India took a belated but bold step to provide universal education by enacting the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. That egalitarian measure to empower disadvantaged children with a seat even in an unaided school — affirmed recently by the Supreme Court — has upset some institutions that obviously identify themselves with the privileged classes. The backlash to the law has been immediate, in the form of closures and protests. Now, in a shocking display of latent violence, a school in Bangalore has subjected disadvantaged students to a deeply stigmatising kind of discrimination: it has cut a lock of their hair to segregate them from other children in the class. These children have apparently not been entered in the regular attendance rolls either. The actions of the school deserve to be condemned and a full enquiry must be held into how and why it took such a cruel step. Unless the school involved is made an example of, it is likely that similar reprehensible acts carried out to assert class power will be witnessed in other institutions which have publicly opposed the equity objectives of the RTE Act.
In an address to the nation on April 1, 2010, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the new law guaranteeing elementary education a redemption of a pledge made to all children. The Bangalore incident makes it clear that laws alone are not enough, strong determination is essential to break barriers down. The RTE Act and associated rules specifically forbid any kind of segregation, physical punishment or mental harassment of children. A reading of the law, however, indicates that the penalty for violation is essentially confined to withdrawal of recognition. What happened in Bangalore is both physical punishment and mental harassment of children, who are likely to carry the scars long into their lives. It is necessary, therefore, to review the penalties prescribed, and provide for stronger punishment to individuals also, for acts stemming from extreme class bias. A provision for government takeover of institutions that refuse to reform themselves may be necessary. Societal commitment through active vigilance and well-functioning supervisory institutions are vital to make the RTE Act work. Equally, governments must demolish the culture of elitism promoted by many unaided schools by encouraging the starting of more institutions. India corrected a historic injustice towards its children by making education a justiciable fundamental right under Article 21A. It should not hesitate to show political will to enforce this right in the face of bigoted resistance.
Keywords: RTE Act, institutional backlash, Bangalore school action
Government collects Excise Duty or Service tax @12.36%, VAT5%,. It is its responsibility to provide and ensure education at a reasonable cost for all including Other Castes. RTE enables reservation in private schools for reserving at least 25% of children of OBCs, SCs and STs. In a recent case of admission in Rajaji Vidyashram school the super rich parents of a child went to the court seeking its orders to admit its ward in that school under free seat through RTE. The court rightly dismissed the request and patted the school. Also the cost of educating the 25% under RTE must be paid by the Central government directly to the schools. Other wise the schools will increase the fees paid and cause pilferage of resources of middle class.
School life, to a great extent, moulds an individual's personality. In a school, a child should learn not only lessons in the textbooks but also the lessons of life. Understanding the realities of the society always makes a better person. The schools, which promote elitism rather than sensitising its students to social problems have no place in our society. The Government should de recognise such schools.
Government must make more rules, Government must punish more. That approach unfortunately has very negative outcomes for people. Utter dependence on the Government to effect every social, industrial, business, commercial, religious and personal change consigns people to a state of perpetual victimhood. Government dependent people develop a mentality of helplessness, unable to do anything for themselves, including think, plan and act. This kind of mentality sees something wrong in everyday happenings and immediately start crying and run to the Government – look at this, do this, do that – there they go again. Government has its limitations. Enormous limitations. People in a Super Power Nation are self-empowered, see themselves the masters of their own destiny. Super-People organize and make changes in a peaceful and forceful way, giving the government only a marginal, nevertheless important role. In that model, the press plays a critical role (not calling on government intervention).
Jawaharlal Nehru mused wistfully in his prison cell (Glimpses of World History) about the American public school system which had welded poor illiterate immigrants from around the globe into a powerful and productive nation. He was confident that independent India would follow that example. It is ironic that "Socialist" India should abdicate education of her Children to for-profit profiteers -- downgrading education to 'Exam coaching'. That this boorish-brute elite should heap humiliation and cruelty on children of the poor is an abomination on humanity. If the State fails to put down such barbarity with an iron hand, it would only open the field to the vigilantes of the Left, like the Naxalites.
Even Government has passed RTE for achieving 100% literacy rate, the
schools management and village heads will not cooperate. The
villages pertaining to Education Minsters of Central and state Governments, MPs, MLAs except Kerala, are not fully educated. First I
appeal to all MPs and MLAs villages should get educated and show a
model to other villages. Funds are not problem. But the mindset is the
problem. The mindset belongs to inhuman Mandudhrama. Unless they
change their mindset these types of problems will arise. No body is
higher than any body or lower than any body.
The inclusive education should be stregthened with suitable amendmnets under the Constitution
RTE is one among the Inclusive act after independence in our
country. The act bring every children to school who are out side the
school.The act is applicable in the country irrespective of region ,
religion , caste, gender what happened in Bangalore is certainly a back
step to our composite culture of the nation. The culprits must be
punished and brought to justice. then only this type of incidents cannot
be repeated.
RTE is most welcome step from government. But this kind of initiative
would remain ineffective until we, the people of this great nation, do
not change our narrow minded thinking based on cast and religion. Rules
can be made but they can not be made fruitful by any kind of penalty or
punishment.
