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On Thursday — April 1 — India will join a group of few countries in the world, with a historic law making education a fundamental right of every child coming into force.
Making elementary education an entitlement for children in the 6-14 age group, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 will directly benefit close to one crore children who do not go to school at present.
In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday will address the nation, announcing the operationalisation of the Act.
“Tomorrow [Thursday] is a historic day as the Right to Education Act comes into effect. For the first time, education will become a constitutional right. It is a tryst with destiny in the area of education,” Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters. He said it was the responsibility of all stakeholders to enforce it.
“But to think that we have passed a law and all children will get educated is not right. What we have done is preparing a framework to get quality education. It is for the entire community to contribute and participate in this national endeavour,” he said.
Nearly 92 lakh children, who had either dropped out of schools or never been to any educational institution, will get elementary education as it will be binding on the part of the local and State governments to ensure that all children in the 6-14 age group get schooling.
As per the Act, private educational institutions should reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society.
The Centre and the States have agreed to share the financial burden in the ratio of 55:45, while the Finance Commission has given Rs. 25,000 crore to the States for implementing the Act. The Centre has approved an outlay of Rs.15,000 crore for 2010-2011.
The school management committee or the local authority will identify the drop-outs or out-of-school children aged above six and admit them in classes appropriate to their age after giving special training. As per the Act, the schools need to have minimum facilities such as adequate teachers, playground and infrastructure.
Keywords: Fundamental right, RTE Act, child labour, Kapil Sibal
Comments:
Congrats India!!!
It is really commendable by our government to realize education as a fundamental right. But it is going to be a herculean task to implement it, as child labor has been the engine driving many a flourishing industries and children have been the bread winner for many poverty stricken families. So if children are to really exert this right, all the involved stakeholders should work in tandem to make this dream come true.
First step in the right direction, though late. I hope that Government(s) honour this law and do a good job.
Way to go!!
It is a great march towards the devolopement of our country.But it is much important to follow up the proces.
Right to Education Act-
This is the happiest moment for our country as the first and foremost problem towards Inclusive and sustainable growth has been taken. For all problems e.g. ill health,malnutrition,population explosion, poverty,corruption etc; the education from early age is most important. When each and every children of our country will be educated it will help us to tackle all other problems and to make 100% literacy rate for the next generation.Thanks to the Govt of India for such a nice act.
A landmark development in the history of independent India. Had this been done couple of decades back, we would have beaten China by now.
yes, definitely every child has the right to be educated. it should be our prime duty to see that the rt education goes to our children. we have to make a better use from the funds allocated by the center.
with warm personal regards
veenamohan
April 1, 2010 is the biggest Red Letter day in the history of India. It has taken 70 years since independence to achieve this, but I am happy that it has happened atleast now. In my opinion, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, is the biggest and the most significant legislation to enter the Indian Constitution.
Many people have many benefits of Free and Compulsory Education. I agree with all of them. But, I see it has the beginning of the end of Casteism, the root of all evils in India.
A very necessary move! Now, the government or some competent authority should provide guidance on how to implement this new law with some timeframes both at macro and micro/individual level. We should not relax with just passing the law.
Heariest congratulations to the Central government and the people of India on the operationalisation of the "Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act-2oo9". This will go a long way in providing quality education with equity to all the children between 6 - 14 age group. Certainly the marginalised sections of the society will get opportunities to get school education. It is hoped, the curriculum and the methodology of education will enable the children to develop their talents in creative and innovative manners. All attempts should be made to bring the drop-out rate to zero and no child should be seen doing labour. Roles of the teachers, parents, community, state and the Centre are very crucial to accomplish the decared educational goal. We also hope, soon something will be done to take care of the pre-elementary stage of the children.
Very good step. Similarly, Right for housing, Healthcare and sanitaion should be made FUNDAMENTAL. Not necessarily in the same order.
My name is Vipin Dulam, just a simple High School student here in America, but I know as well as everyone that this act is a tremendous step towards solidifying our country. I believe that this act is one of the best actions that the Republic of India has taken for the past 63 years. It will strengthen and solidify this nation even more than we can ever imagine. Each child has a lamp inside of him or her, a lamp that harnesses the thirst for knowledge and hope of doing something good. It is our responsibility to garner that lamp and take care of it and to let it grow and make sure that it does not extinguish. The passing of this ACT is a gigantic step taken towards strengthiening that lamp within each individual. The numbers of little kids who have no education and are forced to do child labor and other activities have been mounting. Each and every child in the country represents the next generation. And it is our duty to make sure that this generation and generations to come will prosper and not repeat the same mistakes that were committed in history.
Ok. Law has been passed. Now to the nitty gritty of implementation/execution. How do you do that? Aren't there enough laws already existing but see the state of affairs as far as implementation is concerned. How do you convince the poor parent who is forced to put his/her child to earning? And there are enough number of people like that in our country.
The title of the Article 'Education is a fundamental right now' is not factually correct. Supreme Court in Unni Krishnan v. State of A.P. and Ors (1993 (1) SCC 645)has held education to be a fundamental right and what the Supreme Court declares is the law of the land. Furthermore Article 21A of the Constitution has clearly stated that the right to education is a fundamental right. Therefore your title that 'Education is a fundamental right NOW' seems misplaced since this right has always existed in India. The newly passed Act is only a legislative device to give effect to the above rights and does not create it as suggested in your title.
Its a law in a country like India, and we all know how laws are followed in our nation. The government has not seen the ground level problems of the people here, this act is useful to those children who are very poor, often living in remote and backward areas, the parents hardly get their livelyhood, they have not enough money to afford labours for their feilds, the ladies also work, result is that the children stay at home or work as labours. So how a person creeping for to be just alive, can think about the future and education of their ward, i know its a pessimistic view but its the reality at the same time.
Secondly,the corruption is everywhere, in panchayti system and among the administrative staffs, what will be the result, easily understandable. And whereas, the question of irresponsible teachers, its although true but not to all. The govt. has distributed too many non teaching duties to them that it became impossible to teach according to norms.