New Delhi, June 19: Against the backdrop of problems being faced by the states in implementing the Right to Education Act, a high-level panel today decided to constitute a committee to suggest measures for resolving the issues.
The Central Advisory Board of Education which has all the state education ministers as its members decided that the proposed committee should look into the problems faced in implementing 25 per cent reservation of seats in private and unaided institutes for students from disadvantaged groups.
Some of the state education ministers cited practical difficulties with respect to implementing quota in view of non -availability of a suitable mechanism.
“We have taken the ministers’ concerns into account and would form a committee to look into it,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said.
The ministers also demanded additional grants for implementing the Act which would require Rs 2.31 lakh crore for the next five years.
Sarva Sikhsya Abhiyan, a scheme which would be the main vehicle for implementing RTE, has a 55-45 funds sharing pattern between the Centre and the states at present.
The states are demanding increasing the Central share to up to 90 per cent. However, Sibal said it may not be possible to provide funds up to 90 per cent but appealed to the states to collaborate with the Centre for this national enterprise.
Education Ministers of a few states also favoured inclusion of children in the age group of zero to six under free and compulsory education, but it found little support from the Government.
The Right to Education Act provides free and compulsory education to children between 6 to 14 age group.
West Bengal Education Minister Partha De opined that if the age group starts from zero it will help in the smooth integration of students into the education system once they attain the age of six besides bringing other benefits.
Sibal, however, objected to it citing financial constraints.
“How can we change the age group when we are already facing financial crunch in implementing the RTE in its present form,” he said during the discussion about implementation of the RTE at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education.
He, however, suggested that “states which have the financial strength can go ahead with such a suggestion.”
States like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab also demanded increased budgetary support from the Centre for smooth implementation of RTE, which the Government proposed to integrate with the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST