Three years on, RTE Act fails to ensure education for kids below 14 years
5 April 2013 7:54 AM IST
The Right to Education Act (RTE Act), 2009 completed three years since it was introduced, on 31 March. But nothing seems to have improved for children from economically backward classes in the national capital or elsewhere. Children below 14 years of age are involved in rag-picking as usual, never having attended a school. The situation is equally dismal across the country, with state governments having failed to address the core issue of providing quality education to 200 million children in the age group 6 to 14 years.
Ashok Aggarwal national president of AIPA and an advocate said that 'Nearly, 100 million children are still out of school (20 million children with disabilities, 10 million children from the migrant labour community, 40 million children who are engaged in unorganised labour, 30 million children (particularly girls) who do not attend school to look after younger siblings/dropouts). Aggarwal added, 'Even the approximately 100 million children who are attending government schools do not receive proper education.
The quality of education being imparted in these schools is very poor. There has also been a high percentage of drop-outs in the past three years. The way the government has promoted the RTE Act, 2009, has increased the demand for education among the marginalised sections, but the supply has failed to meet the demand.
The state governments have not taken effective steps to implement the RTE provision, that allows 25 per cent admission of children belonging to disadvantaged group and economically weaker section in unaided non-minority schools.
Delhi is the only state where this provision has been implemented owing to the Delhi High Court's intervention and pressure from the people.'
Ashok Aggarwal national president of AIPA and an advocate said that 'Nearly, 100 million children are still out of school (20 million children with disabilities, 10 million children from the migrant labour community, 40 million children who are engaged in unorganised labour, 30 million children (particularly girls) who do not attend school to look after younger siblings/dropouts). Aggarwal added, 'Even the approximately 100 million children who are attending government schools do not receive proper education.
The quality of education being imparted in these schools is very poor. There has also been a high percentage of drop-outs in the past three years. The way the government has promoted the RTE Act, 2009, has increased the demand for education among the marginalised sections, but the supply has failed to meet the demand.
The state governments have not taken effective steps to implement the RTE provision, that allows 25 per cent admission of children belonging to disadvantaged group and economically weaker section in unaided non-minority schools.
Delhi is the only state where this provision has been implemented owing to the Delhi High Court's intervention and pressure from the people.'
Next Story
