Rajeev Chandrasekhar's official website - Member of Parliament


GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Ministry of Human Resource Development
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

 RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 368
ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 9, 2013

 QUESTION
Redressal of Issues Under Right to Education (RTE) Act

 

368. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR: 

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: 

the steps taken by Government to rectify/address the lacunae and issues in the Right to Education (RTE) Act, voiced by schools and parents, including financial viability of private schools, quality of education, skills and capacity development of teachers etc. and the suggestions for changes and modifications in RTE Act? 

 

ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. SHASHI THAROOR)

 

The Right of the Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 was amended vide the RTE (Amendment) Act, 2012 in order to rectify the concerns raised by the parents and stakeholders. The RTE (Amendment) Act, 2012 made a provision for home based education for children with multiple disabilities and severe disability and also included the children with disability in the definition of "child belonging to disadvantaged group". The RTE (Amendment) Act, 2009 also clarifies that this Act shall not apply to Madrasas, Vedic Pathshalas and educational institutions that are primarily imparting religious instruction. Concerns have also been raised in various fora on the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) and 'no detention' policy in the context of 'no detention' provision in the RTE Act. A sub-committee of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) has been set up under the Chairpersonship of Minister of Education, Haryana to examine this issue. A sub-committee of the CABE has also been set up to examine the feasibility of extending the RTE Act to secondary schools. 

The RTE Act, 2009 lays down norms and standards which must be adhered to by every school. Private unaided schools are also expected to provide 25% admissions to children from disadvantaged groups/ weaker sections under Section 12(1) (c) and the cost of education of these children will be reimbursed by the government. The RTE Act is intended to provide the right of education to children and is not targeted at addressing the financial viability of private schools.

Improvement in quality of elementary education is a major objective of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)/RTE. To this end, States/UTs have been supported to appoint additional teachers to achieve Pupil-Teacher Ratio norms specified in Schedule to the RTE Act. As on date 19.85 lakh teachers’ posts have been sanctioned out of which 14.15 lakh teachers have been appointed by the States/UTs. Since August, 2010 Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) has been made compulsory for appointment as teacher. The State Govts have been assisted to provide training to cover 6.6 lakh untrained teachers through open distance learning mode. The Govt is also focusing on early reading, writing and mathematics in class I and II, student learning standards, teacher performance and school performance standards to improve learning outcomes. There has been a conscious effort to involve the community in these endeavours through school Management Committees (SMC) in which parents whose children study in the school account for 75% of the SMC membership. 

Other concerns of the stakeholders are also addressed by clarifications issued as Advisories/ Guidelines under Section 35(1) of the RTE Act, 2009 from time to time. A total of 11 guidelines and 2 advisories have been issued so far.

 

S.No

TITLE

SUBJECT

Guidelines

1

Guidelines dated 22.6.2010 under Section 35(1) of the RTE Act

Regarding implementation of Section 25(i.e. Pupil Teacher Ratio.

2

Guidelines dated 13th September 2010 u/s 35(1)

Regarding deployment of teachers for elections u/s 27 of the RTE Act.

3

Guidelines dated 8th November, 2010

Relaxation U/s 23 (2) of the RTE Act, 2009.

4

Guidelines dated 23.11.2010

Regarding applicability of RTE Act on Minority Institutions.

5

Guidelines dated 23.11.2010

Regarding Procedure for School Admission

Under RTE Act,

6

Guideline dated 2.2.2011

Implementation of section 12(1) (c) of RTE Act by schools under Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangdan (KVS).

7

Guidelines dated 11.2.2010

Conducting Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) under RTE Act.,

8

Guideline dated 25th July, 2011

Regarding free and Compulsory education in a neighboured school.

9

Guidelines dated 13.7.2012 issued under section 35(1)

The Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 in respect of Residential schools.

10

Guideline dated 26th October 2012

On clause(c) section 8 & 9 of RTE Act on prevention of discrimination in school in respect of children belonging to weaker section and disadvantage.

11

Guideline dated 26th October, 2012

On Requirement of Playground specified in schedule to RTE Act.

Advisory

1

Advisory dated 31st January,2012

On implementation of the Provisions of Sec.  29 of the Right of Children to Free and compulsory education (RTE) Act, 2009.

2

Advisory dated 14.2.2012

On implementation of section 31 and 32 of RTE Act. i.e. redressal of grievances related to rights of a child.

 

 

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