The Bill states that all children between the age of six and fourteen years have the right to free and compulsory education. It mandates the government to set up neighbourhood schools within three years. It has provisions to provide out-of-school children to be given special training and then be admitted to the class appropriate for their age. It bans capitation fees and screening tests at the time of admission, failing or expelling any child till the completion of elementary education, and private tuitions by teachers. The Bill has specific provisions for private schools: a certificate of recognition and admitting at least 25 per cent of students belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory education till its completion. For such children, the government will provide reimbursement to the school to the extent of per-child expenditure for government schools.
IE:The new ‘right to education’ bill is more about good intentions less about deliverables:Dec 18,08
When in doubt, legislate
The new ‘right to education’ bill is more about good intentions less about deliverables……..M. R. Madhavan
The Government recently introduced the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008. This follows a 1993 judgment of the Supreme Court, which ruled that elementary education is a fundamental right (as part of the right to life), and a subsequent amendment of the Constitution in 2002. The UPA government had drafted a bill in 2005 to implement the right to education, but, it was held up as several ministries, the planning commission and state governments could not agree on financing the costs. The Bill has finally been introduced with provisions for sharing of costs between the centre and the states.