Saviour Education Welfare & Awereness Samiti (SEWA) NGO
Cultural program orgnized by SEVA NGO in village Ghassu, Dist.- Sikar(Raj.) India.
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Putting efforts for women in Shekhawati region.
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Liberary run by SEWA NGO in |
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Dr.Surendra Bhaskar
Man is the wisest of the entire animal on the earth by his mental abilities. Thus forth basic need of a human being apart from food, shelter and clothing is education. As the modern world is completely propelled by the knowledge acquired by all means, education has become the main agenda of all the countries. According to an estimate at present there are 19 million children in the age group of 6-14 years of age out of that 8 million do not go to school and dropout rate by class is 25 percent. Illiteracy has been identified as the basic root of all the social evils prevailed in the society. No country develops fully without providing education to its citizen. By keeping this in mind, government made some constitutional provisions to ensure education for all. This historic landmark came in the existence from April 1, 2010.
India has always suffered by the exploitation of foreign rulers and result of this they remained poor and illiterate. Education was the main point for development and empowerment of the society before the Independent India. Finally, after 60 years of independence our country has formally committed to provide free and compulsory education to all its children aged 6 to 14 years of age. The right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009 is passed in 2010 by an Act in Parliament. Though it was already mentioned in our Constitution to provide education to its entire citizen but it is legally bounded for state. Article 21-A of the constitution has been amended by 86th amendment in constitution which now says "The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen in such a manner as the state may, by law, determine." The salient features of the Free and Compulsory Education Bill are as follow-
1. The Bill makes it incumbent on all the states to provide free and compulsory elementary education to children of the age of six to fourteen.
2. For elementary education from class one to fifth school should be situated within a walking distance of one kilometer.
3. No child can be put through any kind of examination. Means all students will clear their class every year in the specified age group.
4. There will be no entrance exams for children and screening of parents for admission. No body will be denied for admission and even no birth certificate and transfer certificate is required for this process.
5. No child can be expelled from school and harassed either. This Bill makes corporal punishment unlawful.
6. No capitation fee can be charged from the students. If State gets the complaint of such a fine up to ten times the amount collected will be attract. The Bill also provides the legal authority to withdraw the recognition if school fails to fulfill all laid down norms.
7. All the school will have to adhere to some common minimum standards such as the facilities of drinking water, play grounds, library and toilets.
8. For the first time teacher - student ratio is more emphasized which made 1:40. The Bill also assures that no non-teaching work should be given to them. Schools have to recruit trained teacher and all untrained teachers have to upgrade themselves in next five years. This Bill also states that no teacher shall engage himself in private teaching.
9. Quality of the school also ensured in which they have to provide basic facilities, School management committee to have fifty percent of women members and minimum 75 percent parents will constitute management committees.
10. 25 per cent of seats in every private school will be reserved for poor and disadvantaged group of people.
11. The Bill mandates that it shall be the duty of every parent to admit his child to a neighborhood school.
12. This Bill clearly says that the National and State Commissions for the Protection of Child right would monitor the effective implementation of the measures in the Act and inquire into complaints.
13. The provisions of the Bill also say that the Center and State Government would have concurrent responsibility for providing funds for its legislation.
14. It is expected that the implementation of this Bill will cost 12,000 crore annually and Rs.2 lakh crore over the next five years.
Though this bill has covered many things which are as of now not discussed at any platform. But ground realities are still far away from what we actually see in papers. Following are some shortcomings of the Bill:-
1. This Bill is only cover the children group of six to fourteen years of age leaving away the cold children aged fourteen to eighteen who are also minor.
2. This Bill not defines the word 'free education'. What does it mean? Free books, uniform or any other things.
3. Bill is also silent on the children below six years of age who are the primary target of the private school for play classes. It does not mention any age limit for the admission of class one.
4. The Bill is not able to describe which is neighboring school a government or a private in case where both are situated.
5. It is also putting a doubt on minority institutions which are not exempted from reservation.
6. In a big lacuna this bill kept mum on the fate of children on reaching of fifteen year of age when they face examination system all of sudden.
7. In another big hole this Bill does not state the legal consequence of parents not following their duty nor does it address or even touch the issues due to which parents fail to admit their children to school.
8. This plan is short of the funds. It admitted by HRD Ministry that estimated shortfall is about 60,000 crore for the first five years. The government estimates that it will require Rs. 1.71 lakh crore for implementation of the RTE Act over the next five years. The Financial Commission has released Rs. 13,000 crore to the states to kick start the implementation process, and the ministry is in process of getting a 65:35/75:25 Centre- state fund.
