Centre seeks cooperation from PRIs on free education

Updated on: Friday, December 04, 2009

New Delhi: Government today said proper cooperation from state governments and Panchayati Raj Institutions was needed for setting up schools to ensure the success of the Act to provide free and compulsory education to children.

'Resources are required and implementation agencies also need to be in place. Apart from this, cooperation from states, PRIs and advisory committees would be required for this exercise,' HRD Minister Kapil Sibal informed Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 has been passed recently and it calls for building of neighbourhood schools within three years of passage of the legislation. Sibal said the National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) has prepared financial estimates of Rs 1,71,484 crore for a period of five years from 2010-11 to 2014-15 for implementation of the Act.

'The funds would be shared between the Centre and states. Currently this ratio is 60:40 where 60 per cent is the share of Centre, but over the next five years, this ratio will be 50:50,' the minister said.

Sibal said the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was discussed with state education ministers at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board on Education (CABE) on August 31 this year.

'The states endorsed the provisions under the Act and sought adequate financial outlays for its implementation,' he said.

A committee set up by the government to suggest follow-up action on Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan vis-a-vis the Act has also held discussions with representatives of state governments on various aspects of the legislation.

To another question, Sibal said 'there are more than 10 lakh vacancies of teachers in schools throughout the country and efforts are being made to fill them up urgently. That is why we have brought this Act, ... still states should also make efforts to fill these vacancies'.

The minister said under the Act there is a provision to listen to complaints of children who are not able to attend school due to their involvement in child labour.

Centre seeks cooperation from PRIs on free education

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