This is to introduce a series of posts analysing the RTE Act. As you can guess from the title, I'm not a fan.
Ever since Meeta Sengupta (& Sarayu Natarajan) introduced us to the current impact of the RTE, I've been trying to read about the Act, its measures, the history of its formulation & so on. And the more I read, the more I realise they were being very kind to the Act, and to our GCPP batch at that session, by not engaging us in any comprehensive evaluation.
I think I've read enough now to have no reason to be as kind: RTE is a hoax. It's an eyewash. Worse, it's evidently counterproductive. The provisions are ludicrous, the drafting ill-thought out. I've been looking at only the legal evolution of the Right to Education, & there's enough on just the legal front to be baffled with.
Here's how RTE scene looks to me now:
1. It creates an infrastructure-oriented licensing scheme.
2. The Act does not flow from the Right.
3. The 2012 Supreme Court judgment in Society for Un-aided Private Schools (Rajasthan) vs. Union of India & Anr. is both legally & practically untenable.
4. It is NOT targeted specifically at those who cannot afford education.
And, on a related note
5. NOBODY in any Newspaper or on TV seems to have reported a word on this. Not. One. Word. of criticism.
Watch this space.
(Part 1: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-1.html)
(Part 2: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-2.html)
(Part 3, which is longer than the average, but split into logical & legal analysis: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-3-or-art-of.html )
(Part 4: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-4-asses.html)
Ever since Meeta Sengupta (& Sarayu Natarajan) introduced us to the current impact of the RTE, I've been trying to read about the Act, its measures, the history of its formulation & so on. And the more I read, the more I realise they were being very kind to the Act, and to our GCPP batch at that session, by not engaging us in any comprehensive evaluation.
I think I've read enough now to have no reason to be as kind: RTE is a hoax. It's an eyewash. Worse, it's evidently counterproductive. The provisions are ludicrous, the drafting ill-thought out. I've been looking at only the legal evolution of the Right to Education, & there's enough on just the legal front to be baffled with.
Here's how RTE scene looks to me now:
1. It creates an infrastructure-oriented licensing scheme.
2. The Act does not flow from the Right.
3. The 2012 Supreme Court judgment in Society for Un-aided Private Schools (Rajasthan) vs. Union of India & Anr. is both legally & practically untenable.
4. It is NOT targeted specifically at those who cannot afford education.
And, on a related note
5. NOBODY in any Newspaper or on TV seems to have reported a word on this. Not. One. Word. of criticism.
Watch this space.
(Part 1: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-1.html)
(Part 2: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-2.html)
(Part 3, which is longer than the average, but split into logical & legal analysis: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-3-or-art-of.html )
(Part 4: http://kianayema.blogspot.in/2012/08/wrong-to-education-part-4-asses.html)
Eagerly waiting for your series! The introduction to the series looks extremely to the point and interests me. Looking forward to further posts.
ReplyDeleteWatching.
ReplyDeleteHello Ameya, this is a very sharp analysis of the Act. I recommend you also share this as one comprehensive write up to kafila.org which has a huge readership. Atleast this would help take the debate further.
ReplyDeleteShalini, I'm flattered you think this is at kafila standard! I'm not sure about their rules on cross-posting, but perhaps a slightly more comprehensive (but still single page) analysis would be better suited for there.
Delete