Education, and the Right to Education

"The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn."


Thanks to Kapil Sibal and the Congress government for pushing through this bill.


Education is no more a privilege. Its a fundamental right. It is a right of every child in our country to receive education till the age of 14 years, without paying for it.

Its a big step towards a brighter tomorrow and substantial efforts are essential for its implementation, taking into account both equity and quality.

Some salient features of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act:

• It makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 to 14 and specifies the minimum norms in government schools. 
• It specifies reservation of 25% seats in private schools for children from poor families, prohibits the practice of unrecognized schools, and makes provisions for no donation or capitation and no interview of the child or parent for the admission.
• The act also provides that, no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until completion of elementary education. 
• Provision for special training of school drop-outs to bring them at-par with the students of the same age.
• Right to Education of Person with Disabilities till 18 years of age has been made a Fundamental Right. 
• The act also provides for establishment of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and State Commissions for supervising of proper implementation of the act, looking after the complaints and protection of Child Rights.