: RTE Forum organizes a big Consultation with Parliamentarians on RTE : July 31, New Delhi, RTE Forum. The poor implementation of Right to Education Act, 2009 is a big concern and a challenge to be overcome if commitments of giving every children a good quality education are to be fulfilled. Therefore, governments, both at the centre and states, must make a road map to implement the Act in true spirit.
This was the voice raised during the Consultation with Members of Parliament on Right to Education held yesterday at the Constitution Club, New Delhi. The meeting, organized by the RTE Forum was intended to draw the attention of the Parliamentarians and advocate the voices of the civil society within the Parliament; especially regarding the poor implementation of the RTE Act, 2009 after 5 years since its enactment.
The focal point of the discussion included majorly the implementation of RTE Act, 2009 after the 2nd deadline (31st March, 2015); the proposed Review of RTE Act with regard to the No Detention Policy and other provisions; school closure/merger all over the country, privatization of schools, especially with regard to recent Draft Policy on Public Private Partnership in School Education, 2015 by Govt. of Rajasthan; inadequate Budgetary Allocation in the Union Budget 2015-16 and amendments to Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986. A presentation was made by the RTE Forum revealing the status of implementation of the Act across the country.
17 MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha joined the Consultation, including representatives from Congress, CPI (M), BJP, BJD, JDU, RPI, Samajwadi Party, NCP and Independent Candidates. Mr. Oscar Fernandes (Congress), Mr. Mohammad Salim, CPI (M), Mr. A. V. Swamy, Independent; Mr. B. C. Mungekar, member, Standing Committee on MHRD, Mr. Ravi Prakash Verma and Mr. Javed Ali Khan (SP); Mr. Ali Anwar Ansari, JD(U); Mr. R. Dhruvnarayan (Congress); Mr. J. D. Seelam (Congress); Ms. Ranjeeta Ranjan (Congress); Mr. H. C. Meena and Mr. Ajay Tamta (BJP); Mr. Ramdas Athawale (RPI); Mr. Devi Prasad Tripathi (NCP); Mr. Balabhadra Majhi (BJD); Mr. Thokchom Menia (Congress) addressed the meeting. Mr. D. Raja from CPI also sent his support. This list includes three members from the standing committee on education.
During the deliberations, MPs made commitments to work collectively to protect the children’s right to education by strengthening the public system of education and implementing the RTE Act, 2009. They expressed their concerns about the closure/ merger of government schools and mushrooming low cost private schools/ different shades of privatization replacing Govt. schools. It was resolved that a charter of demands would be prepared on common consensus and a delegation of MPs along with civil society organizations will meet the Prime Minister, soon. This was a rare occasion when so many leaders from different parties came together, shared their concerns and reached a common consensus.
The meeting was presided over by Prof. Muchkund Dubey, President, CSD and ex foreign Secretary with elaborate context. Mr. Ambarish Rai, National Convenor, RTE Forum convened the meeting. More than 80 representatives from different organisations and civil society participated in the meeting.
Mitra Ranjan
Right to Education Forum
Media and Communication
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