Everyone has the right to education. Education should be free, at least in the
elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education should be compulsory.
The UN recommendation has been reinforced in the provisions of the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act (2009), which came into
effect in India on 1 April 2010, enshrining in law for the first time the rights
of all Indian children aged between six and 14 years to free and compulsory
elementary education regardless of caste, class, gender, etc.
The RTE Act,
though deserves due credit for laying down in fairly specific terms state's
responsibility towards education, it would be appropriate to examine the status
and awareness on the part of schools and concern authority to provide free
elementary education to the children aging between six to fourteen years of age.
Present research study has tried to explore the status of the implementation by analysing some important indicators which are necessary for the implementation
of the Act. The paper also analyses the awareness and understanding of the
provisions of RTE among the stakeholders in Himachal Pradesh.
Four years have
already passed since implementation of the RTE Act in Himachal Pradesh but still
the state has to do more in the terms of enrolment, basic infrastructure,
student learning, awareness and understanding among its stakeholders. By
providing some recommendations the paper calls for some necessary actions by the
government to improve the implementation status of the RTE Act in Himachal
Pradesh.
Introduction
In our national perception, education is essentially for all. Education has an
acculturating role. It refines sensitivities and perceptions that contribute to
national cohesion, a scientific temper and independence of mind and spirit thus
furthering the goals of socialism, Secularism and democracy enshrined in our
Constitution. The positive role of Universal Elementary Education (UEE) in
strengthening the socio-economic base of a nation cannot be over-emphasized.
Recognizing the importance of it, the original Article 45 in the Directive
Principles of State Policy in the Constitution mandated the State to endeavour
to provide free and compulsory education to all children up to age 14 within a
period of 10 years.
The National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986/92, states via
the 86th Constitutional Amendment, a new Article 21A was added in Part I of the
Constitution of India to make free and compulsory elementary education a
fundamental right for children. As a follow up to the NPE, a number of
programmes were initiated in India with a view to achieving UEE. These efforts
were intensified in the 1980s and 1990s through several interventions.
The
latest is the SSA, a centrally-sponsored scheme implemented in partnership with
state governments for the UEE across the country. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is
the government's flagship programme to provide universal access to elementary
education for children 6-14 years old. Due to these initiatives, over the years
there has been significant spatial and numerical expansion of elementary schools
in the country.
Today, access and enrolment at the Primary stages of education
have reached very close to universal levels. The scheme aims to improve
enrolment, retention, and the quality of education to enable children to achieve
grade appropriate levels of learning. The number of out-of-school children at
the elementary level has reduced significantly. The gender gap in elementary
education has narrowed and the percentage of enrolled children belonging to
scheduled castes and tribes has increased successively.
Right to Education a Historical Background
The Right to Education Act was earlier termed as The Right of Children to Free
and Compulsory Education Act came into function after Gopal Krishna Gokhale's
famous impassioned plea to the Imperial Legislative Council for introducing free
and compulsory primary education throughout India. India became one of the 135
countries to make education a fundamental right of every child, when the act
finally came into practice in April 2010. A rough version of the draft was first
prepared in the year 2005.
It was met with a lot of criticism because of the
large percentage of reservation made mandatory across all schools for the
unprivileged children. However, the Central Advisory Board of Education, who
were founders of the draft, stood ground and justified the 25 percent
reservation as a definite requisite to become a democratic and egalitarian
society.
Right to Education Act, 2009
The Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 passed by
the Indian Parliament in 2009 mandates free and compulsory education of all
children of 6-14 years age until they complete elementary education in a
neighbourhood school. There is also a reference of children with disabilities
who are to be given elementary education in the age range of 6-18 year of age as
defined in clause (i) of section 2 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection and Full Participation) Act, 1996 in accordance with
the provisions of Chapter V of the said Act.
The Act also has a provision for
every child, who is above six years of age and has not yet been admitted to any
school or could not complete his/ her elementary education due to any reason, to
be admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age. The child admitted under
age appropriate admission has a right to receive special training or additional
instruction in order to be at par with other children of the class. However,
there is an important concern over implementation of RTE Act in the school
system with reference to the special training or instruction, its modalities and
execution.
