Central Advisory Board of Education stressed on efforts by State/ UTs to achieve right to education standards in 2012-13

Updated on: Friday, November 09, 2012

The Central Advisory Board of Education (Cabe) on 60th meeting on Thursday resolved that redoubled efforts should be made by State/ UTs to achieve right to education standards for school infrastructure in 2012-13 as over 12,000 new schools remain to be opened, over 2,50,000 additional class rooms and large number of toilets, drinking water facilities, and ramps are under construction under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as also by other national programmes for sanitation and drinking water supply.

Cabe also discussed the recommendations of the Justice Verma Commission and endorsed the recommendations of the commission. The committee also approved the suggested action plan for implementation of the recommendations of the commission.

The report of the committee on extension of RTE to preschool and secondary school was deliberated and the issues identified by the subcommittees and the recommendation of the subcommittees for further and wider deliberation with stakeholders, was endorsed by the Cabe. Meanwhile, the recommendations of the CABE Committee on University Reforms were accepted which suggested to incentivise the state universities and institutions and endorsed in-principle the proposed Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan.

The issue of prevention of unfair practice in the school education sector was also discussed among the members and CABE reiterated the need for the initiative to curb unfair practices including charging of capitation fees, misleading and non-transparent processes adopted by schools for admission of students in higher classes, appointment of ineligible and unqualified teachers. The committee unanimously endorsed the proposed a legislation.

The meeting was held on November 8, 2012 at New Delhi under the chairmanship of minister for human resource development, M M Pallam Raju. Minister of minority affairs, Rahman Khan, minister of state of HRD, Shashi Tharoor, along with 18 ministers-in-charge of education from various States/ UTs, chairperson of NCPCR, Shantha Sinha, secretary, department of higher education, secretary, department of school education and literacy, secretary, ministry of women and child development and other members of CABE attended the meeting.

CABE is the highest advisory body to advise the Central and state governments in the field of education. In his opening remarks, Raju mentioned that the purpose of education should be to build an inclusive, fair and just society. In a country as diverse and as large as India, the task of developing national policies while at the same time respecting and incorporating regional aspirations and an inclusive agenda of growth is indeed a real challenge.

In this context, Raju emphasised on a participatory approach in which Central Government and state governments, academics, autonomous institutions, private sector and all other stakeholders, should work together. The minister further emphasised the importance of Teachers' education as also the need to prohibit unfair practices in schools. He also emphasised the need for close cooperation in implementation of the RTE Act.

In higher education, Raju said that the consolidation of the initiatives undertaken during XI Plan period, strengthening of the state institutions, faculty development, strengthening research and innovation in basic sciences and social sciences, skill building and vocational education should be the critical focus areas.

Khan in his address urged the state education ministers and the CABE members to ensure that the provisions of the Constitution relating to establishment of educational institutions by minorities should be respected in letter and spirit so as to ensure the educational development of minorities. He also suggested constitution of a sub-committee of CABE for monitoring the protection of child's rights and minority educational institutions.

Central Advisory Board of Education stressed on efforts by State/ UTs to achieve right to education standards in 2012-13

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