RTE Act set to cover pre-school stag
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 11 2019: The Right to Education (RTE) Act would encompass all children as soon as they reach the age of three in case the draft National Education Policy (NEP) 2019 is approved by the Central Government.

The draft NEP was submitted to the Union HRD Ministry on May 31.The draft NEP recommends bringing children in pre-school stage (3 years) within the ambit of RTE Act.

At present, RTE Act covers children from Class I to Class VIII.

In case the draft NEP is approved, all children who have reached three years would have access to formal education.

Moreover, children in the age group of 3 to 6 years will come under the care of HRD Ministry even though they are at present looked after by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through Anganwadi Centres, sources informed.

To translate this new arrangement into action, an inter-ministerial task force would be constituted before the end of the current year and the task force would work out a framework.

Although the draft NEP envisaged teaching Hindi in all States as a compulsory third language, the same has been dropped after massive uproar in different parts of the country.

On the other hand, a Cabinet meeting held on February 4 this year adopted a decision to select one school from each of the 60 Assembly segments of the State for implementation of the School Fagathanshi Mission (SFM) on pilot basis.

There would be classes from primary level to Class X or XII in the selected schools.

Moreover, Anganwadi Centres located around the selected schools would be linked to the schools.

Sources said that this arrangement would help address the problem of absence of students in Government schools at primary level.

At present, there is no pre-primary or Nursery class structure in Government schools.

At the same time, most of the Anganwadi Centres are not functioning properly and they are not connected with the School Education Department.

This is one major factor for the reluctance of parents to send their children to Anganwadi Centres, said the sources.

Under the SFM, six schools have been selected in Bishnupur district, one in Chandel, four in Churachandpur, 10 in Imphal East, 13 in Imphal West, one in Jiribam, four in Kakching, one in Kamjong, three in Kangpokpi, one in Noney, two in Pherzawl, three in Senapati, three in Tamenglong, six in Thoubal and two in Ukhrul.

These schools would be equipped with additional classrooms, furniture, smart classrooms, laboratories, separate toilets for boys and girls, electricity and potable water facilities.

Teachers posted at these schools would remain there for at least three years.

A committee comprising of local MLA, district administration, concerned ZEO, teachers, parents and local educationists would also be constituted for each school selected under SFM, informed the sources.

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