The Directive Principals of the State Policy lays down for free education to all children up to the age of 14 years. The enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, Act, 2009 takes care of the education for children of 6 to 14 years and it came into effect on April 1, 2010. Section 23 (1) of the said Act provided for minimum qualification and the proviso to the sub section 23 (2) provided for the period for acquiring the minimum qualification is five years from the date of commencement of the aforesaid Act till 31st March 2015. In view of the expiration of the aforesaid deadline, the training of such appointed teachers and continuing teachers would have discontinued and hence the (Amendment) Bill, 2017 amends the 2009 Act by extending the deadline for teachers to acquire the prescribed minimum qualifications for appointment. The Bill adds to this provision by stating that those teachers who do not possess the minimum qualifications as on March 31, 2015, by virtue of appointment or by being in position will acquire the minimum qualifications as stipulated under the Act within a period of four years i.e. by March 31, 2019.
