Question

from which year the right to education act came into effect

Answer 1

The Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force with effect from April 1, 2010. Free and compulsory elementary education was made a fundamental right, under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (86th Amendment), in December2002.

Answer 2

THE intention of RTE Act towards a compulsory and inclusive elementary education is undoubtedly prudent. What needs to be seen is the extent of universal acceptance it can garner.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force with effect from April 1, 2010. Free and compulsory elementary education was made a fundamental right, under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (86th Amendment), in December 2002. The ''Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill’ which represents the consequential legislation, was drafted in 2005 and introduced in the Rajya Sabha on December 15, 2008. 

The same was revised within a year to become the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 once it got assent of the President on August 26, 2009. The RTE Act, as the name suggests, provides for free and compulsory education for all children in the age group of six to fourteen years. 

The Draft Bill was an outcome of wide ranging discussions, which included consideration by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) comprising Ministers of Education of all States and Union Territories (UT), discussion in a High Level Group constituted by Prime Minister, and preparation/circulation of a Model Right to Education Bill. The RTE also took into consideration the concerns of teachers’ associations and the civil society organisations. 

The RTE Act is a detailed and comprehensive piece of legislation that extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The Act includes provisions related to schools, teachers, curriculum, evaluation, access and specific division of duties and responsibilities of different stakeholders. In the past fourteen months of its implementation, select states/UT (seven States and equal number of Union Territories) have notified the act in their respective jurisdiction. The seven States are Sikkim, Orissa, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Others such as Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya are likely to implement RTE soon.

Act Impact

With the Act coming into effect, India becomes one among 135 countries of the World to have a Constitutional provision for free and non-discriminatory education for everyone. However, the report says, there are some countries that continue to charge primary school fees despite the legal guarantee of free education. Though the age bracket for RTE in India is 6-14, Chile in Latin America provides free education for a period of 15 years to a child. It gives free and compulsory education to children in the age group of 6 to 21 years. Countries such as Canada, France, Norway and Spain, are among other 19 nations, that give free of cost education for a duration of 10 years, ranging from the age of 5 to 15 or 6 to 16 years.