Discuss the salient features of right to education.

Key Features of the Right to Education Act, 2009

The RTE Act encompasses several salient features designed to ensure access, equity, and quality in elementary education.

1. Free and Compulsory Education

• Article 21A: Guarantees free and compulsory education to all children between 6-14 years of age.
• Financial Responsibility: The Act places the financial responsibility for providing education on the government, ensuring that no child is denied education due to economic constraints.
• No Fees or Charges: Schools are prohibited from collecting any fees or charges that could prevent a child from accessing education. This includes tuition fees, admission fees, and charges for textbooks and uniforms.

2. Duties and Responsibilities

• Government’s Role: The Act mandates the government to establish schools within a prescribed distance of every neighborhood (within 1 km for primary and 3 km for upper primary).
• Local Authorities: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that all children in their jurisdiction are enrolled in school.
• School Management Committees (SMCs): The Act emphasizes the role of SMCs, comprising parents, teachers, and community members, in managing schools and monitoring their performance.

3. Norms and Standards for Schools

• Infrastructure: The Act prescribes norms and standards for school infrastructure, including classrooms, libraries, laboratories, toilets, and drinking water facilities.
• Teacher Qualifications: It lays down qualifications for teachers, ensuring that they possess the necessary training and expertise. Minimum qualification is Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed).
• Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR): The Act specifies a PTR of 30:1, ensuring that teachers have sufficient time to attend to each student.

4. Non-Discrimination and Inclusion

• Prohibition of Discrimination: The Act prohibits discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, gender, or socioeconomic background.
• Children with Disabilities: It mandates the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream schools, providing them with necessary support and accommodations. The Act aligns with the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 2016.
• Marginalized Groups: Special provisions are made for children from disadvantaged groups, such as Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and socially and educationally backward classes (SEBCs).

5. Curriculum and Evaluation

• Child-Centered Pedagogy: The Act promotes a child-centered pedagogy that focuses on learning through activity and exploration.
• Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE): It emphasizes CCE, which assesses students’ learning progress throughout the year, rather than relying solely on end-of-year examinations.
• Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction: The Act encourages the use of the mother tongue as the medium of instruction, particularly in the early years of schooling.

6. Monitoring and Enforcement

• Annual Work Plan: The Act requires the government to prepare an annual work plan for implementing the RTE Act.
• Monitoring Mechanisms: It establishes mechanisms for monitoring the implementation of the Act and addressing grievances.
• Right to Information: The Act recognizes the right to information as a crucial tool for ensuring transparency and accountability.