The states are expected to respond to the situation arising out of
the implementation of the Act. States and UTs are required to pay special
attention to cope with the situation in terms of appointment of qualified
teachers, development of special training programmes for out of school children
admitted to age appropriate classes and preparation of relevant teaching
learning materials for them.
In order to ensure access to education to all children in the age group of 6-14
years, the RTE Act offers the following provisions:
Right of children to free and compulsory education till completion of elementary
education in a neighbourhood school. According to the Act 'compulsory education'
means obligation of the appropriate government to provide free elementary
education and ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of
elementary education to every child in the 6-14 age groups.
Local authorities should identify out of school children (OoS) with the help of
teachers, school management committees (SMCs) and enrol them in age appropriate
classes. The Act also provisions for special training to OoS children admitted
to age appropriate classes.
- No child should be denied admission due to the lack of birth certificate.
- Children should get a transfer certificate at any time of the academic year on request and also should be admitted during any time of the academic year in the age appropriate class.
- No fee should be collected from any child.
- It specifies the duties and responsibilities of appropriate Governments and local authorities. In providing free and compulsory education, and sharing of financial and other responsibilities between the Central and State Governments.
- It provides for adequate deployment of teachers by ensuring that the specified pupil-teacher ratio is maintained for each school, rather than just as an average for the State or District or Block, thus ensuring that there is no urban-rural imbalance in teacher postings. It also provides for prohibition of deployment of teachers for non-educational work, other than the decennial census, elections to local authority, state legislatures and parliament, and disaster relief.
It provides for appointment of appropriately trained teachers, i.e. teachers
with the requisite academic qualifications.
School should be CWSN friendly with special teachers, learning and
transportation support.
It prohibits:
- physical punishment and mental harassment;
- screening procedures for admission of children
- capitation fee;
- private tuition by teachers and
- running of schools without recognition,
It provides for development of curriculum in consonance with the values
enshrined in the Constitution, and which would ensure the all-round development
of the child, building on the child's knowledge, potential and talent and making
the child free of fear, trauma and anxiety through a system of child friendly
and child centred learning.
It provisions 25 % reservations in private schools for children from the
disadvantaged and economically weaker sections (EWS).
It has provisions which envisage social inclusion and gender equity in the
school management committee (SMC).
Key efforts for the implementation of the RTE Act 2009
One of the unique features of the RTE Act is that it has very clearly put down a
deadline for its implementation. It specifies that within three years from the
date of enactment, all the provisions except for qualified teachers should be
met and that the latter should be fulfilled by 2015. Towards this end,
government has taken the following steps:
Revised the SSA Framework in 2011,brought out the National Curriculum Framework
for Teacher Education (NCFTE) in 2009,established the monitoring arm of RTE
implementation by strengthening the RTE division of National Commission for
Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR),mandated the Central Advisory Board l for
Education (CABE) to review the status of implementation periodically and More
importantly ensured that all States notified RTE State rules.
Right to Education Act a Milestone
The Right to education Act is a fundamental right which allows every child
between the age group of 6 to 14 to have access to free and fair education. It
requires all private and government schools to reserve 25 percent of the seats
for children belonging to weaker sections of the society. The act also separates
the fraudulent schools and donations and concessions have been rolled back. The
act also states that no child shall be expelled, held back or required to pass a
board examination until the completion of elementary education.
There is also a
special training of school drop-outs to bring them up at par with students of
the same age. The Right to Education act stretches to 18 years of coverage for
children with disabilities, and other provisions covered in the act range from
infrastructure development, teacher-student ratio and faculty are mentioned in
the act. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is an autonomous
body set up to monitor the implementation of the act along with commissions set
up by the States. The body in question was formed in the year 2007.
Status of Implementation of RTE Act in India
Table No. 1 Demographic Indicators of India
Indicators |
Census 2011 |
Total Population |
121.01 Cr |
% age of Urban Population |
31.2 |
% age of Scheduled Caste Population |
16.6 |
% age of Scheduled Tribes Population |
8.6 |
% age of Total Literacy Rate |
73.0 |
% age of Female Literacy Rate |
64.6 |
% age of Male Literacy Rate |
80.9 |
Sex Ratio (0-6 years) |
914 |
The above table shows that the population of India according to the census is
121.01 crores among which the urban population is 31.2 percent, SCs population
is 16.6 percent and STs Population is 8.6 percent. The total literacy rate is
73.0 percent among which female literacy rate is 64.6 percent and male literacy
rate is 80.9 percent.
