Standard VIII falls under primary education

The state education department has issued a final notification on restructuring of the school system extending primary education till standard VIII applicable from the 2014-15 academic year.

The changes are being made under RTE Act. At present, primary education is imparted up to standard VII.

N U Raurale, joint secretary, state education department, said, "This pattern is followed by almost all boards in the country, except for a few states in south India. However, with the RTE in force, every state will have to change."

Since the RTE covers children in the age group of 6 to 14 years, it was necessary that class VIII be included in primary education.

The state education department has said that class IX and X would remain in the category of secondary education. The notification stated that schools that run only secondary schools will be left with extra classes as class VIII would cease to be a part of secondary schools. The state government has said that the schools would be allowed to increase the divisions for both the secondary classes, although, the education department will take a final call on the same.