The Right to Education Act (RTE) provides free and compulsory elementary education to all children between ages 6-14. It aims to give effect to the constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right. Key aspects include mandatory admission of disadvantaged students, infrastructure standards for schools, teacher qualifications, and prohibitions on screening and fees for elementary education. However, challenges remain in implementation due to lack of funds, shortages of trained teachers, and inadequate infrastructure and support for inclusive education.

1. RTE

2. What is the Act about?
• Every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to free
and compulsory education.
• This is stated as per the 86th Constitution Amendment Act via
Article 21A.
• The Right to Education Act seeks to give effect to this amendment
• The government schools shall provide free education to all the
children and the schools will be managed by School Management
Committees (SMC).
• Private schools shall admit at least 25% of the children in their
schools without any fee.

3. History
December 2002:
86th Amendment Act
(2002)
October 2003: A first
draft of the legislation
envisaged in the above
Article
2004 Subsequently, taking
into account the
suggestions
June 2005
The CABE (Central
Advisory Board of
Education) committee
drafted the ‘Right to
Education’ Bill
14th July 2006
The finance committee
and planning commission
rejected the Bill citing the
lack of funds
2009
Right of Children to Free
and Compulsory
Education Bill
1April 2010
Article 21-A and the
RTE Act come into
effect

4. Main Functions
Compulsory and free education for all
The benchmark mandate
Special provisions for special cases
Quantity and quality of teachers
Zero tolerance against discrimination and harassment
Ensuring all round development of children
Improving learning outcomes to minimise detention
Monitoring compliance of RTE norms
Right to Education Act is justiciable
Creating inclusive spaces for all

5. The RTE Act provides…
• Right of children to free and compulsory education till completion of elementary
education in a neighbourhood school.
• It ensures free & compulsory education to all children within the age group of 6
to 14.
• No school fees, capitation fees, charges or expenses are to be paid by a child to get
elementary education.
• The child or his parents are not to be subjected to any screening procedure for
admission to school.
• It makes provisions for a non-admitted child to be admitted to an age appropriate
class.
• It specifies the duties and responsibilities of appropriate Governments, local
authority and parents in providing free and compulsory education.
• financial and other responsibilities between the Central and State Governments.

6. • It lays down the norms and standards to Pupil Teacher Ratios
(PTRs), buildings and infrastructure, school-working days,
teacher-working hours.
• It provides for appointment of appropriately trained teachers, i.e.
teachers with the requisite entry and academic qualifications.
• It prohibits
(a) physical punishment and mental harassment;
(b) screening procedures for admission of children;
(c) capitation fee;
(d) private tuition by teachers and
(e) running of schools without recognition

7. Responsibilities of School
• To provide free and compulsory elementary education to all children
admitted.
• To provide free & compulsory elementary education to weaker section and
disadvantaged group to the extent of at least 25% of the strength of the class.
• To provide such information as may be required by the appropriate
Government or the local authority, as the case may be.
• To take no capitation fee and no screening for admission.
• Should not deny admission for lack of age proof though must ask for birth
certificate issued by competent authority.
• Should not hold back or expel any child from any class till the completion of
elementary education.
• Shall not subject any child to physical punishment or mental harassment.

8. Duties of Teachers
• To maintain regularity and punctuality in attending school.
• To conduct and complete the curriculum.
• To complete entire curriculum within the specified time.
• To assess the learning ability of each child and accordingly
supplement additional instructions, if any, as required.
• To hold regular meetings with parents and guardians and apprise
them about the regularity in attendance, ability to learn, progress
made in learning and any other relevant information about the child.
• To perform such other duties as may be prescribed.
• Shall not engage in private tuition or private teaching activity.

9. Pupil Teacher Ratio
•For classes I to V - 30:1 (till 120 students) - 40:1 ( from 121
to 200 students) One-Head Teacher + Five Teachers (for
above 150 students) In any case : pupil teacher ratio shall
not exceed 40:1
•For Classes VI to VIII - 35:1
•At least One Teacher per Class, One from Science and
Mathematics, Social-Studies and languages each.
•Full time Head Teacher and part time Instructors for Art
education, Health & Physical Education and Work
Education.