Table No. 2 Enrolment Indicators
Indicators |
Years |
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Total Enrolment Primary |
133405581 |
134784272 |
Total Enrolment Upper Primary |
54467415 |
64926077 |
% age of Girls to Total Enrolment Primary |
48 |
48 |
% age of Girls to Total Enrolment Upper Primary |
48 |
49 |
Gender Parity Index Primary |
0.94 |
0.94 |
Gender Parity Index Upper Primary |
0.93 |
0.95 |
% age of SCs to Total Enrolment |
20 |
20 |
% age of STs to Total Enrolment |
11 |
11 |
CWSN Enrolment |
1402817 |
2175768 |
Annual Average Drop-Out Rate (Primary) |
9.1 |
5.6 |
The data in the table reveals that the total enrolment at primary level was
133405581 in 2009-10 and was increased to 134784272in the year 2012-13. The
enrolment at Upper Primary level was 54467415 in the year 2009-10 and increased
to 64926077 in 2012-13. The percentage of girls' enrolment at primary level
remains same and increases with one percent at Upper Primary level. The
enrolment percentage also remains the same for STs and SCs students. The average
drop-out rate decreases from 9.1 in the year 2009-10 to 5.6 in the year 2012-13.
Table No. 3 Status of RTE
Indicator |
No. of States/UTs |
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Notification of State Rules |
15 |
34 |
Constitution of SCPCR |
11 |
32 |
Notification of Academic Authority |
20 |
34 |
Policy on Eight Year Elementary Education |
28 |
34 |
No Detention |
27 |
34 |
No Corporal Punishment |
28 |
34 |
No Board Exam up to Elementary Level |
26 |
34 |
Banning Private Tuition |
18 |
34 |
Banning Screening Procedure and Capitation Fees |
18 |
34 |
Working Days Notified |
21 |
33 |
Decentralized Grievances Redressal Mechanism |
|
20 |
Local Authority Notified
|
|
26 |
% age Schools with School Management Committee Constituted |
|
26 |
25% Admission in Private Unaided Schools at Elementary Level |
|
27 |
The data in the above table shows that the indicators mentioned in table number
3 are adopted by the maximum states of the country. The RTE Act is not
implemented in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Table No. 4 School Infrastructure
Indicator |
Years |
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Number of Elementary Schools (Govt. + Aided) |
1120968 |
1153472 |
Student Classroom Ratio (SCR) |
32 |
29 |
% age of Primary Schools with Student Classroom Ratio >30 |
40 |
29 |
% age of Upper Primary Schools with Student Classroom Ratio
>35 |
36 |
32 |
% age Schools with Girls Toilet Facility |
59 |
69 |
% age Schools with Drinking Water Facility |
93 |
95 |
% age Schools with Ramp Facility |
47 |
56 |
% age Schools with PlayGround Facility |
51 |
57 |
% age Schools with Boundary Wall Facility |
51 |
61 |
% age Schools with Kitchen Shed Facility |
43 |
60 |
The data related to the school infrastructure in the table shows that the number
of elementary schools government aided increased from 1120968 in the year
2009-10 to 1153472 in the year 2012-13. There is a decrease in the student
classroom ratio. Girls' toilet facilities also increased by 10 percent. Drinking
water facility also showed an increase with 2 percent, ramp facility increased
by 9 percent, playground facility increased by 6 percent, boundary wall facility
increased by 10 percent and kitchen shed facility increased by 17 percent.
Table No. 5 Teachers Indicators
Indicators |
Years |
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Total Teachers (Govt. + Aided) |
4477429 |
4463642 |
Pupil Teacher Ratio |
32 |
27 |
% age Primary Schools with Pupil Teacher Ratio >
30 |
46 |
37 |
% age Upper Primary Schools with Pupil Teacher
Ratio > 35 |
36 |
33 |
% age of Single Teacher Schools |
9 |
9 |
Number of States conducted TET for Teachers
Recruitment |
|
26 |
The above table shows a decrease in the total number of teachers in the year
2012-13 as compared to the year 2009-10. Pupil teacher ratio improves in the
relevant years at all levels. But the percentage of the single teacher schools
is the same. Maximum number of states is conducting TET for teachers'
recruitment.
