Rajya Sabha passes Right to Education Bill

Updated on: Tuesday, July 21, 2009

New Delhi: A landmark bill for free and compulsory education as a fundamental right of children in the 6-14 age group was passed by Rajya Sabha today.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2008, also earmarks 25 per cent seats to weaker sections in schools and seeks to do away with the practice of schools taking capitation fees before admission and subjecting the child or parents to any screening procedure.

Winding up a discussion on the Bill, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said it would be up to the states to implement the policy of reservation in the admission.

Responding to members' concern on the financial requirement of the gigantic task, he said a group was on the job which would provide inputs to the 13th Finance Commission before completion of its term in October this year.

Strongly advocating the passage of the Bill, Sibal said though it was a difficult task, the government could not have waited any longer. 'We have to do it. We have wasted a whole lot of time.'

He said the Bill seeks to ensure the right of the children for education and the obligation of the government to impart that education.

'Once Parliament passes it, it will be a fundamental right of the child. There is no way in the world that we will not have finances,' he said.

Referring to government's programme for improving quality in education, Sibal said 'we are looking at accreditation of schools.'

Expressing dissatisfaction with the present system of examination, he said at present the child has no choice. It all depends on 10th examination performance. 'Result of the examination decides a child's career instead of child deciding it,' he said.

Sibal also said the government was determined to change the course curriculum and do away with 'oppressive examination system.'

The Bill seeks to achieve ten broad objectives which include free and compulsory education, obligation on the part of state to provide education, nature of curriculum consistent with Constitution, quality, focus on social responsibility and obligation of teachers and de-bureaucratisaion in admissions.

The Bill also provides for building up of neighbourhood schools in three years by the states. The minister said the definition and location will be decided by the states.

The bill was passed by voice vote after negating several amendments moved by Moinul Hassan of CPI-M.

Sibal defended the role of private sector in education stating the government does not have resources to meet the huge gap in building institutions. 'If hundred children go to schools, only 12 reach universities. Government does not have resources and private enterprises will have to come there is no contradiction'.

However, Brinda Karat (CPI-M) questioned the rationale behind reservation in a law which provides for free and compulsory education for all children. Defending the three-language formula, he said a child should be taught in mother tongue; for national integration, Hindi should be taught; and for becoming globally competitive, English was inevitable.

Rajya Sabha passes Right to Education Bill

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