the agenda items were discussed and based on the deliberations, the following resolutions were taken:

RTE Act

The RTE progress of the last three years noted by the Committee in improving access, promoting social inclusion, reduction in gender gaps and in provision for children with special needs. The CABE members also noted the road that still needs to be travelled in fully meeting the objectives of the RTE Act and in ensuring school standards enunciated therein. The Committee resolved therefore, that completion of school infrastructure and recruitment of teachers and their deployment should be expedited. The need for paying greater attention to improvement of learning outcomes and the quality of teachers was further highlighted by the CABE.

Regarding the issues raised on teacher recruitment, teacher salaries and teacher training, most of these would be covered under the proposed National Mission on Teachers and Teaching. However, the Central Government would not like to enter into a domain directly relating to State and local administration, such as salary and appointment of teachers.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

(a) Safety, Quality and Hygiene under Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

(b) Setting up of Empowered Committee for Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

CABE noted the proposed changes for ensuring the quality of Mid Day Meal and putting in place an effective monitoring and supervision mechanism and emphasised “A zero tolerance policy for maintain the standard and quality of food”.

RUSA

In higher Education, the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) has been approved by the Cabinet. A detailed presentation on the Mission giving the various components under this Mission and the roll out in the coming years was presented before CABE. This is for the first time since independence that Higher Education is being expanded in a mission mode which will particularly benefit State Universities and Colleges. All State Governments will take steps to form their State Higher Education Council and prepare the State Higher Education Plan.

National Mission on Teachers and Teaching

The CABE Committee Report on National Mission on Teachers and Teaching was presented. CABE placed on record its appreciation for the committee chaired by Hon’ble MOS, Dr. Shashi Tharoor. The major recommendations made in the Committee Report were noted by CABE. Based on these recommendations, a new scheme of National Mission on Teachers and Teaching is being launched.

Introduction of NSS

Making NSS a credit based elective course in higher education was taken up for consideration. This was an agenda item of the Department of Youth Affairs. It was decided that UGC and AICTE would explore to implement from the next academic session.

Community Colleges

An updated status on the implementation of Pilot Community Colleges Schemes was also noted by CABE.

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As per the CABE committee (Central Advisory Board of Education) constituted on the issue of quality teaching, there are concerns on availability of teachers, quality deficit in teaching, issues of contract teachers, teacher absenteeism, teacher accountability, poor quality teacher training institutions and representation of socially disadvantaged categories in teaching profession.

UGC on its part has placed two proposals for teachers training. In the first proposal, UGC has proposed setting up of Regional Centres of Educational Management in the Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bangalore and in the National University of Educational Planning and Administration. The second proposal recommends establishment of Centres of Excellence in Science and Mathematics Education in leading national level institutions including Indian Institute of Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research etc. for development of specialized cadre of academy of teaching and teacher educators.

National Mission on Education through ICT is also an important component of the proposal. ICT is proposed to enable teachers to deliver quality content and teaching.

National Mission on Teachers & Teaching (NMTT) was set up on 12th March, 2012. Quality of teaches have been traditionally lacking and India has witnessed a rapid growth of educational institutions in recent past. Currently there are around 15 lakh schools, and around 50,000 Higher Education Institutions. As per 2012 data, elementary stage alone required around 41.9 lakh teachers in position, and there is a requirement of another 12 lakh teachers. In secondary education quality teaching is lacking particularly in regard to teachers of Science, Mathematics, and English. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Odisha are facing shortages. As per the estimates, around 36% faculty positions in Central Institutions, including IIT’s, and IIM’s, are vacant, and around 40% to 50% teaching positions in State Universities are vacant. There is a large number of untrained teachers and an inadequate number of Teacher Education Institutes.

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