Mar 4, 2022

Ensuring children’s right to education

The Karnataka High Court has said that under the right to education law, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has a duty to conduct a door-to-door survey of children in the age group of 0 to 14 years. The Court asked the administrative body to start the survey after the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department recorded that in rural areas of the State, 33,344 children are not going to school and 9,716 children are not enrolled in any school.

 

What is the law on Right to Education?

Article 21A of the Constitution of India, 1950 states that education is a fundamental right. This means that the government has to provide free and compulsory education to all children from six to fourteen years of age. The right to education (RTE) law is the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act).

 

Who benefits from RTE?

Every child of the age of six to fourteen years has a right to full time elementary education i.e., from First Standard to Eighth Standard. Free education means that there is no need to pay any kind of fees/charges which might prevent the child from seeking and completing elementary education.

 

If a child above six years of age is not yet admitted in any school or could not complete elementary education, the school can admit them in a class appropriate to their age. If the child is directly admitted to an age-appropriate class, then they have a right to get special training to be at par with other children. The child’s right to free education continues after the age of fourteen years, till they complete the Eighth Standard. 

 

What schools are covered under RTE?

Under the Act, children have the right to good quality education, in a formal school which meets certain basic standards. This could be a government school, or a school that receives financial support from the government. 

 

Even unaided/private schools have to keep aside at least twenty-five percent of their seats in First Standard for children belonging to poor and other disadvantaged sections of society. However, this does not apply to private schools which are certified as minority institutions. Private schools which spend money on providing free education for children can get financial compensation from the government.

 

Is there a screening procedure for admission?

No. While admitting a child, schools should not conduct any screening procedure for the child or their parents/guardian. The punishment for imposing such a screening procedure is a fine of up to Rupees twenty-five thousand for the first violation, and Rupees fifty thousand for each subsequent violation.

 

What are the duties of the government under RTE?

For providing free and compulsory education to every child, the government should:

  • Ensure the admission, attendance, and completion of elementary education of all children in the six to fourteen age group
  • Establish a school for each area or neighbourhood as required
  • Provide infrastructure including school buildings, teaching staff and learning equipment
  • Provide training facility for teachers
  • Monitor the functioning of schools through a School Management Committee in every school. 

 

To know more about the right to education, read our explainer.

Related Weekly Posts

February 23 2022

5 things you didn’t know about Right to Education

The Supreme Court has recently expanded  the right to education to include quality education being imparted to the children, for which teachers must be meritorious and well qualified.    The law on Right to Education Article 21A of the Constitution of India, 1950 states that education is a fundamental right. This means that the government […]
Read More >

March 04 2022

Ensuring children’s right to education

The Karnataka High Court has said that under the right to education law, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has a duty to conduct a door-to-door survey of children in the age group of 0 to 14 years. The Court asked the administrative body to start the survey after the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj […]
Read More >

February 23 2022

4 Things You Need to Know About Transgender Rights and ID Proof in India

Identification documents play a major role in facilitating your rights such as the right to healthcare, education, etc. and are also important for day-to-day activities such as applying for a SIM Card or a bank account, etc.   Did you know that… …it is your right to get identification documents recognizing the gender you want […]
Read More >

February 24 2022

5 Rights that are part of Your Right to Life

The Delhi High Court has confirmed that every individual has a right to access to drinking water of a quantity and quality equal to their basic needs. The Court held that it is a settled legal position that right to access to drinking water is fundamental to life, and the Government has a duty under […]
Read More >

February 21 2022

5 things you didn’t know about the Rights of Transgender People

The Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) has introduced ‘transgender’ as a gender category option in the application form for the State civil and allied services examination. The APSC is probably the first state commission to introduce this option, and around 42 applications have already been received under this option. Which law protect the rights of […]
Read More >

February 28 2022

Covid-19 update: Court emphasises on importance of erecting cell phone towers

The Madras High Court has noted that during the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic, students are being taught only through online education, and official meetings and even court proceedings are being held through video conferencing. Hence, the Court held that it is necessary to expand information and communication technology networks, including installation and erection of cell phone […]
Read More >

February 27 2022

Did you know that many rights form part of your Right to Life?

The Kerala High Court has said that every citizen has the right to a safe road as part of the constitutional right to freedom of movement (Article 19(1)(d)) and the right to life (Article 21). The Court said the Government must try to remove obstacles causing threat and danger to road safety as soon as […]
Read More >

March 04 2022

Did you know that breastfeeding is a fundamental right of lactating mothers?

The Karnataka High Court has said that breastfeeding is an inalienable right of lactating mothers, and this attribute of motherhood is a fundamental right protected under Article 21  (right to life) of the Constitution of India.   What is Article 21? Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty to […]
Read More >

March 05 2022

Did you know: Good roads are a fundamental right of citizens

The Karnataka High Court passed an order instructing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to ensure that the roads of Bengaluru did not have potholes. The Court gave them an additional responsibility to check road conditions after a couple of months to guarantee good roads. What is Article 21? Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees […]
Read More >

February 26 2022

Madhya Pradesh has a new Religious Conversion law: What does it say?

The Madhya Pradesh Government has passed the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021 which aims to provide freedom of religion by prohibiting unlawful religious conversions.    Does the Act disallow all religious conversions? No. The Act disallows religious conversions done using:   Misrepresentation or fraud – Making false or untrue statements to influence another […]
Read More >

February 23 2022

What are the Rights of Transgender People in India?

The Central Government has informed the Kerala High Court that currently, transgender persons are not legally allowed to enter the National Cadet Corps and the armed forces. The Government also stated that it is their prerogative to create a new division for the third gender. In light of this statement, let us look at the […]
Read More >

March 02 2022

Did you know that every school must have a complaint box to address child sexual abuse?

Trigger Warning: This post contains information about physical and sexual abuse which some readers may find disturbing.   The Madras High Court has said that every school must keep a Complaint Box for survivors to complain about sexual assault freely, and the keys to the box must be under the control of the Secretary, District […]
Read More >

February 21 2022

5 Protections for Scheduled Tribes under the law

Addressing a gathering in Bhopal on ‘Tribal Pride Day’, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan spoke of protecting tribal rights and the steps being taken by the government to protect tribal people.   How does Indian law protect Scheduled Tribes (STs)? The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 specifically […]
Read More >

March 04 2022

What are the rights of patients during Covid-19?

The Supreme Court has severely criticized the Manipur government over the ‘pathetic’ conditions of Covid care centres in the State. In this context, let us look at some of the major rights that patients enjoy in India.   Right to Obtain Information Patients have the right to obtain authentic information regarding their medical condition or […]
Read More >

February 21 2022

5 things you didn’t know about the Law on Real Estate

The Supreme Court has said that a person who buys a plot/building can approach the Consumer Court to complain against the builder/developer. In its judgement, the Court held that the consumer protection law is also applicable to real estate complaints by allottees.   Which law regulates real estate in India? The Real Estate (Regulation and […]
Read More >