Caritas India and PVCHR jointly organised a national interface on ‘Reality of Implementation of Right to Education Act’. The chief guest, Dr Sayeda Hameed, former Member Planning Commission expressed her deep concern about the apathy and failure to implement the RTE. Sixty participants from various social organisations participated in it. Here’s a report.
Caritas India in joint collaboration of Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) organised a national level interface on “Reality of Implementation of Right to Education Act,” on March 29, in the Deputy Speaker hall, Constitution Club, New Delhi, according to a press release issued by PVCHR.
It was added that the chief guest, Dr. Syeda Hameed, former Member of Planning Commission, said, “The few points mentioned in the reports shows the alarming condition of the RTE implementation in the grass root level. Especially on the ratio of student and teachers, the ratio of teacher and student in the school and the ratio should be 35:1. But the actual ratio is 66:1. She also stated that there is no appointment of cleaner in the school. The children spend more time in cleaning the school. She highlighted the pitiful condition of the teaching and learning process. The children of class VIII is unable to read the text book of class II. Due to the poor performance of the children, parents do not want to send their children to school. This apathy will result in the closure of the government schools and promotion of the private schools. Due to which it will not possible for the marginalised and poor children to get quality education. I appeal we should come forward to strengthen this initiative.”
In the panel discussion the guests John Dayal, Secretary General, All India Christian Council, Jayshree 
Bajoria, Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Shantanu Datta, Director Engagement, International Justice Mission, Shimray, Assistant Zonal manager, Caritas India, Jagmati, All India General Secretary, AIDWA stated that we are quite well aware of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. But the objective of universal right to education for children remains a distant dream. While certain initiatives have been taken by the government to ensure the implementation of the Act, broadly, we have failed to make the RTE Act a reality. Presently, less than 10% schools are compliant with all the provisions of the Act, while the deadline for ensuring the complete implementation of the Act has passed. There is no roadmap or timeframe to determine the future of the Act as well as the intention of the government.
Around 60 participants from the various organisations participated in the program. Ambrish Rai, National Convenor RTE Forum conveyed his best wishes for this program and said, “I hope that the efforts from different stakeholders including Teachers’ and Students’ organisations, Educationists & Academia, CSOs and NGOs will strengthen our Public Advocacy towards building a sustainable and strong public education system all over the country. I, on behalf of RTE Forum and its partner organisations, wish the best for a successful Convention being organised by PVCHR and Caritas India”
The press release added that in the conference, for the first time, Musahar girls coming from interior districts of Bihar presented a stage show, which is written and directed by them based on their daily life facts. One play is based on the theme of dreams and ambition of a girl born and brought in Musahar community called ‘Mera Sapna’ and the second play is based on child marriage in which girls will reiterate all the factors responsible for their early marriage. For the first time they are visiting New Delhi the country’s capital.
The program followed with the release of the research report, Children Magazine, Roshini ki duniya and documentary title ‘Light of Hope and Dignity’.
Earlier, Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General of Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights shared the finding of the research reports on the 122 points. The research was conducted in the four districts Purenea, Munger, Madhubani and Patna of Bihar state of India. All the recommendation at the National level will be compiled and communicated to NGOs, political parties, Niti Ayog, members of parliament, Ministry of Human Resource Development and policy makers.
The program closed with Mohammad Aamir Khan proposing the vote of thanks. He requested the government and civil society that we should also work for the education of the children who are living in jail along with their mother, it was informed.
Pix from PVCR
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