Latest news with #RightofChildrentoFreeandCompulsoryEducationAct
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Gujarat govt revises age criteria for Class 1 RTE intake
Ahmedabad: The state govt on Wednesday set six years as the minimum age requirement for children seeking admission to Class 1, while allowing a four-year relaxation for children with special needs. The change was made through an amendment to the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2012, under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The new amendment, published in the official gazette, states that a child must have completed six years of age as of June 1 of the academic year in which admission is sought. Children born on June 1 will also be considered eligible. The relaxation for children with special needs aims to offer them more flexibility in accessing early education based on their individual circumstances and developmental readiness. The notification further clarifies that with this change in the age criteria for admission to the Class 1, a corresponding and progressive change in the age criteria for higher classes will be implemented in the coming years to maintain academic continuity. An explanation has also been added to define children with special needs (CwSN) in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, where CwSN refers to persons with disabilities as described in Section 2 (s) of the Act.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Unaided schools oppose fee reimbursement plan for students admitted under RTE Act
Members of unaided private school management associations in Andhra Pradesh are strongly opposing the government's proposed 'per child expenditure' amount for fee reimbursement. This reimbursement is meant for students admitted under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The Act mandates unaided private schools to reserve 25% of their entry-level seats for children belonging to the economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups. To decide the 'per child expenditure' amount, the government recently formed a committee. This committee is chaired by the Principal Secretary of Government School Education and includes the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha (as member and convener), the Commissioner of School Education, representatives from private and unaided school management associations, and NGOs such as Indus Action, Pratham, and UNICEF. The committee members, who represented AP Private, Unaided Schools Managements Association, AP Private Schools' Association, AP Independent School Managements Association (ISMA) and United Private Education Institutions, raised objections to the proposed classification of schools and demanded that the government fix the reimbursement amount according to the Right to Education Act. They argued that the officials' approach on the issue was unfair and burdensome to the private schools. Accusing the State government of failure in fulfilling its obligation on reimbursement of the fees of these children in the last three years, they said the GOs released during this period were also struck down by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. They said despite tremendous financial pressure, the private school managements allowed the students to continue their education in their respective institutions. Citing pending reimbursement of last three years, they said the government should clarify who will clear the pending payment and demanded that the government adopt a practical and fair stand on the issue and fix the reimbursement amount as per stipulated norms. They said several small institutions were on the verge of closure due to the increasing financial pressure and added that their plight would further deteriorate if the State went ahead with its decision on the fee structure.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN moves SC against Centre withholding funds over not implementing NEP; seeks release of ₹2291 crore
It may be recalled that TNIE first broke the news on April 13 that the Tamil Nadu government would approach the apex court to seek the release of SS funds, having exhausted all other options while the Union government remained unrelenting—despite a strong recommendation by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education in March for the immediate release of the funds. According to the petition, the reason for the non-disbursement of funds is the GoI's decision to link the release of SS funds to the implementation of a separate centrally-sponsored scheme—PM SHRI—which aims to establish exemplary model schools in States that showcase the implementation of NEP 2020, including the three-language formula. The Tamil Nadu government has been vehemently opposed to this. 'The Defendant (GoI), by withholding the Plaintiff's (Tamil Nadu State government's) entitlement to receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, ignores the doctrine of cooperative federalism. It constitutes an attempt to usurp the constitutional powers of the Plaintiff State to legislate under Entry 25, List III, and seeks to coerce and force the Plaintiff State to implement the NEP 2020 throughout the State and to deviate from the education regime currently followed,' the Tamil Nadu government stated in its petition. The State government has also sought a declaration that the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI scheme are not binding on the State unless and until a formal agreement is entered into between the State and the Union for their implementation within Tamil Nadu. Among other reliefs, the State has asked the apex court to declare the Union government's action—linking Tamil Nadu's entitlement to receive SS scheme funds to the implementation of NEP 2020 and PM SHRI—as 'unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and unreasonable.' It also seeks a declaration that the Ministry of Education's letters dated February 23 and March 7, 2024, in this regard are 'illegal, null, void ab initio,' and not binding on the State. In addition to the release of funds with interest, the State has further sought a direction to the GoI to 'continue complying with and performing its statutory obligations' by paying Tamil Nadu the grants-in-aid required for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009—including, but not limited to, the Union's 60% share of expenditure—in accordance with the law, before the commencement of every academic year and within a time frame fixed by the Supreme Court. (With inputs from Chennai )
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN moves SC against Union govt withholding funds over not implementing NEP; seeks release of ₹2291 crore
