Elementary education as fundamental right
Rajya Sabha
The Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002, which came into force on 13th December 2002, makes free and compulsory education a Fundamental Right for all children in the age-group 6-14 years by inserting a new Article 21-A in part III (Fundamental Right) of the Constitution.
Based on the report of a committee set up by the reconstituted Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) to suggest a draft of the legislation envisaged under Article 21A, a draft Right to Education Bill 2005 was prepared and sent to all State Governments/UTs and Central Ministries for their views.
In the meanwhile, the Prime Minister also constituted a small group comprising Minister of Human Resource Development, Finance Minister, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission and Chairman of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council to examine, inter-alia, the legal, constitutional and financial implications of the Bill. Following the recommendations of the group and based on further consultations, a draft Model Bill on Right to Education, to be adopted by the States, containing provisions relating to the child’s right to free and compulsory education of equitable quality, responsibility of the State and appropriate governments etc., has been circulated recently to the Central Ministries/Departments concerned and the State Governments for their comments.
This information was given the Minister of State for Human Resource Development Smt. D. Purandeswari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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HB/RP/SB
(Release ID :19847)