New Delhi: Before Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal rushed off to Parliament to introduce the Right to Education bill in the Lok Sabha, he addressed those who will implement it -- the states. His message: It is unacceptable that only 12 out of 100 children make it beyond Class XII, and the proposed bill intends to change that.
"Why can't you do it in two years? Why wait for five years. This chalta hai attitude will not do," Sibal said.
Some of the landmark promises in the Right to Education bill include:
- Schools set up by the govt in every neighbourhood within 3 years
- Those who have missed out on school, can be admitted to an age appropriate class. It's the state's responsibility to bring them up to par
- Private schools to reserve 25% of seats in Class
- Penalties for capitation fee, or screening parents
- No failing a child till Class VIII
Opening and maintaining schools in every neighbourhood will cost anything above 2.2 lakh crore but the government says funds are not a problem. There are other concerns.
"Main problem is how to get parents to be involved," says Bano Jamir of Nagaland Education Department.
The problem with the bringing the law will not be in Parliament but on the ground in implementation.