Table No. 6 Quality Indicators
Indicators |
2012-13 |
% age of Teachers with Professional Qualification |
81 |
Number of States with Revised Curriculum |
27 |
Number of States with Working hours as per RTE |
34 |
Number of States with Instructional hours as per
RTE |
33 |
Number of States with Implementing Continuous
Comprehensive Evaluation |
26 |
The data in the above table reveals that 81 percent of teachers having
professional qualification and the maximum number of states have revised their
curriculum. Maximum states have implemented continuous comprehensive evaluation.
Himachal Pradesh: An introduction
In January 1971, Himachal Pradesh was granted the status of a full-fledged state
and became the 18th PP State of the Indian Union. Following full statehood,
Himachal Pradesh started making concerted efforts to improve the economic
conditions of the State. Himachal Pradesh occupies 55673 square kilometre area.
The state has 123 population densities. It consists3 Divisions, 51
Sub-Divisions, 75 Tehsils, 34 Sub-Tehsils, 17882 inhabited, 3243 Gram Panchayats
and 78 Community Development Blocks. In Himachal Pradesh there are 68
Legislative Assembly seats, 4 Lok Sabha seats and 3 Rajya Sabha seats. The State
has made significant strides in developing an educational and health
infrastructure and transport and communication network. These advances have had
a positive impact on the socio-economic and demographic status of the state.
From the very beginning the local leadership in the state recognized the
importance of family welfare programmes and has implemented them vigorously.
Population and basic information of Himachal Pradesh
The total population of Himachal Pradesh is 6,856,509 as per the census of 2011
with a decadal growth of 12.81. It contributes 0.57 percent to the total
population of the country.
In Himachal Pradesh only 10.33 percent of the total population lives in urban
areas and
89.67 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Majority of the people of
Himachal Pradesh live in rural areas. So it becomes difficult to implement the
programmes and different schemes easily. Because in rural areas the geographical
condition,
communication system, transportation and other basic facilities are not enough.
Due to lack of such basic facilities the rural areas are not well developed.
Literacy Rate of Himachal Pradesh
Without a good literacy rate any nation cannot be developed. Literacy makes a
person understand things easily. The literacy rate of Himachal Pradesh is 83.78
percent among which 90.83 percent male and 76.60 percent female are literate.
The literacy difference between male and female is 14.23 percent. Decadal
population growth rate is +12.81
percent.
Table No. 8 District-Wise Literacy Rate and Decadal Growth of Himachal Pradesh
District |
District
2011 |
Population
Male |
Population
Female |
Literacy
Rate Percentage |
Male
Literacy Percentage |
Female
Literacy Percentage |
Decadal Population
Growth Percentage |
Bilaspur |
382056 |
192827 |
189229 |
85.67 |
92.39 |
78.90 |
+12.08 |
Chamba |
518844 |
260848 |
257996 |
73.19 |
84.19 |
62.14 |
+12.58 |
Hamirpur |
454293 |
216742 |
237551 |
89.01 |
95.28 |
83.44 |
+10.08 |
Kangra |
1507223 |
748559 |
758664 |
86.49 |
92.55 |
80.62 |
+12.56 |
Kinnaur |
84298 |
46364 |
37934 |
80.77 |
88.37 |
71.34 |
+7.61 |
Kullu |
437474 |
224320 |
213154 |
80.14 |
88.80 |
71.01 |
+14.65 |
L & Spiti |
31528 |
16455 |
15073 |
77.24 |
86.97 |
66.50 |
-5.1 |
Mandi |
999518 |
496787 |
502731 |
82.81 |
91.51 |
74.33 |
+10.89 |
Shimla |
813384 |
424486 |
388898 |
84.55 |
90.73 |
77.80 |
+12.58 |
Sirmaur |
530164 |
276801 |
253363 |
79.98 |
86.76 |
72.55 |
+15.61 |
Solan |
576670 |
306162 |
270508 |
85.02 |
91.19 |
78.02 |
+15.21 |
Una |
521057 |
263541 |
257516 |
87.23 |
92.75 |
81.67 |
+16.24 |
Himachal Pradesh |
6856509 |
3473892 |
3382617 |
83.78 |
90.83 |
76.60 |
+12.81 |
Implementation of Right to Education Act in Himachal Pradesh
The aim of education is not the acquisition of information, although important,
or acquisition of technical skills, though essential in modern society, but the
development of that bent of mind, that attitude of reason, that spirit of
democracy which will make us responsible citizens. "Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009" was implemented in
Himachal Pradesh by the government of Himachal Pradesh with effect from 1st
PP April 2010
and State RTE rules were notified vide notification NO.EDN-C-F (10)-8/09 dated
5th PP March
2011 to carry out the provision of the Act. Over the years the government has
made efforts to implement the Act successfully in terms of access, enrolment and
retention and infrastructural facilities in the state.
