Funds not a constraint for expansion of secondary education: PM

Underlining the need for expansion of secondary education in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said funds will not be a constraint and disabled children will get special attention.

Underlining the need for expansion of secondary education in the country, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said funds will not be a constraint and disabled children will get special attention.

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Addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort after unfurling the tricolour, Singh said every child has got access to primary education.

Singh said the recently passed Right to Education Act provides for free and compulsory elementary education to every child.

"Now we also need to pay greater attention to secondary education. It will be expanded through a programme that will ensure that every child in the country gets its benefit," he said.

"I wish to make it clear that funds will not be a constraint as far as education is concerned. We will give special attention to the needs of disabled children," Singh said.

Prime Minister talked about a new scheme to help students from economically weaker sections of society by way of reduced interest rate on their education loans.

"This will benefit about five lakh students in getting technical and professional education. We will endeavour to provide bank loans and scholarships to the maximum possible number of students to support their education," the Prime Minister said.

He said as a result of the government's efforts in the last few years, almost every "child in our country has access to primary education today."