Page 174 - DEDU501_DEVELOPMENT_OF_EDUCATION_SYSTEM_ENGLISH

Development of Education System Kulwinder Pal, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 19: Right to Education Act (2009)

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
19.1 Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009
19.2 Features of Right to Education Act, 2009
19.3 Goals and Objectives of Right to Education, 2009
19.4 Situation after RTE Act, 2009
19.5 Summary
19.6 Keywords
19.7 Review Questions
19.8 Further Readings

Objective

The objectives of this unit can be summarized as below :
• to discuss about right to education (RTE) act, 2009
• to discuss about features of right to education act, 2009
• to describe about goals and objectives of riht to education, 2009
• to explain about situation after RTE act, 2009

Introduction

India's education system over the past few decades has made significant progress. According to
India's Education For All Mid Decade Assessment, in just five years between 2000 and 2005,
India increased primary school enrolment overall by 13.7 per cent and by 19.8 per cent for girls,
reaching close to universal enrolment in Grade 1.
Even with these commendable efforts, one in four children left school before reaching Grade 5
and almost half before reaching Grade 8 in 2005. Learning assessments show the children who
do remain in school are not learning the basics of literacy and numeracy or the additional skills
necessary for their overall development.
The landmark passing of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act
2009 marks a historic moment for the children of India. For the first time in India's history,
children will be guaranteed their right to quality elementary education by the state with the
help of families and communities.
The world cannot reach its goal to have every child complete primary school by 2015 without
India. We will discuss about the Right to Education in this unit.

19.1 Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009

Right to Education provides for free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six
to fourteen years. The Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act came into force
from April 1, 2010. This was a historic day for the people of India as from this day the right to
education will be accorded the same legal status as the right to life as provided by Article 21A
of the Indian Constitution. Every child in the age group of 6-14 years will be provided 8 years
of elementary education in an age appropriate classroom in the vicinity of his/her
neighbourhood.

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