Union Cabinet amends RTE Act, 2009, extending time period for teachers to acquire prescribed minimum qualifications - (21 Jul 2017)

Education

In wake of requests from various states for extending deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment, Central Government has approved amendment to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was introduced by the Minister of Human Resource Development, Mr. Prakash Javadekar in Lok Sabha on April 10, 2017. Now, teachers who are working after enactment of RTE Act, 2009 are given last chance to acquire prescribed minimum qualifications within a period of four years i.e. by March 31, 2019 to hold their jobs as teachers.

It is essential for teachers to obtain minimum qualifications prescribed in order to improve quality of elementary education and maintain standard of teaching quality. This would ultimately result in improvement in overall quality of teachers, teaching processes and consequently, learning outcomes of children. According to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, a teacher, who did not possess minimum qualifications, was required to acquire them in five years. However, extension through amendment would enable the in-service untrained elementary teachers to complete their training. It would ensure that, all teachers at the elementary level in country have a certain minimum standard of qualifications. Swayam is a government-initiated programme designed to achieve access, equity and quality in education. Teachers can get the prescribed qualification by registering on Swayam portal and hands-on experience by the respective state governments will be provided.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, is effective from 1st April, 2010. It envisages free and compulsory elementary education to every child in age group of 6-14 years. Proviso to Section 23(2) of Act provides that, all teachers at elementary level who, at commencement of this Act, did not possess minimum qualifications as laid down under RTE Act, need to acquire the same within a period of five years i.e., 31st March, 2015. However, it is reported by various State Governments that, out of a total number of 66.41 lakh teachers at elementary level, 11.00 lakh are still untrained. In order to ensure that all teachers, in position as on 31st March, 2015, acquire minimum qualifications prescribed, Lok Sabha has passed The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 extending period for such training for four years up to 31st March, 2019.

Tags : BILL AMENDMENT TIME EXTENSION QUALIFICATION