If there is one instrument that has the ability to improve the life of an individual, at the same time improve the quality of a society, it is education. An educated citizen is a sure bet for a nation in its efforts towards material as well as spiritual development and progress. We are a nation of young people and if we have to completely utilise the abilities of our young population in nation building, we need to give them the fruits of education. That is why the Indian Parliament has passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009, which has come into force on 2nd April 2010.
The Right to Education Act (RTE), as it is generally called, aims at providing free and compulsory education to all children between the age of 6 and 14. The child in this age group should be provided education in a neighbourhood school till the completion of her/his elementary education. The child will not be liable to pay any kind of fee or charge or expenses for pursuing her/his elementary education. The act also states that no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education. Another provision in the act states that a child who completes elementary education (upto class 8) shall be awarded a certificate.
The quality of the education that a child gets is directly proportional to the degree of care that teachers will be able to give to each individual child. Therefore it is imperative to have a healthy student-teacher ratio. With this aim in mind, the RTE act has called for a fixed student-teacher ratio. The act also calls for the improvement of school infrastructure. All schools have to improve their infrastructure within three years or their recognition will be cancelled. In order to uplift the economically underprivileged group of people in India with education, the RTE act has provided for 25 percent reservation for the economically disadvantaged group in all private and minority schools and the reservation will commence with class one beginning 2011.
To improve the quality of education, the RTE act has called for certain changes in the existing system of education. The act mandates certain minimum qualification and adequate professional degree for the teachers within five years or else they will lose the job. The teachers are advised to assess the learning ability of each child and accordingly provide additional instruction to improve the child’s learning faculties. They are also advised to hold regular meetings with the parents and guardians and apprise them about the regularity of the attendance, ability to learn and progress made in learning and any other related information about the child. The act also advices the teachers against having private tuitions or private teaching activities. There had been some dismaying reports on children meeting up with harsh physical punishments at school. Taking cognisance of this fact the RTE act states that no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.
According to the RTE act, the financial burden of implementing the act will be shared by the central government and state governments. The Right to Education Act is certainly a revolutionary act that has the capability to make impressive changes in the state of affairs in our country. The implementation of this act will be a major challenge for the central government as well as the state governments. But if we can implement it, the RTE act will bring outstanding results in the development of our great country.
The Right to Education Act (RTE), as it is generally called, aims at providing free and compulsory education to all children between the age of 6 and 14. The child in this age group should be provided education in a neighbourhood school till the completion of her/his elementary education. The child will not be liable to pay any kind of fee or charge or expenses for pursuing her/his elementary education. The act also states that no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education. Another provision in the act states that a child who completes elementary education (upto class 8) shall be awarded a certificate.
The quality of the education that a child gets is directly proportional to the degree of care that teachers will be able to give to each individual child. Therefore it is imperative to have a healthy student-teacher ratio. With this aim in mind, the RTE act has called for a fixed student-teacher ratio. The act also calls for the improvement of school infrastructure. All schools have to improve their infrastructure within three years or their recognition will be cancelled. In order to uplift the economically underprivileged group of people in India with education, the RTE act has provided for 25 percent reservation for the economically disadvantaged group in all private and minority schools and the reservation will commence with class one beginning 2011.
To improve the quality of education, the RTE act has called for certain changes in the existing system of education. The act mandates certain minimum qualification and adequate professional degree for the teachers within five years or else they will lose the job. The teachers are advised to assess the learning ability of each child and accordingly provide additional instruction to improve the child’s learning faculties. They are also advised to hold regular meetings with the parents and guardians and apprise them about the regularity of the attendance, ability to learn and progress made in learning and any other related information about the child. The act also advices the teachers against having private tuitions or private teaching activities. There had been some dismaying reports on children meeting up with harsh physical punishments at school. Taking cognisance of this fact the RTE act states that no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.
According to the RTE act, the financial burden of implementing the act will be shared by the central government and state governments. The Right to Education Act is certainly a revolutionary act that has the capability to make impressive changes in the state of affairs in our country. The implementation of this act will be a major challenge for the central government as well as the state governments. But if we can implement it, the RTE act will bring outstanding results in the development of our great country.
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