The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) will consider the report of its sub-committee on extension of the RTE Act and the controversial <g data-gr-id="32">no-detention</g> policy at a meeting to be chaired by Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani on August 19, official sources said.
The meeting, which will engage in an "exhaustive deliberation" on the two issues, will be attended by education ministers from states besides academicians and distinguished people from several fields.
The Act currently applies to children between six and 14 years studying from Class I to VIII.
The CABE sub-committee in its report submitted in 2012, when UPA was in power, had identified issues such as entry age for pre-school under the extended framework, qualification and capacity building of teachers at the pre-primary level, age of children in secondary education and duration of secondary education.
Chairing the last CABE meeting on the issue, the then HRD Minister <g data-gr-id="37">M M</g> Pallam Raju had said it needed comprehensive discussion before a decision on extending RTE's purview was arrived at.
On its extension to the pre-primary level, the panel had suggested ensuring child-centered pedagogy, play-way method and holistic development as critical elements of pre-school education and stressed on the need for effective coordination with Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
For RTE's extension up to the secondary level, the sub-committee had suggested assessment of existing infrastructure, <g data-gr-id="38">appointment</g> of additional teachers and recommended consultations with all stakeholders including the state governments.
The role and regulatory mechanism of the private sector and sharing of financial responsibility between the Centre and states were some of the other issues highlighted by the panel for detailed discussion.
CABE would also deliberate on the report of another sub-committee on <g data-gr-id="33">no-detention</g> policy up to class VIII. The committee headed by the then education minister of Haryana Geeta <g data-gr-id="34">Bukkal</g> had recommended doing away with it as automatic promotion affected learning outcomes.