None of Mathew Peedikayil’s three children go to school. The Dahisar resident and his wife chose to home-school their children seven years ago, a decision under threat since the Right To Education (RTE) Act that came into force last year.   The Act, which came into force on April 1 2010, makes it mandatory for every child in the 6 to 14-year age group to be enrolled at a formal school. A petition...

-PTI   Relaxing rules for admission of children of weaker sections in private schools under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, Madhya Pradesh government has directed the concerned schools to provide admission on a first come first serve basis, official sources said today. Under the Act, 25 per cent seats are reserved for children of weaker sections of the society. Despite efforts to fill these seats, there...

It’s been raining “rights” in Indian policy for the last few years — education, work, food, service, healthcare, and much else. This “Diet Coke” approach to poverty reduction — the sweetness without the calories — was always dangerous because of unknown side effects. Commenting in 1790 on the consequences of the French Revolution, Edmund Burke said: “They have found their punishment in their success. Laws overturned, tribunals subverted, industry without...

The Supreme Court is set to deliver a decision on a constitutional challenge by private schools Private schools around the country are waiting for the Supreme Court to issue a judgement in a constitutional challenge to a 15-month-old law that enforces free and compulsory education as a fundamental right, after hearing was concluded last week. The government, through the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, or RTE, had...

Even as academic circles debate whether schools should do away with the detention policy (pass-fail system) as well as examinations that put pressure on students, the West Bengal government is yet to notify the Right to Education Act nearly 15 months after it came into force all over the country in April 2010. Recently, School Education Minister Bratya Basu said the government was considering a proposal to do away with examinations...