prescribed by the academic authority to extend the period for such training for four years up to 31st March, 2019."
The act came into effect in April, 2010 and anticipated free and compulsory elementary education for children in the age group of 6-14 years.
The proviso to Section 23(2) of the Act says that all teachers at elementary level who, at the time of the commencement of this Act, did not have the minimum qualifications required will be allowed to do so within a period of five years, that is, by 31st March, 2015.
Several state governments, however, reported that out of the total 66.41 lakh teachers employed at elementary level, 11 lakh are still untrained. Out of these 11 lakh untrained teachers 5.12 are employed at government schools and rest 5.98 lakh are employed in private schools.
Thus, to make sure that all the teachers who were in service as on March 21, 2015 acquire the required qualifications it was necessary to extend the deadline for the training by four years. Now the in-service teachers need to complete the required training by March 31, 2019.
(With Inputs from Press Trust of India)
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