New Delhi: The Indian parliament has passed a landmark education bill which seeks to guarantee free and compulsory education for children aged between six and 14 with the Lok Sabha approving it by voice vote on Tuesday. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on July 20.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal termed the Centre's move a "national enterprise that would help shape India's future." The legislation would ensure every child's right to education, and the obligation of the government to impart it. Once the President gave assent to the Bill, getting education would be a fundamental right of the child.
Replying to the discussion on the landmark legislation, Sibal clarified doubts on the right of disabled persons, raised by some groups, He said disabled persons were part of the category of "disadvantaged sections" who would get reservation. He added that Disability Act, which was part of RTE, was being amended to include Cerebral Palsy and Autism, and the amendment would automatically bring in the law?s ambit children with these disabilities.
A doubt, however, remains on the bill not exempting minority institutions from reservation. MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi warned it could be challenged in court as violative of Constitution. Sibal, however, said the minority institutions could give quota to disadvantaged sections among the minorities.
The RTE would empower the seven-year-old 86th Constitutional amendment that made free and compulsory education a fundamental right. The RTE Bill sets down guidelines for states and the Centre to execute and enforce this right. Earlier, education was part of the directive principles of state policy.
Stressing the need for a big boost to children's education, Sibal said that out of every 100 children attending elementary school only 12 reached the graduation level; in Europe it was 50-70 (students reaching college from the elementary level) and the global average 27. The centre wanted to increase India's average to 15 by 2012 and to 30-35 by 2020, added Sibal.
On infrastructure, Sibal said that there was a provision for establishing recognition authority in every State under which all schools would have to fulfil the minimum requirement of infrastructure within three years. Otherwise, they would lose recognition. Similarly appointment of teachers had to be approved by the academic committee, he pointed out.
