Cabinet approves amendment to Right to Education Act

New Delhi March 22 (IANS) The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendment to the Right to Education Act to ensure that all teachers acquire minimum educational qualifications.

It also extends the period for untrained teachers to acquire stipulated qualifications by four years that is up to March 31 2019.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An official release said the proposed amendment to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 will enable in-service untrained elementary teachers to complete their training within the given time.

It originally provided for minimum qualifications by March 31 2015.

The release said that the Act which came into effect from April 1 2010 envisages free and compulsory elementary education to every child in the age group of 6-14 years.

The release said several state governments had reported that of the total 66.41 lakh teachers at elementary level 11 lakh were still untrained (5.12 lakh in government and aided schools and 5.98 lakh in private schools).

--IANS
ps/tsb