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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Kids still await benefits of RTE Act by Binay Singh

Kids still await benefits of RTE Act by Binay Singh

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published Published on Jul 12, 2011   modified Modified on Jul 12, 2011

It's been a year and three months since the right to education became an act (RTE Act), promising free and compulsory education to every child in the age group of 6-14 years. However, the act is yet to be implemented in Uttar Pradesh.

The norms of the Right to Education Act say that the appropriate government and the local authority shall establish a school where it is not so established within a period of three years. While more than a year has already passed (RTE became an act on April 1, 2010), fulfilling objectives of the act will be an uphill task.

"Things are in process for notification to implement the RTE Act," basic shiksha adhikari (BSA) Suryabhan told TOI. The BSA claimed the number of primary and upper primary schools in the district fulfilled the norms prescribed in the act. According to him, as per norms, there should be a government primary school for a population of 300 at a distance of every one kilometre, and an upper primary school for a population of 800 at every three kilometre. "Presently there are 1,033 primary schools and 352 upper primary schools in the district," he informed.

However, there should be more schools if the criteria of population is considered. According to the latest provisional figures released by the Directorate of Census Operations in Uttar Pradesh, the total population of Varanasi is 36,82,194. The district comprises an area of 1,535 sq km. As per Census 2011, density of the district per square km is 2,399. If the population figure is considered, there should be about 12,273 primary schools and 4,602 upper primary schools in the district.

The basic education department had no data of the 'out of school' children in current academic session. "The process of survey and identification of children is on," said the BSA. According to officials, a total of 1,257 'out of school' children were identified in the last survey conducted in July-August 2010 and all of them were admitted to different schools. The officials, however, admitted that there was shortage of teachers in the district to fulfil the norms of the act. "As per the act, ratio of teacher and students should be 1:30 in primary schools and 1:35 in upper primary schools," said the BSA, adding that a significant number of teachers would be needed to meet the objective. He, however, failed to give specific information about the existing strength of teachers and future requirement after implementation of the act.

"The delay in implementation of RET Act is not only a violation of child right, but would also aggravate the problem of child labour," said Rajni Kant, state convener of the Campaign against Child Labour (CACL) and president of Human Welfare Association (HWA). The tussle between the Central and state government was causing obstacle for free and compulsory education to all children, he said and added it was a fact that UP had the maximum child labourers in the country. According to him, 67% primary schools and 50% upper primary schools in the state were facing a shortage of teachers. For the implementation of the RTE Act, more new schools, extra classrooms in existing schools and teachers would be required, he said. "It is unfortunate that the Central government has refused to give its nod to 5,000 primary and 900 upper primary schools in UP due to the state government's failure to notify the rules of RTE Act for its implementation. In such a situation, how will the goal of the act be achieved?" he wondered. "The state needs around 12,000 new primary schools, 3,000 new upper primary schools, 1.10 lakh extra classrooms and 2.50 lakh additional teachers to achieve hundred percent enrolments of children within three years," he claimed.

Obviously, in case of non-implementation of the act, the 'out of school' children, particularly hailing from poor families, would still be seen working at roadside dhabas, tea stalls and hotels. Records of the labour department show that the problem of child labour exists in the district. According to records, 164 children were rescued from hazardous industries and 33 children from non-hazardous industries during April 2009 to March 2010 in the district. There were 2,539 children working in hazardous and non-hazardous industries in the district from December 10, 1996 to October 2009. "These records are updated on regular intervals after conducting drives against child labour," said additional labour commissioner DK Kanchan. The department runs special schools under National Child Labour Project (NCLP) for such children rescued from the works. According to him, there are 70 NCLP schools in the district to provide education to 3,500 such child.

The Times of India, 11 July, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Kids-still-await-benefits-of-RTE-Act/articleshow/9188912.cms


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