Language
Country/Area
No result found
The revolution in education in India: How has the RTE bill changed the future of children?
On August 4, 2009, the Indian Parliament passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE Act). According to Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, Ensure free and compulsory education for children between the ages of 6 to 14 in India. With the implementation of the RTE Act, India becomes one of the 135 countries in the world that considers education as a fundamental right of every child.
“We are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of gender and social class, have access to education.”
Free education is defined as the fact that, except for children sent by their parents to schools not aided by the government, all other children do not have to pay any fees or charges which may prevent them from obtaining and completing basic education. Compulsory education places a legal responsibility on local governments and authorities to ensure that all children attend, attend and complete basic education. In this way, India moves further towards a rights-based framework and makes central and local governments legally accountable for implementing this fundamental child right.
Historical Background of the Act
The history of the Act dates back to the drafting of the Constitution of India during the period of independence, but the specific historical context is related to the constitutional amendment in 2002, which incorporated Article 21A of the Indian Constitution, making education Become a fundamental right. As required by this amendment, a separate education bill must be prepared to regulate its implementation mode.
Passage and implementation of legislation
The bill was approved by the Cabinet on 2 July 2009, passed by the Senate on 20 July of the same year, passed by the House of Representatives on 4 August, and received the President's assent on 26 August 2009. The bill came into effect on April 1, 2010, becoming the first law in India to be implemented by the Prime Minister through a speech.
"This is a historic law that underscores our commitment to the education of all children."
Main contents of the bill
The RTE Act requires that all children receive free and compulsory education in schools in the communities where they live. The Act ensures that the government has a duty to provide free basic education to children and to ensure that children attend, attend and complete their education. The RTE Act also requires conducting community surveys to identify children who need education and setting up educational facilities.
Quality and funding issues
While the bill seeks to improve educational equity, it has also encountered quality issues during implementation. Many state governments say they have difficulty providing education that meets standards due to lack of financial capacity. In addition, although the central government promised to provide funding, it adjusted the funding ratio several times, resulting in insufficient confidence among the states in implementing the bill.
Implementation Challenges
According to the latest report, 1.7 million children aged 6 to 14 are still not in school and there is a shortage of 508,000 teachers across the country. Still, some advocacy groups have questioned the implementation of the RTE Act, arguing that some key legal promises have not been fulfilled on schedule.
Opposition and criticism
Although the RTE Act aims to promote educational opportunities, it has also received some criticism. Critics say the bill was hastily drafted and failed to adequately consider the quality of education. Additionally, the bill's impact on private and religious minority schools has also sparked controversy.
"This is a fraud on our children. It does not provide free education nor does it make education mandatory."
Future Outlook
In the process of promoting educational equity, the RTE Act has brought about certain positive changes, but many challenges still need to be overcome. The quality, accessibility and equity of education are key issues that need to be urgently addressed. In the future, how should society and the government work together to improve the education system to create a better learning environment and ensure that every child has equal access to education?