Status of Implementation of RTE Act in Himachal Pradesh
In the below tables we have studied the status of the implementation of Right to
Education Act in India under some selected indicators. These are the indicators
which are very necessary for the implementation of the RTE Act successfully in
the country. So we have mentioned the date of the indicators in different tables
below:
Table No. 9 Enrolment Indicators
Indicators |
Years |
|
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Total Enrolment Primary |
623198 |
610098 |
Total Enrolment Upper Primary |
412919 |
374800 |
% age of Girls to Total Enrolment Primary |
47 |
48 |
% age of Girls to Total Enrolment Upper Primary |
47 |
47 |
Gender Parity Index Primary |
0.90 |
0.91 |
Gender Parity Index Upper Primary |
0.89 |
0.88 |
% age of SCs to Total Enrolment |
28 |
29 |
% age of STs to Total Enrolment |
6 |
6 |
CWSN Enrolment |
8942 |
10707 |
Annual Average Drop-Out Rate (Primary) |
2.8 |
|
The data in the table reveals that the total enrollment at primary level was
623198 in 2009-10 and decreased to 610098 in the year 2012-13. The enrolment at
Upper Primary level was 412919 in the year 2009-10 and decreased to 374800 in
2012-13. The percentage of girls' enrolment at primary level increases with one
percent and remains the same at Upper Primary level. The enrolment percentage
also remains the same for STs and increases with one percent for SCs students.
Table No. 10 Status of RTE
Indicator |
2013 |
Notification of State Rules |
Notified |
Constitution of SCPCR |
Notified |
Notification of Academic Authority |
SCERT |
Policy on Eight Year Elementary Education |
Issued |
No Detention |
Issued |
No Corporal Punishment |
Issued |
No Board Exam up to Elementary Level |
Notified |
Banning Private Tuition |
Not Issued |
Banning Screening Procedure and Capitation Fees |
220 (P), 236 (UP) |
Working Days Notified |
96 |
Decentralized Grievances Redressal Mechanism |
Notified |
Local Authority Notified |
Notified |
% age Schools with School Management Committee Constituted |
MC,PS,NP,GP,BEO |
25% Admission in Private Unaided Schools at Elementary Level |
|
The data in the above table shows that the maximum indicators mentioned in table
number 10 are adopted by the states.
Table No. 11 School Infrastructure
Indicator |
Years |
|
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Number of Elementary Schools (Govt. + Aided) |
15125 |
15112 |
Student Classroom Ratio (SCR) |
15 |
15 |
% age of Primary Schools with Student Classroom Ratio >30 |
5 |
3 |
% age of Upper Primary Schools with Student Classroom Ratio
>35 |
16 |
14 |
% age Schools with Girls Toilet Facility |
98 |
97 |
% age Schools with Drinking Water Facility |
56 |
78 |
% age Schools with Ramp Facility |
46 |
56 |
% age Schools with PlayGround Facility |
63 |
84 |
% age Schools with Boundary Wall Facility |
50 |
64 |
% age Schools with Kitchen Shed Facility |
15 |
86 |
The data related to the school infrastructure in the table shows that the number
of elementary schools government aided decreased from 15125 in the year 2009-10
to 15112 in the year 2012-13. There is stability in the student classroom ratio.
Girls' toilet facilities also decreased
by 1 percent. Drinking water facility showed an increase with 22 percent, ramp
facility increased by 10 percent, playground facility increased by 21 percent,
boundary wall facility increased by 14 percent and kitchen shed facility
increased by 70 percent.