It may be recalled that TNIE first broke the news on April 13 that the Tamil Nadu government would approach the apex court to seek the release of SS funds, having exhausted all other options while the Union government remained unrelenting—despite a strong recommendation by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education in March for the immediate release of the funds. According to the petition, the reason for the non-disbursement of funds is the GoI's decision to link the release of SS funds to the implementation of a separate centrally-sponsored scheme—PM SHRI—which aims to establish exemplary model schools in States that showcase the implementation of NEP 2020, including the three-language formula. The Tamil Nadu government has been vehemently opposed to this. 'The Defendant (GoI), by withholding the Plaintiff's (Tamil Nadu State government's) entitlement to receive funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme, ignores the doctrine of cooperative federalism. It constitutes an attempt to usurp the constitutional powers of the Plaintiff State to legislate under Entry 25, List III, and seeks to coerce and force the Plaintiff State to implement the NEP 2020 throughout the State and to deviate from the education regime currently followed,' the Tamil Nadu government stated in its petition. The State government has also sought a declaration that the NEP 2020 and the PM SHRI scheme are not binding on the State unless and until a formal agreement is entered into between the State and the Union for their implementation within Tamil Nadu. Among other reliefs, the State has asked the apex court to declare the Union government's action—linking Tamil Nadu's entitlement to receive SS scheme funds to the implementation of NEP 2020 and PM SHRI—as 'unconstitutional, illegal, arbitrary, and unreasonable.' It also seeks a declaration that the Ministry of Education's letters dated February 23 and March 7, 2024, in this regard are 'illegal, null, void ab initio,' and not binding on the State. In addition to the release of funds with interest, the State has further sought a direction to the GoI to 'continue complying with and performing its statutory obligations' by paying Tamil Nadu the grants-in-aid required for the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009—including, but not limited to, the Union's 60% share of expenditure—in accordance with the law, before the commencement of every academic year and within a time frame fixed by the Supreme Court. (With inputs from Chennai )
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Restructuring of school management committees central focus of three-day enrollment drive in Gujarat
Restructuring of school management commitees (SMCs) and School Management Development Committees (SMDCs) in Gujarat is the central focus of an annual enrollment drive — Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelevani Mahotsav — scheduled for next month after the government issued directions in this regard to all District Education Officers (DEOs), Administrative Officers and heads of departments (HoDs). After an assessment of the SMCs — a key provision under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act or the Right to Education Act aimed at ensuring community participation in the governance and monitoring of elementary education — revealed that a majority of such committees lies either only on paper or defunct, the Gujarat government is set to restructure these decision-making bodies at government primary schools. These panels also comprise parents and decide on spending of grants. A virtual interaction between Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and members of the SMCs from Gujarat schools were held on April 28. The Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelevani Mahotsav is scheduled for June 18-20 across government and grant-in-aid Balvatika, primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, Gyan Shakti Residential Schools and Rakshashakti Residential Schools across the state. For the annual enrollment drive, the emphasis this year has been 'placed on reducing dropouts in secondary education which should be given special attention', stated the directive issued to all districts, adding that 'accordingly, the outline of the programme should be prepared, publicity should be done, advertisement hoardings should be put up and other ancillary actions should be taken'. 'As part of proper implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which lays emphasis on increasing the participation of the local community, it has been decided to organise the Shala Praveshotsav and Kanya Kelavani 2025 to activate and empower the SMCs and SMDCs. The entire programme should be planned systematically keeping the activity of SMCs as the central theme in the drive,' Education Minister Kuber Dindor told The Indian Express. This year, as per the provisions of Right to Education Act, 2009, SMCs and SMDCs are to be reconstituted by convening parent meetings in schools from the new academic session, starting June — when two-year term of the SMCs will be come to an end. NEP 2020 emphasises a holistic, inclusive and community-centred approach to education. The formation and functions of SMCs and SMDCs are directly linked to the key objectives of the policy, such as community participation, school development and quality improvement, inclusive education, transparency and accountability. During the three-day enrollment drive, officials and politicians, including elected representatives right from the Chief Minister to corporators, IAS, IPS and government officials, will visit one primary school and two secondary and higher secondary schools each. While Section 21 of RTE Act mandates all government, government-aided, and special-category schools (except unaided private schools) to constitute an SMC within six months of the Act's implementation and reconstituted every two years, it was observed that even the reconstitution fails to achieve the objectives of SMCs. Depending on the students' strength, an SMC consists of elected representatives from the local authority, parents or guardians of students, and teachers — the key requirements being that at least 75 per cent members must be parents or guardians, 50 per cent women, and that there should be proportionate representation for parents of children from disadvantaged groups and weaker sections. Other members include one-third from the local authority, one-third from teachers, and one-third from local educationists or students (if no educationist is available). The SMC elects a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson among the parent members. The SMCs also have to prepare and recommend School Development Plans, which outlines the schools' needs and development goals, as well as monitors the utilisation of government grants for the schools' improvement, apart from with maintaining and auditing accounts of school funds, ensuring transparency.
