Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, Jun 16: "An expert committee will be constituted by the state government in a span of 15 days to study the pros and cons of the Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE). This move to formulate a committee is also to ensure cent percent implementation of RTE across the state," said minister for primary and secondary education Kimmane Ratnakar.

He was addressing reporters during his visit to the city on Monday June 16.

On the much debated move to reduce the total percentage of students belonging to minority community in an institution from 75 percent to 25 percent for implementation of RTE and to grant minority status, he said during this academic year 25 percent students from the minority communities have been admitted to unaided minority schools, and that the government will maintain this yardstick for this academic year. "In the coming days, the issue will be discussed in a committee meeting to identify minority institutions based on percentage of reservation," he said.

Addressing press persons at the district Congress office, he said, to bring most of the complaints received on RTE on the table, an expert committee will be formed to chalk out a comprehensive solution. He said that in 15 days a committee will be formed to find a way out from the problems encountered during the implementation of the Act. The committee would also ensure cent percent realization of the Act across the state, he said.

Speaking on the distribution of text books, he said 99.5 percent of the students pursing their education in primary and secondary schools have received text books for this academic year. "Though there was a delay in issuing the books due to the model code of conduct that was in place during the elections, the state government has ensured that most of students have been given the books on time. About 0.5% of the students who were left out will be get the books at the earliest," he said.

"The state government is mulling to upgrade the syllabus of the primary and secondary education to the level of NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) syllabus. This has been tried this year itself, with a small change in the text books. Over the years the government will improve the quality of syllabus. There is a shortage of 28,000 teachers, and already, to sort out this problem, the government has appointed 11,200 new teachers. The remaining vacancies will be filled in a systematic recruitment of 5,000 teachers each year," he added.