NewDelhi
Ina bid to improve learning outcomes in India, a group of Secretaries onEducation (GOSOE) has recommended to Prime Minister’s Office that Englishshould be taught in all secondary schools.
TheGOSOE, after consultation with state governments, reiterated at least onegovernment-run- English-medium school in each of the 6,612 blocks in thecountry.
Whilethe 12-member group comprised secretaries of Higher Education, School Educationand Literacy members, the panel suggested that skill training and counselingshould be introduced in class VI and Class VIII respectively.
Asmany as 18 state governments want Section 16 of the Right To Education (RTE)Act, which prohibits the detention of any student until they complete classVIII, reports The Indian Express.
Section16 of RTE ACT
Section16 of RTE Act prohibits holding back and expulsion of a child from a schooltill attainment of elementary education. There have been misgivings on theprevious provisions relating to ‘no detention’ and ‘no expulsion’. The no detentionprovision is made because examinations are often used for eliminating childrenwho obtain poor marks. Once declared fail, children either repeat grade orleave the school altogether.
However,the RTE Act does provides for putting in place a continuous and comprehensiveevaluation procedure – a procedure that will be non-threatening, releases thechild from fear and trauma of failure and enables the teacher to pay individualattention to the child’s learning and performance.
