Reforms Initiated under RTE Act

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 has brought in several reform processes. States/UTs have inter-alia brought out notifications prohibiting corporal punishment, detention and board examinations in elementary education. The National Council for Teachers’ Education (NCTE) has laid down teacher qualifications and 22 States/UTs have conducted Teacher Eligibility Tests to improve the quality of teaching.

In order to ensure free and compulsory education for all children in tribal areas, opening of new schools, residential schools/hostels, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas transport/escort facility, additional teachers, special training for out of school children and funds for improving learning and retention have been provided under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme.

For effective implementation of the RTE Act, 2009, Government of India has released Rs.19,332 crore in 2010-11, Rs.20,945 crores in 2011-12 and Rs.19,790 crore till date in 2012-13 to the States / UTs under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan programme which is the main vehicle for the implementation of the RTE Act.

Jharkhand has notified the State RTE Rules in order to implement the provisions of the Act. Since the notification of the RTE Act, 1,787 school buildings, 34,075 additional classrooms, 721 drinking water facilities and 4849 toilets have been completed in the State under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Also 4507 teachers have been recruited. Government of India has released Rs.89562.26 lakh in 2010-11, Rs.57903.45 lakh in 2011-12 and Rs.56183.85 lakh as on date in 2012-13 to Jharkhand under the SSA programme, towards meeting the RTE objectives.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Dr. Shashi Tharoor in Rajya Sabha on Friday.