New Delhi, (IANS): The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendment to the Right to Education Act to ensure that all teachers acquire minimum educational qualifications.
It also extends the period for untrained teachers to acquire stipulated qualifications by four years, that is, up to March 31, 2019.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An official release said the proposed amendment to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, will enable in-service untrained elementary teachers to complete their training within the given time.
It originally provided for minimum qualifications by March 31, 2015.
The release said that the Act, which came into effect from April 1, 2010, envisages free and compulsory elementary education to every child in the age group of 6-14 years.
The release said several state governments had reported that of the total 66.41 lakh teachers at elementary level, 11 lakh were still untrained (5.12 lakh in government and aided schools and 5.98 lakh in private schools).