9. In a countrywide estimate drawn up by the ministry of HRM show that of 13.3 new teachers who need to be inducted over the next three years to provide education to every child between the ages of six and fourteen UP has to take at least 3.9 lakh followed by Bihar and west Bengal 2.2 and one lakh respectively. These states are also lacking in required class rooms for the students. They have not given due attention to education over the years. The negligence has led to a pile-up of teacher vacancies and worsened schools infrastructures. In contrast, states like Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh are more educationally enlightened.
1. The Bill makes it incumbent on all the states to provide free and compulsory elementary education to children of the age of six to fourteen.
2. For elementary education from class one to fifth school should be situated within a walking distance of one kilometer.
3. No child can be put through any kind of examination. Means all students will clear their class every year in the specified age group.
4. There will be no entrance exams for children and screening of parents for admission. No body will be denied for admission and even no birth certificate and transfer certificate is required for this process.
5. No child can be expelled from school and harassed either. This Bill makes corporal punishment unlawful.
6. No capitation fee can be charged from the students. If State gets the complaint of such a fine up to ten times the amount collected will be attract. The Bill also provides the legal authority to withdraw the recognition if school fails to fulfill all laid down norms.
7. All the school will have to adhere to some common minimum standards such as the facilities of drinking water, play grounds, library and toilets.
8. For the first time teacher - student ratio is more emphasized which made 1:40. The Bill also assures that no non-teaching work should be given to them. Schools have to recruit trained teacher and all untrained teachers have to upgrade themselves in next five years. This Bill also states that no teacher shall engage himself in private teaching.
9. Quality of the school also ensured in which they have to provide basic facilities, School management committee to have fifty percent of women members and minimum 75 percent parents will constitute management committees.
10. 25 per cent of seats in every private school will be reserved for poor and disadvantaged group of people.
11. The Bill mandates that it shall be the duty of every parent to admit his child to a neighborhood school.
12. This Bill clearly says that the National and State Commissions for the Protection of Child right would monitor the effective implementation of the measures in the Act and inquire into complaints.
13. The provisions of the Bill also say that the Center and State Government would have concurrent responsibility for providing funds for its legislation.
14. It is expected that the implementation of this Bill will cost 12,000 crore annually and Rs.2 lakh crore over the next five years.
Though this bill has covered many things which are as of now not discussed at any platform. But ground realities are still far away from what we actually see in papers. Following are some shortcomings of the Bill:-
1. This Bill is only cover the children group of six to fourteen years of age leaving away the cold children aged fourteen to eighteen who are also minor.
2. This Bill not defines the word 'free education'. What does it mean? Free books, uniform or any other things.
3. Bill is also silent on the children below six years of age who are the primary target of the private school for play classes. It does not mention any age limit for the admission of class one.
4. The Bill is not able to describe which is neighboring school a government or a private in case where both are situated.
5. It is also putting a doubt on minority institutions which are not exempted from reservation.
6. In a big lacuna this bill kept mum on the fate of children on reaching of fifteen year of age when they face examination system all of sudden.
7. In another big hole this Bill does not state the legal consequence of parents not following their duty nor does it address or even touch the issues due to which parents fail to admit their children to school.
8. This plan is short of the funds. It admitted by HRD Ministry that estimated shortfall is about 60,000 crore for the first five years. The government estimates that it will require Rs. 1.71 lakh crore for implementation of the RTE Act over the next five years. The Financial Commission has released Rs. 13,000 crore to the states to kick start the implementation process, and the ministry is in process of getting a 65:35/75:25 Centre- state fund.
9. In a countrywide estimate drawn up by the ministry of HRM show that of 13.3 new teachers who need to be inducted over the next three years to provide education to every child between the ages of six and fourteen UP has to take at least 3.9 lakh followed by Bihar and west Bengal 2.2 and one lakh respectively. These states are also lacking in required class rooms for the students. They have not given due attention to education over the years. The negligence has led to a pile-up of teacher vacancies and worsened schools infrastructures. In contrast, states like Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh are more educationally enlightened.
Conclusion
The enforcement of this right has a very symbolic and historic value, because it is a step ahead in the country-long struggle for universalizing the elementary education. This Act will definitely prove the success if it is implemented properly. It is law that can change country's future provided it is implemented in letters and spirit by one of all. Government needs to launch a massive awareness campaign programme. The parents of the children must be made aware of the Act and advantage of it. As far fund is concerned, government expects that 8-8.5 percent growth in 2011 will take care of its financial resources to a larger extent.
Co-Ordinator
Saviour Education Welfare & Awereness Samiti
Address:- Ghassu, Dist.-Sikar (Raj)
E-mail ID :- Sewasikar@gmail.com
Co-Ordinator
Saviour Education Welfare & Awereness Samiti
Address:- Ghassu, Dist.-Sikar (Raj)
E-mail ID :- Sewasikar@gmail.com