Sibal calls for progressive reforms in academics

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday said that adequate steps have been taken to usher reforms in academics under the provisions of Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Addressing mediapersons here, Sibal said his ministry has laid down new guidelines to change the basic structure of the education sector and ensure that there is a decline in the drop out rate of children going to schools across the country.

"Whatever provisions that have been made in the RTE these have to be implemented. Plans for it are completely ready so that they can be implemented after two years. I believe that this is a great accomplishment that we have achieved because if we want to change the entire structure in the country, then it is important to change the foundation, then only we will be able to build a new structure," said Sibal.

Highlighting the importance of teacher-student ratio in RTE, Sibal further said that it was up to the state government to ensure that the ratio is maintained.

"The state governments will have to see as to what steps need to be taken to ensure that in each school that teacher-student ratio is 1:30. We should not move ahead by taking out the average, as this is a problem of every school. If it has been mentioned in the RTE that the teacher student ratio should not be more than 1:30, then definitely you cannot give the average of the state," added Sibal.

He also added that his ministry has ordered to fill all vacant posts for teachers at the earliest.

"The government has sanctioned positions for teachers, classrooms and we have also sanctioned 25,000 crore rupees. So we have completely fulfilled our responsibilities, " Sibal said.

The government has set a ten-point program for every state in the country and they hope to achieve it in the next one year.

Under this programme every state government has to implement all the provisions of the RTE and they would have to provide books and uniform to all the students before the beginning new academic session.

With the commencement of such programmes the government is hopeful that they would be able to improve the literacy rate of the country. (ANI)