The judgment last week by the Supreme Court, making it mandatory for the government, local authorities and private schools to reserve 25% of their seats for the economically weaker sections, is one more step in making the right to education a reality for Indian children. The road, however, is long and the journey arduous, as there are still millions who face barriers in accessing education. The Right of Children to Free...

With the Supreme Court throwing its full weight behind the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, (better known as the Right to Education Act or RTE Act) on Thursday, the composition of students in schools as well as the economics of running schools will undergo dramatic changes. The apex court upheld the constitutional validity of the Act and directed all schools, including privately-run schools, irrespective of the...

-DNA   Can’t think of ways to make schooling a stress-free affair? Take the cue from the kendriya vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS). It has come up with a unique method of evaluation under which students can appear for their summative assessments (equivalent to semester examinations) multiple number of times, giving them ample opportunities to better their score with each attempt. KVS officials said they are going to pilot a new form of learning exercises,...

The human resource development ministry has asked all states to assess how many additional teachers are required at the secondary level under a new teacher-student ratio worked out for Classes IX and X. The states have also been told to start a mapping exercise to find out the requirement for new secondary schools in every district. Sources said the 1:32 teacher-student formula and the push for new schools were aimed at addressing...

Residential schools in the state are the latest additions to the bandwagon of private elite schools contravening the provisions of the national Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009. TOI did a reality check by calling them impersonating as parents and going through their websites. These schools are planning to hold a screening procedure in the form of interactions with parents of students seeking admissions at the elementary level and in primary...