The Supreme Court in a recent judgement, upheld the constitutional validity of Right to Education (RTE) Act. Private schools had opposed provisions of the RTE on the ground that they infringed on their right to do business or trade.
The Act sets out minimum norms and makes running of schools less exploitative, especially with relation to capitation fees and underpaid. Section 19 of the Act clearly states that recognition to schools will be withdrawn where a school fails to adhere to the norms and standards and any one who violates this stipulation can face a fine of Rs 1 lakh. New schools must meet the norms.
In most states, government schools lack quality education which prompts people to move to privately run schools.
We need more experimentation in methods of delivering education and better governance to make teachers teach in state-run schools and regulate the conduct of private schools that often pay their staff a pittance even while collecting extortionate tuition fees from students.
Though implementation of RTE will be extremely beneficial, educational reforms are required at a larger scale than RTE legislation and a court order. The government must fix its public schools and use its fiscal resources optimally.
The (RTE) Act marks a historic moment for the children of India.And it was indeed incorrect on the part of private schools to oppose provisions of the RTE on the ground that they infringed on their right to do business or trade.Education is not business or trade !
ReplyDeletevery well written !
It is encouraging to note that the court has looked not merely at the existence of the right to education under Part IV but moreover the purpose of enacting 21A was to ensure that this right was made accessible to people for whom it was meant. It is this right to access and realize education, which makes this judgment upholding the law a step towards the promotion of equal opportunities.
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