Significance of the Right to Free Education Act (RTE) 2009

With the implementation of the Right to Education Act, the Indian government has made it the fundamental right of a child (as per Article 21 A of the Constitution). The following ways in which the RTE Act of 2009 has been significant are mentioned below:

• Sets specific standards for the student-teacher ratio, an important concept in providing quality education.

• It also talks about providing separate toilet facilities for girls and boys, having adequate standards for classroom conditions, drinking water facilities, etc.

• Emphasis on avoiding the urban-rural imbalance in teachers’ postings as there is a big gap in the quality and numbers regarding education in the villages compared to the urban areas in the country.

• Provides for zero tolerance against the harassment and discrimination of children. Prohibits screening procedures for admission so that there is no discrimination against children on the basis of caste, religion, gender, etc.

• Mandates that no kid be detained until class 8. It introduced the Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system in 2009 to have grade-appropriate learning outcomes in schools.

• Creation of a School Management Committee (SMC) in every school in order to promote participatory democracy and governance in all elementary schools. They will monitor the school’s functioning and prepare developmental plans for it.

• The Act is justiciable and has a grievance redress mechanism that permits people to take action when the provisions of the Act are not implemented.

• Provisions included in Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act make it mandatory for all schools (private, unaided, aided, or special category) to reserve 25% of their seats for children from socially disadvantaged and economically backward sections. This will boost social inclusion and pave the way for a more just and equal country.

Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) 2009: A Compulsory Act for Education: In 2009, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) was enacted to provide free and compulsory education to children; it became a fundamental right under Article 21-A. This act ensures that every child has his or her right to a quality elementary education. Emphasis on skill building and higher education remains one of the most important areas for India’s RTE. To enforce Article 21A, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, popularly known as the Right to Education Act (RTE), was enacted in 2009.

Read below this article to learn about the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009 in depth. Find out its salient features, significance, achievements, limitations, and amendments made to this act.