Question : RIGHT TO EDUCATION ACT

(a) whether enrolment of students in schools has increased after implementation of the Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009;

(b) if so, the details thereof including the enrolment data before and after implementation of the Act, State-wise;

(c) the monitoring mechanism in place to assess the quality of education being imparted to the students;

(d) whether there is any proposal to amend some provisions of the Act;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefore;

(f) whether the Government has done any assessment on the funds required for implementation of the Act in the Twelfth Five Year Plan; and

(g) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) & (b) The Right of Children to Free and CompulsoryEducation (RTE) Act, 2009 has become operative on 1st April, 2010. As per “Statistics of School Education” 2009-10, enrolment at primary level has increased from 13.45 crore in 2008-09 to 13.56 crore in 2009-10. Similarly, the upper primary enrolment has increased from 5.54 crore in 2008-09 to 5.94 crore in 2009-10. The overall elementary level enrolment has increased from 19.00 crore in 2008-09 to 19.5 crore in 2009-10. The State-wise details is at annexure. Data for 2010-11 is not available.

(c) The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) Framework of Implementation has been revised to correspond with the provisions of the RTE Act. SSA has elaborate evaluation and monitoring arrangements, which include national level review meetings with State Education Secretaries and State Project Directors, half yearly Joint Review Mission by Govt. of India and external funding agencies. In addition, 40 Institutions of Social Science Research and University Departments of Education have been attached to States/UTs as Monitoring Institutes (MIs) to make independent and regular field visits to monitor performance. The reports of the Joint Review Missions and Monitoring Institutions are available on website www.ssa.nic.in. Independent concurrent financial reviews are also commissioned by the Ministry through the Institute of Public Auditors of India.

(d) & (e) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2010 proposes to incorporate amendments relating to (a) children with disabilities, and (b) School Management Committees along with Official Amendments. Further an amendment to the RTE Act to protect the rights of Minority Institutions guaranteed under Article 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India, is under consideration.

(f) & (g) The Working Group on Elementary Education for the 12th Plan has prepared an estimate of Rs. 4, 50,671.53 crore, which has been submitted to the Planning Commission.