Implementation Status of Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009 in Tripura
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MGIRED Journal Volume 2(1) : 90 - 100 ISSN 2393 -9605 IMPLEMENTATION STATUS OF RIGHT TO EDUCATION (RTE) ACT 2009 IN TRIPURA: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS Rajib Malakar Arobindo Mahato SIPARD & Research Scholar, Assistant Professor, Tripura Central University Dept. of Rural Management and Development, Contact No. : 09862724592/09774673240 Tripura Central University email: [email protected] email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Education is an essential human right which must be provided to all for the sustainable development of the nation. It enhances the productivity of the citizens and thus is directly linked to the welfare of the people. In India, Education is controlled by the Union Government and the states, with some responsibilities lying with the Union and the states having autonomy for others. Most of the universities in India are controlled by the Union or State Government. Article 21–A of the Indian Constitution casts a duty upon the State to provide Free Compulsory Education to children in the age group of 6- 14 years, ‘as the State may, by law, determine’. Therefore, time to time a demand has been raised for a law to ensure the Free Compulsory Education in India. Though several Central and state level attempts have been taken towards this end. The Sarva Shikhsa Abhiyan (SSA) is one of the successful attempts. The last of such attempts resulted in the “Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009” which declares education is a fundamental right for all. After enactment of the act the States/ UTs are also required to pay special attention to cope with the new provisions of RTE Act in terms of appointment of qualified teachers, development of special training programmes for out-of-school children admitted to age appropriate classes and preparation of relevant teaching learning materials. The Govt. of Tripura historically expenses a maximum share of its state budget in education sector. It is near about 21%, which is quite larger in the entire country. As per census 2011, the overall literacy rate of the state is 87.8%. The state has 4800 schools and 90% among them are Government schools. During 2013-14, total enrolment in school was 590230. In this scenario, the good sign is that, girls enrolment rate is 49. This present study attempts to examine the implementation status of the RTE act provisions in the state in 90 General Article Malakar & Mahato RTE Act 2009 in Tripura terms of availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability of elementary ü Prohibition of capitation fee and screening procedures, education facilities. ü Prohibition of physical punishment and mental harassment, Key Words: Free and Compulsory Education, Right to Education, Elementary ü Norms and standards for schools, Education, ü Preparation of school development plan, INTRODUCTION ü Laying down the curriculum and evaluation procedures, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or Right to Education Act ü Monitoring child's rights to education, and (RTE), which was passed by the Indian parliament on 4th August 2009, describes the ü Constitution of State Advisory Council, among other aspects. modalities of the provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. After that, now India became The Indian previous elementary education system has been successful to some extent in one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the act achieving higher levels of funding, access, enrollment and infrastructure. However, came into force on 1 April 2010. The act was notified as law on 3 Sept 2009 as The high dropout rates, low attendance, universal, equitable and quality elementary Children's Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The RTE Act has provisions for education for all continue to be a challenge in this system. The Right to Education Act is every child who is above six years of age and has not yet been enrolled to any school or a path breaking Act in the history of Indian Education towards providing quality could not complete his/ her elementary education due to any reason to be admitted in a elementary education to all. class appropriate to his or her age. After implementation of this act the States/UTs are In case of Tripura, as per the Educational Development Index (EDI) 2013-14 conducted also required to pay special attention to ensure the various important provisions of the by the National University of Education Planning and Administration, Govt. of India RTE Act, such as: the state has achieved 10th position in educational accessibility point of view. This ü Right of disabled child to receive free and compulsory education in a measured in terms of density of schools per 10 sq.km, availability of school per 1000 neighborhood school, child populations and ratio of primary to upper primary schools/sections. One of the most important features of universal education is marginalizing the dropout rate. The ü Completion of elementary education even after fourteen years of age, average dropout rate of students in primary level in Tripura was 2.22 during 2012-13. It ü Right of child to seek transfer to any other school, is much lower than the national dropout rate i.e. 4.67. It shows that, the state is ü Prohibition of holding back and expulsion of child, performing its best towards inclusive education. Though, the state has some specific ü No child is denied admission because of lack of proof of age, problems. Ensuring quality education for all is a strong challenge. To implement any kinds of proactive initiative the state is looking towards the Union Government for ü Formulating standards and norms for school management committees, funding. As a member of North Eastern states Tripura is also facing the disadvantages of ü Qualification, terms and conditions of services of teachers, geographical location. Therefore, to implementing the state obligations of Right to ü Filling of vacancies of teachers, Education Act is a challenge for Tripura. ü Pre-school education (States/UTs may provide for this), THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION ACT AND STATE OBLIGATIONS ü Duties of teachers, and redressal of their grievances, The Rights to Education act, 2009 encompass two broad components i.e. enhancement ü Duties of parents/guardians, of access of all to education on the basis of equality and nondiscrimination, and freedom ü Prohibition of deployment of teachers for non-educational purposes, to choose the kind (public/private institutions) and content (religious and moral) of education. Both aspects represent the spirit and fundamental essence of the right to ü Maintaining pupil teacher ratio as specified, 91 92 General Article Malakar & Mahato RTE Act 2009 in Tripura terms of availability, accessibility, acceptability and adaptability of elementary ü Prohibition of capitation fee and screening procedures, education facilities. ü Prohibition of physical punishment and mental harassment, Key Words: Free and Compulsory Education, Right to Education, Elementary ü Norms and standards for schools, Education, ü Preparation of school development plan, INTRODUCTION ü Laying down the curriculum and evaluation procedures, The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or Right to Education Act ü Monitoring child's rights to education, and (RTE), which was passed by the Indian parliament on 4th August 2009, describes the ü Constitution of State Advisory Council, among other aspects. modalities of the provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in India under Article 21A of the Indian Constitution. After that, now India became The Indian previous elementary education system has been successful to some extent in one of 135 countries to make education a fundamental right of every child when the act achieving higher levels of funding, access, enrollment and infrastructure. However, came into force on 1 April 2010. The act was notified as law on 3 Sept 2009 as The high dropout rates, low attendance, universal, equitable and quality elementary Children's Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act. The RTE Act has provisions for education for all continue to be a challenge in this system. The Right to Education Act is every child who is above six years of age and has not yet been enrolled to any school or a path breaking Act in the history of Indian Education towards providing quality could not complete his/ her elementary education due to any reason to be admitted in a elementary education to all. class appropriate to his or her age. After implementation of this act the States/UTs are In case of Tripura, as per the Educational Development Index (EDI) 2013-14 conducted also required to pay special attention to ensure the various important provisions of the by the National University of Education Planning and Administration, Govt. of India RTE Act, such as: the state has achieved 10th position in educational accessibility point of view. This ü Right of disabled child to receive free and compulsory education in a measured in terms of density of schools per 10 sq.km, availability of school per 1000 neighborhood school, child populations and ratio of primary to upper primary schools/sections. One of the most important features of universal education is marginalizing the dropout rate. The ü Completion of elementary education even after fourteen years of age, average dropout rate of students in primary level in Tripura was 2.22 during 2012-13. It ü Right of child to seek transfer to any other school, is much lower than the national dropout rate i.e. 4.67. It shows that, the state is ü Prohibition of holding back and expulsion of child, performing its best towards inclusive education. Though, the state has some specific ü No child is denied admission because of lack of proof of age, problems.