Children in State can now claim right to education
LIFFY THOMAS and M. LAVANYA
CHENNAI, November 16, 2011
With the notification of rules under the RTE Act, Tamil Nadu has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between six and 14 years of age. File photo: K.R. Deepak
State notifies rules; public suggestions incorporated
The State government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
While the notification was published in the Government gazette dated November 12, the rules were displayed in the public domain (www.tn.gov.in) on Tuesday evening.
With this, the State has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between six and 14 years of age. Education activists and civil society were worried about the long delay in notifying the rules, and Tuesday's announcement was a cause for celebration as key provisions of the landmark legislation can now be implemented.
Notifying the rules meant a lot for every stakeholder responsible for a child's education. "It means action will follow on all important points in the Act, something we have been urging for quite some time. It also means filling gaps in the original Act," said K. Shanmugavelayutham, convener, Tamil Nadu Forum for Creche and Childcare Services (TN-FORCES).
The publication of the rules also means that all children can now claim their right to education. "Without the State notifying the rules, though the Act was in place, the rights could not be claimed by a child," said Aruna Rathnam, Education Specialist, UNICEF.
After the draft rules of the State government were published, activists, non-government organisations and members of the civil society came forward with suggestions, some of which have been incorporated in the notification.
These include giving more teeth to the School Management Committee and local bodies, defining 'children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections' and providing clarity on school mapping, which is essential to identify neighbourhood schools where children can be admitted.
There was some disappointment, however, that the rules do not specify the manner in which schools ought to select students from the disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in their neighbourhood, to the extent of 25 per cent of the strength of their Class I or pre-school, as required under Section 12 of the Act.
At least 20 States have already notified their draft rules, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Delhi.
The notification of the rules would mean that there would be more control over private schools, feel educationists.
LOCAL AUTHORITY EMPOWERED
In the draft rules, responsibilities such as ensuring that children attend school and establishing neighbourhood schools were vested with the 'Local Education Authority' and the State government. But the rules notified empower the local authority to do so. "This would mean that the power would shift from bureaucrats to local bodies," said education activist S.S. Rajagopalan.
Courtesy_
Also read the related stories
(1) G.O Ms No. 174, dated 8th November, 2011: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules Act, 2011 – Notifications – Issued:
(2) G.O Ms. No. 173, dated 8th November, 2011: Related Notifications - Issued: http://www.tn.gov.in/gosdb/gorders/sed/sedu_e_173_2011.pdf
(3) Get Tamil Nadu Text Books Online at: http://www.textbooksonline.tn.nic.in
Also read the related stories
Workers' children to get free education
K. T. SANGAMESWARAN
CHENNAI, November 16, 2011
Three children of casual workers who were prevented from entering the classroom as they did not pay the school fees, can now attend classes thanks to a Madras High Court order.
The court has directed the authorities to supply free books and uniforms to the children. It was open to the schools to claim the fee payable by the petitioners' children from the government under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RCFCEA). The petitioners K. Sivakumar and P. Mohan, said they belonged to the Scheduled Caste community and were daily wage earners. While Mr. Sivakumar's son Latchumana Kumar was studying in class I in Ramakrishnan Matriculation School, Veppur in Cuddalore district, the sons of Mr. Mohan, M.Vishnu and M. Sathya, were studying Standards VI and IV in Bharatha Vidyalaya Matriculation School, Thandalam Thiruporur in Kancheepuram district. The petitioners alleged that their children were not allowed to enter the classroom as they had not paid the school fees. They were not provided uniform and free textbooks as announced by the Tamil Nadu government, till date.
The petitioners' counsel, M.Pari, contended that under the RCFCEA, every child up to 14 years was entitled to get free and compulsory education in the neighbourhood school, even in unaided schools.
Children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections had also been included in the legislation for the purpose of free education. The rules had not been issued by the Tamil Nadu government directing the unaided managements to reserve 25 per cent of the strength for weaker sections without collecting any fee.
Justice N. Paul Vasanthakumar said since the petitioners were poor, they were unable to pay the school fee. He directed both the schools to allow the three children to attend classes. He also gave the further directions. The schools could claim the fees after getting further orders from the court. The court has posted the matter for November 21.
Courtesy_
0 Comments will be moderated:
Post a Comment