Table No. 12 Teachers Indicators:
Indicators |
Years |
2009-10 |
2012-13 |
Total Teachers (Govt. + Aided) |
49736 |
45697 |
Pupil Teacher Ratio |
16 |
4 |
% age Primary Schools with Pupil Teacher Ratio >
30 |
6 |
4 |
% age Upper Primary Schools with Pupil Teacher
Ratio > 35 |
5 |
5 |
% age of Single Teacher Schools |
6 |
7 |
Number of TET conducted for Teachers Recruitment |
|
3 |
The above table shows a decrease in the total number of teachers in the year
2012-13 as compared to the year 2009-10. Pupil teacher ratio improves in the
relevant years at all levels. But the percentage of the single teacher schools
increases by one percent. The state has conducted TET for teachers' recruitment
for four times till date.
Table No. 13 Quality Indicators
Indicators |
2012-13 |
% age of Teachers with Professional Qualification |
90 |
Revised Curriculum |
Under Process |
Working hours as per RTE |
36 |
Instructional hours as per RTE |
800 (P), 1000 (UP) |
Implementing Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation |
Universal Coverage |
The data in the above table reveals that 81 percent of teachers having
professional qualification and the maximum number of states have revised their
curriculum. Maximum states have implemented continuous comprehensive evaluation.
Problem of the RTE Act at Ground Level in Himachal Pradesh
Near about 90 percent of the total population in the state live in the rural
areas. Due to being a hilly state the geographical condition of the state is not
good. So the basic infrastructure in the state is not well developed. The data
shows that the physical infrastructure and other resources are less as compared
to require. The decrease in enrollment and decrease in the total number of
teachers are big problems. The people are not well aware about the act. The
school management committees are not aware about their rights and functions.
Recommendations to Strengthen the Implementation of the Act
To strengthen the implementation of the act the government should take the
important steps. Fill up all the vacant posts of the teachers and provide them
training modern techniques of teaching. Conduct the TET twice in a year. Improve
basic infrastructure in the state.
Case of Smt.Namita Maniktala Petitioners VS State of Himachal Pradesh and others
Justice A.M Khanwilkar, C.J (Oral) -The wider issues raised in this writ
petition are already answered in the judgment of this Court dated 22nd June,
2007 in CWP No. 192 of 2004. In that sense, nothing more requires to be done in
this writ petition regarding those issues.
From the order dated 21st May, 2010,
it appears that direction has been given to the State Government to take
appropriate steps to provide continued education to the children in the same
school where they are studying up to 12th standard. In the affidavit of
Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, it transpires that the said
school is run by the Council albeit funded by Union government and State
Government in prescribed ratio.
Thus understood, the direction given in order
dated 21 May, 2010, should be construed to mean that it operates against all the
duty holders who are expected to run the school considering the fact that
presently the school is only up to 5 standard and the students have to pursue
further studies in some other government school after being accommodated in
hostel, for that purpose.
The proposal to upgrade the school up to 12 standard
be considered by all concerned Authorities expeditiously and take final decision
one way or the other on or before the next academic year commences. If that
decision is adverse to the petitioner, the petitioner is free to pursue such
other remedy, as may be permissible in law.
2.
The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly, so also the pending application(s), if any.
Provision Under Section 12
Guidelines for admission and reimbursement of children under Section 12 of RTE
Act
In pursuant to the Government notification No. EDN-C-F(10)-8/2009-L dated 16th
March,
2013 regarding amendment in Rule-5 and further insertion of rules 5-A and 5-B in
the Right of
Children to Free and Compulsory Education Himachal Pradesh Rules, 2011,
Guidelines for 25% admission of children belonging to weaker section and
disadvantaged group in private unaided schools in Himachal Pradesh in accordance
with the provisions of RTE Act, 2009 under section-12 and Rules are framed as
under:--
Definitions: In these guidelines, unless the context otherwise requires:
- "RTE Act" means the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 as amended from time to time.
- "Rules" means the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education, Himachal Pradesh Rules, 2011 as amended from time to time.
- "Class" includes the entry level class such as pre-primary.
- "School" means a school as defined under sub-clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv) of clause (n) of section-2 which provide education up to elementary level.
- "Neighbourhood" as defined in Rule 4(1) of the Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education, Himachal Pradesh Rules, 2011.
