Education
is one of the many things that can develop a nation in a big way. Education
gives the people of the nation a life to live. Unfortunately, in our country,
education has been limited only to those people with a strong economical
background. And since, the majority of the nation is lingering in poverty;
education for all was not being possible.
The
Right to Education Act – A brief history
In
the year 2005, a rough draft of this bill was composed. But because of its
specification to give 25 percent reservation to disadvantaged children, it
received huge opposition. As a reply, the drafting committee pressed the point
that this provision was a very imperative move to create a democratic as well
as educated society.
This
education bill was approved by the cabinet in 2009. It received Presidential
approval and was notified in the law as ‘The Children’s Right to Free and
Compulsory Education Act.’
The
insides of the RTE Act
Highlights
of the act:
·
This act makes education compulsory to every
child between the ages of 6 and 14.
·
Under this act, every private school should
reserve 25 percent of the seats to underprivileged and economically backward
children.
·
Donations, capitation fees or interviews of
the child or the parents are prohibited in the school admissions.
·
And also, those schools that are unrecognized
by the government don’t come under this act.
A
few facts of the RTE Act:
·
The RTE Act is the first of its kind in the
world where it is the government’s responsibility to ensure equal and
compulsory education for all. In most other countries like the US and UK, the
responsibility of children’s education lies with the parents, and not with the
government.
·
When it comes to children under the age of 18
with disabilities, there is a separate education act for them, known as the
‘Persons with Disabilities Act.’
·
There is a special organization called the
National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights, which is in charge of
monitoring and the implementation of the RTE Act.
The
RTE Act: Criticism and Analysis
·
Despite its stature and reputation, the RTE
act was subject to many controversies and criticisms too. A few of them are as
under.
·
Many educationalists put forth that the act
was drafted hastily; just for namesake. It was designed without the consultation
of various educational groups. There have also been statements like the quality
of education was not taken into consideration while drafting the act.
·
Most of the schools set up in the rural areas
were criticized to be corruption-ridden. And also, there were speculations that
the teachers in most government schools resorted to absenteeism. The
appointments of particular teachers were politically designed.
·
It has also been noted that around 55 percent
of urban children attend private schools, and this rate is growing every year
by 3 percent. The reason, as most entrepreneurs feel, is that the children are
not attending government schools because the teachers don’t show up.
·
Though the act states the admission of
children without any certification, there are many schools under this act in
various states which don’t follow this sincerely. Most schools insist the
children to produce caste and income certificates, and also birth certificates.
Because of this, orphans are unable to get admissions into schools. The
government was questioned regarding this issue, if any changes were being made,
but the government’s reply was just silence.
Various sociologists and educationalists have analysed
the RTE Act. And what they have come up with is not at all supportive to the
idea of development. Their analysis and statements show clearly the
carelessness of the government in the amendments made to the RTE Act. The
analysis is as follows:
·
Providing quality education is one of the
main objectives that come under the RTE Act. Unfortunately, the very education
in the government schools is of serious concern. Over the years, the
educational standards in government schools have been going down drastically.
·
When it comes to the enrolment and
admissions, there has been considerable nationwide progress. But, the number of
students attending classes in the government schools is falling at the same
rate too. One of the findings of the analysts is that in spite of lack of staff
in most government schools, teachers remain absent. The attendance of teachers
is directly proportionate to the quality of education, which is missing in most
of the government schools.
·
Despite the large number of enrolments of
children, over 50 percent of the students of 5th grade lack the basic knowledge
and skills that are expected in a 2nd grade student. Haven’t all these things
come under the notice of the government? If yes, doesn’t the RTE act have the
power to make the required corrections?
·
As already said, the RTE act directs all the
schools to reserve 25 percent of seats to the economically backward and
underprivileged children. And it is obvious that this will change the classroom
structure. Analysis says that the present Indian scene of mixed and diversified
classroom is not at all encouraging. The children from the weaker sections of
the society are discriminated within the classroom itself, on the basis of
caste, creed and ethnicity. Though our Indian constitution prohibits
discrimination on various grounds and marks it as a punishable offence,
discrimination is still happening in classrooms, as a result of the RTE act.
Conclusion:
Education
is the basic and a very important right of every Indian citizen. And when more
than two-thirds of the nation’s populace doesn’t have access to proper and
quality education, we can just see where our nation is heading. We have seen the
criticisms and the analysis the RTE act had faced and undergone. The question
here is, will this act help in achieving the national education mission, that
is, education for all? Will there be a hundred percent literacy rate in our
country?
There
are many fears regarding the 25 percent seat allotment for the children from
the weaker sections. By doing this, the government has justified the poor
quality of education in government schools. One more glitch in the RTE act is
that will the children who are enrolled in private schools will be able to cope
up and adjust with the standards of education culture in elite schools.
To
put in a single line, the RTE act is more of a collection of loopholes in
regard to quality education and funding, teacher availability and skills and
discrimination. And will this act help in achieving national educational
mission? Definitely not, if the loopholes remain loopholes. There should be
quality education on the government schools also. Teachers should be appointed
on merit basis, not politically or on the basis of relation. Strict punishments
should be issued for teacher absenteeism. Above all, discrimination on any
social basis should be completely abolished. Only after all these things
happen, RTE act can really and completely be successful in our country.
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