Central Advisory Board for Education to meet on April 2

Review of RTE implementation, ICT in higher education, proposed Education Commission on agenda

The Central Advisory Board for Education (CABE) will hold its 61st meeting under the chairmanship of Union HRD Minister MM Pallam Raju on April 2, 2013 in New Delhi.  According to an HRD ministry statement, the issues to be discussed in the meeting include review of Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, National Higher Qualification Framework and use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in higher education. The CABE is the highest advisory body to advise the Central and State Governments in the field of education.

CABE is looking to evolve a National Higher Education Qualification Framework (NHEQF) on priority. The NHEQF essentially seek to provide a standardised framework in terms of minimum entry qualification, programme durations, teaching learning processes and learning outcome aimed at national, and ultimately the universal, acceptability, recognition and equivalence of not only the degrees but also the qualifications.

It said that the NHEQF shall be an structured instrument for the development, classification and recognition of knowledge, skills, competencies and learning outcome associated with a qualification. Consequently, it will indicate the comparability of different qualifications and path of progression from one level to another and also from one institution to another.

In terms of ICT in education. the advisory board is looking to increase internet connectivity in education, provide low cost computing and content generation though schemes like the National Mission on Education through Information and Communication Technology (NMEICT). This scheme,  has been envisaged as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to leverage the potential of ICT, in teaching and learning process for the benefit of all the learners in Higher Education Institutions in any time any where mode.

CABE will also discuss the formation of an autonomous 'National Textbook Council' to monitor textbooks. This council would represent civil society and academia. It would provide ordinary citizens a forum to register complaints regarding textbooks to be followed up by an investigation by the Council. The RTE Act implementation would also be reviewed, in terms of the implementation, status of untrained teachers and curriculum renewal in states.

The government has decided to set up an Education Commission to make recommendations for improvements at all levels of education. The new Education Commission will be tasked with providing the framework of a national policy that would address the needs and challenges of the present education system.

The other issues in the agenda include discussing best practices adopted by states in mid-day meal scheme and best practices in implementation of school sanitation and hygiene education, apart from elimination of gender and social gaps in school enrolment.