What is right to education act 2009?

This act envisages for providing right to free and compulsory education to every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years. The government schools will be managed by School management committee and shall provide free education to all children. Where as private schools have to admit 25% of students in their school without charging any fees. To monitor all aspects of elementary education the National Commission for Elementary Education shall be constituted.

The main advantages of the education act 2009

The act may boost the country’s education sector. It has become now the fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years to get free and compulsory education in the country. There shall not be any donation, capitation fee, any interviewing of the child or parent as part of the screening process for admission in the schools. It also prohibits physical punishment, expulsion or detention of children. Teachers should not be deployed for   non-educational purposes other than census or election duty and disaster relief. Also it ensures running a school with proper government recognition and in default will attract penal action.

Criticisms on right to educations act 2009

It has taken more than 6 decades after independence to pass an act like this. Even then it is well appreciated and may advance the country to a modern era and may help the government to eradicate illiteracy in the country.  However, there are criticisms from various circles as about the age provision to say age below 6 years and above 14 years should be included, not addressed the issue of shortage of teachers and their skill level, lack of infrastructure facilities etc.

Role of the Governments in financing it

Another issue with the implementation aspect of the bill is provision for providing adequate funds. Many state governments have earlier expressed their inability to finance it .Then the central government has to see various options to source adequate funds to support its proper implementation.

Now both the central and state governments shall share financial responsibility for RTE. The central government shall prepare estimates of expenditures and state governments will be provided a percentage of these costs. The central government may request the Finance Commission to consider providing additional resources to a state in order to carry out the provisions of RTE.

The state government shall be responsible for providing the remaining funds needed to implement. There will be a funding gap which needs to be supported by partners from civil society, development agencies, corporate organizations and citizens of the country.

Role of citizen, families and the community

Even though the government has taken such bold initiative to provide free education to our children people should not part away from this.  It should be taken as a collective social responsibility of every citizen and provide best efforts and support for such welfare measures our country is targeting. Families and communities should also have a large role to play to ensure child-friendly education for each and every one in the country as a whole and to help creating conducive environment to ensure its proper implementation.

View more details: http://www.indg.gov.in

A study of the education system followed in India, its value and short comings and a comparison of literacy rate all around.


Literacy and literacy rate.

In India to count a person as literate, he should know a language with understanding and must be able to read and write. With this basic requirement, Kerala stands top as most literate state in India and  Bihar is in the last position . When  we compare the  highest literacy rate  of  USA.UK,JAPAN,FRANCE,GERMANY and many other developed countries  -  India’s position is dismally very low . Therefore, proper measures should be taken  to revamp the  educational system as to achieve a higher literacy rate by  targeting all round social and economic development of  the nation..


Compulsory education

In India as well as other developed countries children education is compulsory.  Now it is almost accepted principle word wide by the respective governments to provide at least free preliminary education to its citizen. The importance of education in the social development is also  well known these days. It seems our government has already initiated various schemes and programmes  in eradicating illiteracy in the country.

Education for Cultural, Social and Economical Development

Education broadens the minds of people and  free them from the clutches of superstition and wrong belief. It is a key to open and realize the universe. It helps people to acquire information and knowledge.   They  could get in touch with various cultures and societies. It leads to know and understand everything that they  pass  through. This makes them  to think and  leads  to scientific and revolutionary ideas. They may start to realize the importance of becoming literate. They  will try to make their  family members and  other people  to realize it. Every one will put in their  efforts  for the  social and cultural developments.  This will in turn lead to greater innovations and development in all the fields of economy. Development in the fields of science and technology makes the country achieve industrialization, use of modern tools, use of high yield varieties of crops, higher growth in production, higher growth in percapita income and high standard of living.

Educational pattern

Ever since people has understood  the importance of education, various authorities and research groups in the country have conducted different studies to make  a better  system of education. So many commissions were appointed to study and report suggestions for improvement in different aspects of the education system.  There are various Centers of Advanced studies which give   more ideas and renders advisory services. Many more initiative in educational reforms is still going on, the latest being the proposed innovation universities. 

 The educational pattern now we follow in India is 10+2+3 system excluding pre primary education. This is 12 years of school education and 3 years of collage education. The period of first 10 years is meant for   general education and  next 2 years for some specific or vocational  courses in which the students have choice to select various subjects according to his interest or the career he want to pursue. There after 3 years meant for degree courses of specialized subjects. State or board level examinations are conducted at the close of 10th and 12 year of study and certificates are granted for higher pursuit. How far this system is good and serves to help the national interest in building India as  a developed country is still in debate.


What is the need of the day for future development?

Though our successive governments have taken  important decisions and initiative through constitutional amendments and projecting higher targets in our plan out lays for achieving universal primary education, still great percent of our people continues to be illiterate.The  country has already achieved certain level of progress in this field , but this does  not mean that we have  to slow down our efforts.  It must be our endeavor and aim to achieve  cent  percent literecy and great vision for the  future developments. There may be  many limitations or hurdles to overcome in a country of various castes, creeds,  beliefs and practices. It requires great determination, planned action and constant supervision from the part of government to achieve cent percent literacy.
 
Suggestions for improvement.

1)Requirement of adequate financial assistance or sufficient budget provision. The present system of education cess on taxes may be broadened to source the fund.
 
2)Primary education must be made compulsory. To monitor this panchayat or village level officers should be authorized to implement an action plan. In default, all concerned shall be penalized and corrective measures taken to get the desired result.

3)Free education to all up to secondary school level and to girls at all stages of her education shall be provided by the State or Central Government.

4)If required specific amendments in the constitution or ordinance issued, where ever necessary.

5)All the teachers and scientists  shall be declared national assets and they should be respected and rewarded accordingly.

 6)Regular advisory board in the pattern of planning commission may be devised by the government to advise and recommend suitable measures to be taken by the government in the educational field.


This list is not a conclusive one. There may be  lot of other aspects which should also be addressed promptly by the respective government functionaries as and when required.