Prime Minister announces setting up of Education Commission

• Keen on enhancing the quality of education in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday announced the government's decision to appoint a commission to make recommendations in this regard and talked about moves to universalise secondary education.
• As per the RTE, education is free and compulsory up to eighth standard and universalisation of secondary education will make it free and compulsory up to Class X.
• Noting that the government had emphasised on education in the 11th Five Year Plan, Dr. Singh said similar priority will be given to the health sector in the 12th Five Year Plan.
• Dr. Singh said he will propose to the National Development Council that the 12th plan should be specially focused on health.
• He said government will endeavour to cover as many workers as possible under the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana which was introduced in 2008.