Right to Education Act 2009: Challenges and Prospects

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 4 August, 2009 is based on the philosophy of human rights, and guarantees every Indian child free and compulsory education except Jammu and Kashmir State the most basic fundamental right, the Right to Education. The Act, with its latest amendment, became operational on April 01, 2010, and it guarantees every child, in the 6-14 age groups, both free and compulsory education. The Right to Education Act act does not include children in the 0-18 yrs. age group which is the drawback of this Act. The Right to Education Act (RTE) does not do enough justice to enable marginal improvements in quality and foster creative solutions within the larger educational system. No proper focus has been laid on children with special needs. As far as the implementation of RTE Act is concerned, it is in fact a tough task before the nation. There are number of obstacles in implementation of RTE Act. What seems to be the key in ensuring this Act successful is to make parents aware particularly in rural areas, about the benefits of education and to encourage them to send their wards to neighborhood schools here comes the role of community members to discuss the issues about the ACT, influencing and encouraging parents. RTE Act has to be started at the community levels including parents of children, communities, governmental and non-governmental organizations with proper engagement and implementation. Also Govt. must have a ‘VISION' must provide a ‘MISSION' and then carryout its ‘EXECUTION'. There is a great need to inculcate positive attitudes among people in order to change the old mind sets of discrimination to make this Act possible.