New Delhi:
A year on, the Right to Education Act is yet to be implemented by some state bodies.
In 2009, the government announced that it will ensure every child gets an education which is free and compulsory. The Right to Education Act was termed as historic! The private schools were asked to reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society.
Little Muktesh is excited about going to school. He is in standard two in a private school in Delhi. The fee is beyond what his family can pay and he almost dropped out last year. But the Right to Education Act rescued him. He is now enrolled in the shcool as an economically weaker student. Muktesh will get free education till he is 14.
But not every student is as lucky. 11-year-old Akaash lost his parents. He has no other family to support him.
"I would love to study but no school will give me admission," said Akaash.
No school has admitted Akaash yet, claiming that their quota of poor students is full.
Private schools complain that the Act is incomplete.
"Was told that government would offset costs as per government norms but in reality cost per child varies from every school. 25 acre school vs 2 acre school," said Lata Vaidyanathan, Principal.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, conducted a study across 9 states to understand the impact of the Right to Education Act and discovered some disturbing trends.
"The names of a large number of students are enrolled in school but they are not in schools," said the NGO.
Education could be an option for these children provided their parents know the government ensures a free education to them. But bodies which implement the Right to Education Act haven't even been set up in many states.
But some, like the monitoring agency in Delhi say direct intervention is the only way out.
"We have made 12,400 interventions (patch) ensured 3,000 admissions after our interventions," said Amod Kanth, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The historic Act has certainly made a beginning but there are many lessons to be learnt before it can change India's education system.
In 2009, the government announced that it will ensure every child gets an education which is free and compulsory. The Right to Education Act was termed as historic! The private schools were asked to reserve 25 per cent seats for children from the weaker sections of society.
Little Muktesh is excited about going to school. He is in standard two in a private school in Delhi. The fee is beyond what his family can pay and he almost dropped out last year. But the Right to Education Act rescued him. He is now enrolled in the shcool as an economically weaker student. Muktesh will get free education till he is 14.
But not every student is as lucky. 11-year-old Akaash lost his parents. He has no other family to support him.
"I would love to study but no school will give me admission," said Akaash.
No school has admitted Akaash yet, claiming that their quota of poor students is full.
Private schools complain that the Act is incomplete.
"Was told that government would offset costs as per government norms but in reality cost per child varies from every school. 25 acre school vs 2 acre school," said Lata Vaidyanathan, Principal.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO, conducted a study across 9 states to understand the impact of the Right to Education Act and discovered some disturbing trends.
"The names of a large number of students are enrolled in school but they are not in schools," said the NGO.
Education could be an option for these children provided their parents know the government ensures a free education to them. But bodies which implement the Right to Education Act haven't even been set up in many states.
But some, like the monitoring agency in Delhi say direct intervention is the only way out.
"We have made 12,400 interventions (patch) ensured 3,000 admissions after our interventions," said Amod Kanth, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The historic Act has certainly made a beginning but there are many lessons to be learnt before it can change India's education system.
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