2017 oorutopia: Education is not a product, every child deserves one
Dr Niranjanaradhya.V.P
V.P, fellow and programme head, Universalisation of Equitable Quality Education Programme, Centre for Child and the Law, National Law School of India University
The RTE has failed us. Instead of fulfilling its primary obligation to ensure good quality education, the state is promoting the privatisation and commercialisation of one of society’s basic tenets. Hope is on the horizon, however, with the state appointed committee submitting its report to the Chief Minister in 2017...
It has been seven years now since the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act) was implemented in the state. The Act provides for free and compulsory education for all children between six and 14 years of age in their neighbourhood schools, placing the responsibility on the government to take the necessary measures to ensure this. It is clear from this that the state has the primary obligation to provide good quality, free and compulsory education to all children till they complete at least their elementary education.
As part of this Constitutional obligation, the state should have created an enabling learning environment in all schools , particularly focusing on its own government- run schools and aided schools to ensure good quality education to children from marginalised and disadvantaged communities.
But the ground reality is very disappointing as instead of fulfilling its primary obligation to ensure good quality education, the state is promoting privatisation and commercialisation of education. It is worrisome that the state is endorsing the education offered by the private schools that it has no control over , instead of strengthening its own schools.
The diminishing role of the state in ensuring basic education, health, employment, housing and so on is the biggest concerns of citizens craving for a mature and meaningful democracy in the state.
In order to find ways and means of strengthening public education, the government had appointed a committee of experts to look into the issue and make appropriate recommendations. The committee submitted its report to the Chief Minister in the first week of September 2017. With the onset of the New Year, the state will hopefully reiterate its commitment to ensuring basic, good quality, free and compulsory education to all children in their neighbourhood schools by tabling this report in the Legislative Assembly in the coming budget session.
The people of the state too should resolve to make education a prime agenda in the coming elections as otherwise our politicians will continue with their mudslinging to divert their attention from the core essentials for a dignified life as laid down in the Constitution. This New Year should see a reaffirmation of the political will to strengthen public education and provide good quality education overall to our children.
