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The Right of Children to Free and
     Compulsory Education,
           Act, 2009
                  PRESENTED BY
               Ms. GURKIRAT KAUR
              ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
              CHITKARA UNIVERSITY
                     PUNJAB


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Background

       Art 21-A inserted in Fundamental Rights as per 86th
        Constitutional Amendmnet:

         The     State   shall   provide  free   and
           compulsory education to all children of the
           age of 6 to 14 years in such manner as the
           State may, by law, determine.

 Consequential legislation::
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
  Education Act, 2009.
 Presidential assent received on 26 th August,
  2009.
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Right of Children


To free and compulsory admission, attendance and completion of EE.

      Free: no child liable to pay any fee/expense preventing her
       from pursuing and completing EE.


      Compulsion: on the state; parental duty to send children to
       school.
Not enrolled/dropout children be admitted to age appropriate class.
No child shall be failed or expelled upto class 8
Bars corporal punishment mental harassment.

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Teachers

   Qualification for appointment of teachers to be laid down
    by academic authority authorised by Central Government.
   Academic responsibilities of teachers laid down
   Prohibits deployment of teachers for non-education
    purpose, except for:
       Decennial census
       Disaster relief
       Elections to Parliament, State Legislatures, Local Bodies.




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Schools

       Norms and standards specified for all schools
         Infrastructure and related facilities
         Pupil Teacher Ratios – for each school
         School days; working hours for teachers
         Facilities
       Community participation in schools ensured through
        SMC comprising elected reps, teachers and parents
         ¾ members from among parents of children in the
          school; 50% women
         Proportionate representation to weaker and deprived
          sections
         SMC to plan, manage and monitor – in collaboration
          with the local authority
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Schools

        All aided schools to provide free education to at
         least 25% children.
        Special category schools and unaided schools to
         admit in Class I at least 25% children, belonging to
         weaker section and disadvantaged group, from the
         neighbourhood, and provide free and compulsory
         elementary education.
        No capitation fees
        No screening for admission
        No school without recognition.
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Curriculum

        Curriculum and evaluation procedure laid down
         by prescribed academic authority should:
            Conform to constitutional values
            Make child free from fear, trauma and anxiety
            Be child centred, child friendly; provide for learning
             through activities
            Medium of instruction – child mother tongue to the
             extent possible
            Provide for comprehensive and continuous
             evaluation
        No Board examinations till completion of EE
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Duties: Central Government

         Develop a national curriculum framework
         Develop and enforce standards of training of teachers
         Lay down minimum qualification for appointment of teachers
         Prepare estimate of capital and recurring expenditure

         Provide to States as GIA of revenues such percentage of expenditure
          as determined in consultation with State Governments

         Request President to make reference to Finance Commission to
          examine need for additional resources to be provided to State
          Governments.




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Duties: Appropriate Government, Local Authority



              Ensure free and compulsory education
              Establish schools in neighbourhood within 3 years
              Children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups
               not to be discriminated against
              Infrastructure, school building, teaching staff, learning equipment
              Special training for previously not enrolled or drop out children
               to enable them to be at par with others
              Monitoring of admission, attendance, completion of EE
              Timely prescription of curriculum, courses of study, teachers’
               training




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Protection of Right

         Decentralised grievance redressal mechanism
         NCPCR/SCPCR assigned additional functions

             Examine and review safeguards for rights under this Act,
              recommend measures for effective implementation

             Inquire into complaints relating to child’s right to free and
              compulsory education
             Powers assigned under Section 14 and 24 of the
              Commissions for Protection of Child Right Act
         Where SCPCR not constituted, appropriate
          Government may constitute an Authority
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Next Steps:



          Initiate action under delegated legislation; review existing state
           legislations on compulsory education and legislations on organisation
           and management of private schools.
         Identify mechanisms for school and habitation mapping in
          order to define ‘neighbourhood’ , and ensure universal access
        Notify plan for automatic progression from primary to upper
          primary; designate schools and feeder school
        Identify schools that do not conform to norms and standards
          prescribed in schedule.
        Review content and curriculum in line with Section 29.




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Next Steps:

         Undertake redeployment of teachers to ensure PTR in all
          schools.
         Review Cadre and Recruitment Rules for Teacher appointment
         Untrained teachers should not be appointed in future,
         Notify that teachers shall not be deployed for non-academic
          work,.
         Notify that teachers shall not give private tuitions.

         Ensure no-detention/no expulsion           policy;      ban   corporal
          punishments.
         No Board exams till completion of EE,




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Next Steps

          Set up SMCs - Enforce management and supervision
           of schools with community support
          Notify all panchayats, municipalities as local
           authority
          Where SCPCRs are not constituted, constitute
           authority to perform functions in clause 31(1)
          Ascertain which schools are under obligation to
           provide free seats for land/ Prescribe manner in
           which per-child expenditure will be reimbursed to
           other schools
          Prescribe mechanism for private schools to obtain
           certificate of recognition
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Parameters for Costing

          Establishing schools in the neighbourhood
              Upgrading all EGS / AIE into regular schools
              Opening schools in unserved areas
          Providing additional classrooms and
           facilities
              One classroom per teacher; office/store, Head
               Teacher room
              Adequate drinking water
              Separate toilet facility for girls and boys
              Barrier free access.


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Parameters for Costing

          Provision of adequate teachers
              Primary level
                  Enrolment upto   :                2 teachers
                  60-90            :                3 teachers
                  90-120           :       4 teachers
                  120-150          :       5 teachers
                  150-200          :       5 teachers + Headmaster
                  > 200            : PTR not to exceed 40 + Headmaster
          Upper Primary level
              PTR 35:1, 1 teacher per class (Science & math,
               Social Studies, Language teacher)
              Enrolment > 100 – One Head Teacher; Instructor
               for Art, Health and Physical Education and Work
               Education.
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Parameters for Costing

           Mainstreaming out-of-school children
           Child                             entitlements:
            textbooks/workbooks/stationary, uniforms
           Teacher Learning Equipment; library grant
           Teacher development
               Pre-service training of existing untrained teachers
               Pre-service training of new teachers to be
                appointed based on attrition rate
               In-service training
           Inclusive education:
           Management Cost to include NCPCR/SCPCR
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