If our schools are of this type which kind of future generation can we expect in our country. Can we expect that the children studying in that school or schools of this type will make citizen or human of good kind?? so this is not just about giving quality education to underprivileged but also about the kind of education imparted to the privileged section. These kind of schools are ruining the whole future generation of the country. Week and wicked minded people giving rise to more week and wicked minded people. It is essential for future of India and Indian people to tackle this problem with extreme attention and make sure that no body ruins morale fiber of our present and future generations!! this is a collective responsibility.. parents of children studying in the school concerned should also come out and oppose any such kind of discrimination. Hope, they don't want their kids to be a mere money minded robot but humble human beings!!
There is a urgent need to think about the proper implementation of RTE act because it is a big initiative to finish the status quo mentality.After six decades of freedom this act came and now also due to some people of our society it can not be well implemented.
Effective Law doesnt mean just to include it into constitution. One should be aware of one's Fundamental Duty i.e. to abide to law. If everyone will strictly follow their fundamental duty then it will not take a second to implement Fundamental right. Moreover this kind of situation will not arise.
It is really humiliating for indian education. The callous behavior of institutions should not be ignored and such institutes should be penalized. Every person has the right to education and nobody can torture any student to get it.
A strong political will is required to show these traitors their true
place.Few schools can not be allowed to sabotage the true development
(dignity and equal opportunity to all) goals of government.Such
attitudes of class (earlier caste) are responsible for so much
backwardness in all sphere of life.Material gains can't change this medieval thinking which allows them to perpetuate such horrors on
young minds.What type of citizens are groomed by such schools? Those
show utter contempt for fellow human beings? Total disgraceful and
outrageous. Need to made example of this school otherwise "Chalta Hai"
will spread everywhere.
Most of these so called autonomous educational institutions get
benefit of concessional land, tax breaks etc from the government. So,
on what basis are these institutions not implementing the RTE act? All
kinds of frivolous excuses, legal methods and technical glitches are
being utilised to evade RTE act. And when nothing works, some elements
of the society shows their true color by such inhumane treatment to
little children. Undoubtedly, this is one more example of hypocrisy,
so often observed in our society. Is minting money the only objective
of these schools? And what kind of country are we becoming, where
people are increasingly discriminating against each other! Shameful
scenario in 21st century India.
Education is a stepping stone for success. Given, that these children
are the ones who will be leading the future of this nation, we cannot
risk doing injustice to them ( as was done by the school) . Any school
which cannot take the responsibility of grooming the future of a
nation, deserves criticism . The Govt. should take actions against the
school and take the first step in upholding the RTE . I am eagerly
waiting for follow ups on this incident and request the HINDU for the
same .
Venkata: [If government take over is the solution for all] Who on this page said that? Sounds like you were napping when they were teaching logic in your unaided school.
Even when we condemn the reprehensible actions of private schools regarding the RTE admissions and its actual implementation, we need to seriously debate several problem areas and hurdles the government administration would face in implementation of the RTE Act. Is it possible that the private schools would willingly give up their right of admission so easily? Confrontations, twisting of rules and legal battles would all be routine affairs in this scenario. Would it be possible for the government machinery to supervise the implementation of RTE without nepotism and corruption? What kind of results will be achieved by government disowning its primary duty of providing education to the poor? Improving standards and efficient management of government schools is really a far more effective way of implementation of RTE. Many in the education field have suggested disbursing education subsidy to the poor through a system of vouchers. The govt. should have an open mind on RTE implementation.
In theory, Government schools, run with tax payer money, should cater to all sections of society including the financially weaker sections. If RTE is needed, that should be a direct admission that Government failed in this and wasted (continuing to waste) tax payer money. On top of that, why would you recommend Government take over of unaided institutions? If government take over is the solution for all, I recommend that Government take over 'The Hindu' and spare us this sermons.
This incident only shows that some people do not like change.The RTE ACT is a right step in the right direction.We must handle this situation firmly so that other people can take lession from it.It is a social kind of revolution.
A bold step indeed .
No matter how horrible a crime may appear at first report, we cannot forget we are a country of laws, and there is a judicial procedure to be followed before damning any person or organization. One is supposed to be “innocent until proven guilty” and not guilty as soon as accused. In another report the school authorities state that they wanted to implement the RTE but the implementation rules are not sufficiently detailed. They submitted a list of 13 or so questions asking for clarifications. Will the Hindu publish what these queries were, the answer to those queries – either from their own reading of the law or from the Government? Also the school has stated that they had not willfully permitted the alleged horrible acts on the childrenm – is that true or not? Should there a judicial enquiry or is the press going to be the prosecutor, jury, judge and executioner?
These kind of actions only emphasise the need of amending the Constitution. Admittedly the State has "provided" the right to education; but this can be enforced vigourously only if the Constitution is amended and fundamental rights be guaranteed vis a vis private citizens as well. The Indian reality has changed since our independance; admittedly "state" has receded: the problems faced since independence have only evolved ("caste" earlier now followed by "class"). Accordingly, only viable solution would be amending the Constitution to guarantee fundamental rights against private enterprises. Lets begin with this set of social reforms as well. Any takers?????
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