- Admission process for 25% children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group as per the provisions of section-12 of RTE Act, 2009 and Rules made thereunder shall be initiated by the Government Primary schools and unaided private schools if the neighborhood government school has the enrollment more than 25 children as per Rule 4(1) of the Rules.
- In-Charge of neighborhood Government Primary school shall issue NOC to the neighborhood private school regarding 25% admission of children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group on or before 15th April after having been satisfied on clause 1(a) above.
- These schools must be recognized by the competent authority of the Department of Elementary Education as per the provision of Rule 9.
- Every recognized private school shall convey the class-wise breakup of approved seats and enrollment to their counterpart neighborhood Government Primary schools during the admission process on or before 31st March.
2. Government Commitment and Obligation:
The Government is committed and obligated to provide a Govt. Primary School at a distance of 1.5 Km if the number of children is 25 and similarly committed to provide a Govt. Middle School at a distance of 3 Km if the number of children is not less than 25 in class 5th. As the State has already opened Government Primary Schools and Government Middle Schools at almost all places, reimbursement for 25% Children of the weaker section and disadvantaged group admitted in the privately managed Schools shall be made if the enrollment of Children in Govt. Primary School situated within a radial distance of 1.5 Km is not less than 25 Children and similarly enrollment in the Govt. Middle School within the radial distance of 3 Km is not less than 40 Children in class 8th. Enrollments of students will be taken into account as on 30th September of the year. For the purpose of this clause neighborhood means:--
- a primary school which is located within a walking distance of 1.5 kms (one and a half kilometers).
- an upper-primary school which is located within a walking distance of 3 kms (three kilometers).
- The State Government shall not reimburse any amount if any student seat remains vacant in the neighborhood Government School.
3. Manner of Reservation of Seats:
- In accordance with the provisions of clause (3) of section-12 of the Act, every school shall display on its notice board the following information:
- Total number of seats at the entry level in the school
- Total number of free seats available at entry level
- Date of commencement of issue of application forms for the admission and the last date of its submission
- Date of eligible candidates list to be displayed for draw
- Date of draw of lots
- Date of display of the list of successful candidates along with the waiting list
- Last date of admission
- Opening date of the school for the next academic year
- Every school shall submit the information in Form-1 after completing the entire process to the Block Elementary Education Officer in case of the primary school.
- No registration fee, including charges of prospectus for admission format, shall be charged from the parents/children applying against free seats. The school shall provide Admission Format on Form-II free of cost to parents/children.
- The School shall acknowledge the application for admission against free seats through a receipt in Form-III showing the details of serial no. 2 (a) (i) to (viii) and shall assign each application a distinct registration number.
Conclusion
Education is a key component of human development which is an essential tool for
a country's growth. Education is recognised as a purposeful commitment on the
part of every state, ensuring innovative, low cost and effective education even
under conditions of great scarcity and daunting poverty.
Education has been accepted as a fundamental right of every child. It is needed
both as an end in itself to enable people to lead a cultured and more satisfying
life as well as a means for developing human capabilities for earning higher
income. The incremental process of educational achievements intensively impacts
upon other indicators of human development like birth, death, infant mortality
and literacy rate.
Education plays one of the most important roles in the process of socialisation
which cause better acculturation and internalisation of norms. The quality of
education plays a major role in imparting knowledge that is unbiased, relevant
as well as capable of making the recipient lead a successful life despite
formidable odds in today's competitive world. This is the human right based
approach to the new idea of Right to Education for every child in modern
society.
References:
- Aradhya N. and Kashyap A., (2006) The 'Fundamentals' of the Fundamental Right to Education in India, Books for change, Bangalore.
- Kumar, Meghana, "A Case study on the Grievance Redressal process set out in the Right to Education Act."
- MHRD, Govt. of India, (2013), Annual Status of Education Report, rural (ASER) report, Pratham, ASER Centre, New Delhi.
- Ministry of Human Resources Development, (2009), The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, New Delhi.
- Nalini Juneja, (2012), India's Historic Right to Free and Compulsory Education for Children Act 2009_The Articulation of A New Vision, In Kazuyo Minamide and Fumiko Oshikawa (Eds.) CIAS Discussion Paper No.24 Right to Education in South Asia: Its Implementation and New Approaches, The Center for Integrated Area Studies, Kyoto University.
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