Mid-day meal was introduced for school students to check drop-out rates and provide children from economically weaker sections with nourishment. But now schooling appears to have become more about food and less about education, Union Minister for Human Resources Development Prakash Javadekar said today amid a controversy about tying up mid-day meals with Aadhaar number. His ministry, he said, is now planning a bill which would allow the detention of students who do not reach a minimum level of learning at Classes V and VIII.
Many schools have become mid-day meal schools and students are not failed or detained in a particular class since the passage of the Right to Education law, the minister told members in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. "These schools were reduced to coming, eating and going," Mr Javadekar added.
He said his ministry has taken up the situation as a challenge and now "Learning Outcomes" for all classes have been brought in. To improve quality of education, it has been decided that states which take steps to improve standards, will get additional funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the minister added.
Mid-day meal has been made a legal entitlement by a 2001 order of the Supreme Court and reports of the government's making Aadhaar mandatory for it had triggered concerns from activists and protests from opposition.
Many schools have become mid-day meal schools and students are not failed or detained in a particular class since the passage of the Right to Education law, the minister told members in Rajya Sabha during Question Hour. "These schools were reduced to coming, eating and going," Mr Javadekar added.
He said his ministry has taken up the situation as a challenge and now "Learning Outcomes" for all classes have been brought in. To improve quality of education, it has been decided that states which take steps to improve standards, will get additional funds under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the minister added.
Advertisement
Mid-day meal has been made a legal entitlement by a 2001 order of the Supreme Court and reports of the government's making Aadhaar mandatory for it had triggered concerns from activists and protests from opposition.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
No Veggies, Not Even Dal, This School's Mid-Day Meal Is Rice And Turmeric Dead Snake Found In Mid-Day Meal Packet In Maharashtra, Parents Claim Deadline To Link Aadhaar With Ration Card Extended Till February 29 In Himachal Pradesh Windows Systems Restarting, Throwing Blue Screen Of Death Due To This Error Explained: What Is Causing The Dreaded 'Blue Screen Of Death' On Windows? Flights, Markets, Banks, Stock Exchange: Microsoft Outage Crippling Sectors Central Railways Jobs 2024: Applications For 2,424 Apprentice Posts Begin "Too Little Too Late": Ola CEO Slams Google For Slashing Maps' Fee Flights, Markets, Banks, Stock Exchange: Microsoft Outage Crippling Sectors Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.