RTE should cover higher secondary education: Sibal

Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Tuesday suggested that the Right to Education (RTE) be extended to the higher secondary level, which will provide more avenues for children emerging from elementary education.He was addressing the inaugural session of the 58th meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE).Sibal said: 'The RTE should be extended up to higher secondary level as it will ensure bringing down drop-out rates and would provide value to children through the educational process.'The RTE law makes it mandatory for governments to provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to 14 years in neighbourhood school till the completion of elementary education.Sibal also stated that the critical challenges the nation faces are to develop, recognise and enhance skills in youth to be productive members of society and the economy.The minister also asked the state governments to reduce the number of colleges affiliated to universities, so that universities could become centres of learning.