The Right To Education- A Critical Analysis

Rights are the legal and social freedom or what is owed to citizens. Citizens are entitled for certain liberties or rights, viz., termed as human rights. Among the human rights one important prerogative is the Right to Education.            

    Education is life. It is not only the foremost avenue of acquiring knowledge and skills but also the epitome of personality development. But do you know why education is needed? Inspite of more than  learning, it guides  us to become an integrated personality and maintain the perpetuation of our culture. I may consider the golden words of the social activist and the social reformer Swami Vivekanand said, "Education is the manifestation of perfection present already in man". Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate quoted "One child, one teacher, one pen and one book can change the world".                

         Here's a story about a girl named Roopal (changed name)and his brother Vipin (changed name). Their parents are physically handicapped and hardly able to earn for their survival. Through RTE, Roopal and her brother Vipin, got admission in the primary school but were treated as non-existing folks. They were facing avoidance, provided with different uniforms and teachers use to demoralize them every day, making them feel low. One day they were not allowed to enter the school premises as the Principal remitted them back. It happened because they were admitted through RTE and the Government failed to provide their fees. The members from Childline visited to their place and the family had briefed the whole incidence to the members. My dear readers, this is merely one story. Don't know that how many children are being deprived by their rights and facing negligence. What does this revealing to us? What the Government is contributing in the field of Education for children?, it's been 72 years we have got freedom from the British Rule. Still we are the prisoners. The young generations are unable to acquire education who are the future of our country. I'm speechless. If we are up to this time cannot speak out for the children or spread awareness for the Rights To Education for children that how much the education essential for their development, then it simply signifies we all are materialistic.  

              Although, yielding education is the mandatory action to be performed for every citizen. As the Indian Parliament had implemented an act The Right To Education on 4th August,2009 that focuses on providing free and compulsory education to every child from the age group of 6 to 14 years. Under the article 21a of the Indian Constitution India flattered one of the 135 countries to consider education as the fundamental right of every child when the act came into force on 1st April,2010. Article 28 says about education "the right to free primary education, the availability of vocational education and the need for measures to reduce the drop-out rates". And article 29 implies the Aim of Education, "Education should foster the development of the child's personality and talent, preparation for a responsible adult life, respect for human rights as well as the cultural and national values of the Child's country and that of others".       

         Despite, it's been 8 years till now this act came into force. We all are familiar with the process of this act. But how many children are able to peruse education? Did we even ever tried to notice this phase? Dear readers an honest answer is required. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Every child has the right to be educated. The right to education encompasses the obligation to avoid discrimination at all levels of the educational system, to set minimum standards and to improve the quality of education.                                                                                                               

NILYA SRIVASTAVA, Intern CHILDLINE Lucknow-1098