Soon, education till Class 10 may become free

New Delhi: Soon, studying till Class 10 in government schools across the country may not entail any costs.

Reports said on Tuesday that the Central government is mulling to make education till Class 10 free.

The move is part of the Human Resource Development Ministry's plan to reform the pre-school and secondary education system in the country.

The aim is to make sure everyone studies till at least the matriculate level.

Dr SC Khuntia, secretary, school education and literacy, said on Tuesday, as per the Hindustan Times: “We have formed a committee in the HRD Ministry to evaluate the education for classes 9 and 10, which should be universalised.”

So far, free and compulsory education is being provided up to Class 8 under the Right to Education Act.

The UNICEF has said in a report that a lot needs to be done still to achieve universal education.

Some 36% students in India leave school even before completing elementary education, the report says.

Khuntia said the government is planning to tackle the issue by overhauling the education policy and shifting focus on pre-school education.