Sibal for secondary education under RTE

Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Tuesday pitched for expanding the ambit of the Right to Education, which ensures free education to children between six and 14 years, to cover secondary education and students up to 18 years.

“RTE should be expanded till secondary and higher secondary,” Sibal said while addressing a function organised by the ministry and Unicef.

Asked when the government might expand the RTE scheme, he said “This is my personal feeling. I feel RTE should be expanded.”

Stating that the increasing school dropout rates were a concern, Sibal said, “More than 60 per cent of children admitted to primary schools never reach Class 12. We have over eight million children who do not go to school. Many countries don’t even have so much population.”

To tackle the problem, he said the government was also looking at options of providing vocational training after Class 8.

“After children complete their education, they can decide if they want to go to university or do some vocational training,” the minister added.

Unicef had launched a campaign three months ago to raise awareness for the Right to Education Act and to build support for its full implementation throughout the country.

The Right to Education Act, which came into force on April 1, 2010, makes education a fundamental right for children between 6 and 14 years. Every child in this age group will be provided eight years of elementary education in an age-appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her neighbourhood.