10. Curriculum and Completion of Elementary Education
• To conform with values enshrined in the Constitution.
• For all round development of the child.
• To build child's knowledge, potentiality and talent.
• To develop physical and mental abilities.
• To ensure learning through activities, discovery and exploration in a
child friendly and child centered manner.
• To Instruct as far as practicable in child’s mother tongue.
• To make the child free of fear and anxiety and helping the child to
express views freely.
• Comprehensive and Continuous Evaluation (CCE) of child’s
understanding of knowledge and his/her ability to apply the same.

11. Examination and Completion Certificate
•No child shall be required to pass any Board examination
till completion of elementary education.
•Every child completing his elementary education shall be
awarded a certificate, in such form and in such manner, as
may be prescribed.

12. Norms and Standards for a School
• Building :
• At least one class-room for every teacher and an office-cum-store-
cum-Head teacher’s room.
• Barrier-free access.
• Separate toilets for boys and girls.
• Safe and adequate drinking water facility to all children.
• A kitchen where mid-day meal is cooked in the school.
• Playground.

13. Norms and Standards for a School (Contd.)
•Minimum number of working days/instructional hours in
an academic year
•Two hundred working days for first class to fifth class.
•Two hundred and twenty working days for sixth class to
eight class.
•Eight hundred instructional hours per academic year for
first class to fifth class.
•One thousand instructional hours per academic year for
sixth class to eighth class.

14. Norms and Standards for a School(Contd.)
• Minimum number of working hours per week for the teacher :
• Forty-Five teaching including preparation hours.
• Teaching learning equipment : Shall be provided to each class as
required.
• Library : There shall be a library in each school providing
newspaper, magazines and books on all subjects, including story-
books.
• Play material, games and sports equipment : Shall be provided to
each class as required.

15. Admission Norms
• As per Chapter IV 12(I) – The KVs shall admit in Class I: admission
to be granted for the children under RTE Act as per admission
guidelines.
• At least 25% of the strength of that class children belonging to
weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood
• No screening test to be conducted from Class I to VIII
• selection process should be random (draw of lot).
• children suffering from disability will also be covered under RTE
Act

16. THE SUPPORTS
• Provide free and compulsory elementary education till its
completion.
• No fee to be charged from the children admitted under 25% of the
quota.
• One set of NCERT text books for his/her class to each child will be
provided by the school and other expenses on account of note
books, stationary, uniform and transport will be reimbursed by the
parent on production of proper bills, as specified by MHRD.
• No children to be detained in any class up to 8thstandard.
• The transfer certificate may not be insisted for admission up to
Class VIII.

17. Challenges in Implementation
•There is an urgent need of taking appropriate steps for
inclusive education of children with disabilities by
providing teaching-learning materials, aids and appliances
in accordance with nature and needs of each disability,
suitable infrastructural modifications, training of regular
teachers and school-based appointment of special teacher.
•There is also a need for organising programmes for
community awareness and attitude change in order to
make school for all children.

18. Challenges in Implementation
•Home-based education has to be given to children suffering
from multi-disabilities, severe and profound disability
conditions.
•Shortage of teachers, alarming pupil-teacher ratio, other
official duties assigned to teachers, business in training
programmes, duties in block level office, making Aadhar
cards and voter ID Cards etc, no training of regular teachers
in education of children with disabilities and non-
availability of special teacher support on daily basis are
challenges in the implementation of RTE.

19. • Present Status Even after Seven years of passing the Bill, an
internal Delhi Govt. report says
• Poor presence of students
• Ignorance among teachers and guardians about the provisions of
the Act
• Poor condition of training regarding RTE
• Acute shortage of teachers
• Malaise of absence of teachers from the schools
• No atmosphere of quality teaching and meaningful teaching-
learning process

20. Why is the act significant and what does it mean for India?
•The passing of the Right of Children to Free and
Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 marks a historic
moment for the children of India.
•This Act serves as a building block to ensure that every
child has his or her right (as an entitlement) to get a quality
elementary education, and that the State, with the help of
families and communities, fulfils this obligation.
•Few countries in the world have such a national provision
to ensure both free and child-centred, child-friendly
education.

21. Funding
• The Right to Education act has clearly laid down distinct
responsibilities for the centre, state and local bodies for its
implementation.
• However, a lot of states have been complaining about the
lack of funds being received which is making it impossible
to meet with the appropriate standard of education in the
schools needed for universal education.
• Hence, the centre that is at the receiving end of the
revenue will have to subsidize for the states.