Right to Education is now a reality

A new era begins with the approval given by the Parliament to a landmark Education Bill which ensures free and compulsory education for children in the age bracket of 6 to 14 years. The law is unique in the sense that no student will be failed till class 8th, including all government and private schools will have to provide 25% quota to “disadvantaged” children.

"This bill provides for the inclusion of children who are disadvantaged because of disability. The government is not only setting up special schools for them but doing all it can to provide education to them in all types of schools," said Kapil Sibal, Human Resource Development Minister.

As far as minority institutions are concerned up to 50 per cent of those seats could be offered to students from their communities. The curriculum would be less rigorous and it would ensure all-round development of children.

The law provides for building neighbourhood schools in three years whose definition and location will be decided by states. The bill aims to do away widespread practices by which schools impose admission fees on parents to guarantee their children a place.

The RTE (Right to Education) would empower the 86th Constitutional amendment that made free and compulsory education a fundamental right. The RTE bill sets down guidelines for states and the Centre to execute and enforce this right. Earlier, education was part of the directive principles of state policy.

The bill was passed by the Lower House (Lok Sabha). The bill was passed by the Upper House (Rajya Sabha) last month. The legislation will now soon be enacted after getting the assent from President Pratibha Patil. The finance will be managed by both the Centre and states. The Centre will prepare the capital and recurring expenditure and provide it as grants-in-aid to each state.