New Delhi, July 21 (IANS): The Lok Sabha on Friday approved The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017, which seeks to extend the deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment.
Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javedakar said that through the amending measure inadequately qualified teachers, working after enactment of the Right to Education Act, were being given a “last chance” to acquire minimum qualifications by March 2019.
The Minister said teachers can get the prescribed qualification using the Swayam portal.
Javadekar said there were about six lakh teachers with inadequate qualifications in the private sector alone.
According to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which came into force on April 1, 2010, a teacher, who did not possess minimum qualifications, was required to acquire them in five years.
The Act was enacted to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the age of six and 14 years.
The central government subsequently received requests from states for extension of the period to enable them complete the training process for in-service untrained teachers.
Javadekar said the teachers should now acquire minimum qualifications by March 2019. “This is the last chance.”
Teachers should register on the Swayam portal and they will also be provided hands-on experience by the respective state governments, he said.
Swayam is a government-initiated programme designed to achieve access, equity and quality in education.
