It took more than a 100 years for the government to come up with a policy of free education for the children, especially those who are underprivileged and belong to the economically weaker sections where parents can not afford to pay the fees.
The government has come up with this in the wake of realization that the private schools are doing better than the government schools. On the other hand, the main focus of this act is very interesting, worth though seems simple as all these days these simple reasons were a great hindrance for a child to start schooling, thereby prevent the child even to make an entry into the school. The act stresses on the following points:
- No child is required to get an identity proof of age to enter the school
- No child is required is required to have the background verification done
- No child will be deprived to take in the admission even after the academic year begins
- Schools controlled by government or local authority to provide free and compulsory elementary education to all children
- Schools cannot collect nay donation or payment other than the fees notified
- Atleast 25% of the total strength to be from weaker section of the society
As of now 13,761 schools have registered themselves with the RTE Act 2009 online but there is no definite numbers that define the number of schools registered as the offline registration is uncounted. Further stressing on the 25% reservation to the weaker section of the society in private schools is a wonderful concepts but the government is yet to come up with the circulars notifying the schools in regards with this issue and thus, it has put on pressure to distribute the regular administration of the schools as few schools find it difficult to maintain the administrative cost because they are short of admission and it’s difficult for such schools to reserve the seats. Government just by setting up an Act and neatly transferring the responsibility to the private schools is very much visible instead they should also support the private schools with the facilities or grants required for the students who are admitted under reservation, it’s not about transferring the responsibility it’s about sharing the responsibility and helping people lead a better life.
Further the instructions says that it will include only the children from 6 to 14 age which is not acceptable as the children in the age group of 4 to 6 and 14 to 17 will be ignored which also forms the important part of education in a child’s life. Further there are discussions on the redefinition of the neighborhood schools as at present the definition constitute based on the wards and the wards range from 30–40kms. The schools registered till date have been asked for details to be submitted to the government in the prescribed format by march 2013 regarding the students who fall under the reserved category.
More clarity and aid required from government end in wake of RTE Act and thanks a million that at least of 100 years they are at least trying to implement to provide the basic education as a human right which has been accepted globally that a citizen of a nation would demand for. So, now it’s also up to the private schools co operation in making this law successfully and making available the basic education for the weaker section and change the lives of hundreds if not millions. It’s a call for Corporate Social Responsibility for the private schools which would best describe their support in the RTE Act 2009.
