| "Education is a human right with immense power to | | | | the recent initiatives of the Indian Government |
| transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of | | | | launched in 2001, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), |
| freedom, democracy and sustainable human | | | | universalizes the elementary education by |
| development." | | | | community-ownership of the school system. It aims |
| -Kofi Annan | | | | at allowing children to learn and become proficient in |
| Education is an act or experience that has a | | | | their natural environment in a manner which allows |
| formative effect on the mind, character or physical | | | | human fulfillment in a holistic sense. The scheme |
| potential of an individual. A vital element to balance | | | | under the fundamental right of education also include |
| the societal factors, education contributes to the | | | | facilities like free school books, uniform and mid day |
| economic development of a country. Countries | | | | meal. |
| without educated population cannot foresee and | | | | Role of the Parents |
| implement the best policies necessary for the growth | | | | A child's school years plays an imperative role in his |
| of an otherwise developing country. | | | | overall development process and future growth. So, |
| The battle to make elementary education imperative | | | | it becomes integral for the parents to get actively |
| for everyone was started by the great son of India, | | | | involved in their child's activity. And as a responsible |
| Gopal Krishna Gokhale about hundred years ago. He | | | | parent, their priority should be towards providing the |
| urged before the Imperial Legislative Assembly to | | | | best education to their children irrespective of any |
| confer upon the Indians the Right to Education. It | | | | law. |
| was only after ninety years in August 2009 that the | | | | Role of the State |
| Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education | | | | The State is the chief guardian where the Right to |
| Act was enacted by the Parliament. | | | | Education act is concerned. It functions as a crucial |
| According to this act, education is declared as a | | | | contributor in regulating the provisions of education. |
| fundamental right for all children of the age group of | | | | Conventionally, education was regarded as the |
| 6 to 14 years, irrespective of any caste, color or | | | | primary duty of parents, but with the rise of |
| creed. The Right to Education provision eliminates | | | | education system, the role of parents has diminished |
| discrimination in the educational system at all levels, | | | | and has become a larger responsibility which is why it |
| thereby, setting standards. The fundamental right to | | | | has become a mandatory rule for the state |
| education is explicitly set out in Article 26 of the | | | | government to scrutinize the proper implementation |
| Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 | | | | of the legislative act. With regards to realizing this |
| of the International Covenant on Economic, Social | | | | particular fundamental right, the World Declaration on |
| and Cultural Rights. This act also ensures that private | | | | Education for All, adopted at the 1990 World |
| school needs to reserve at least 25 percent seats | | | | Conference on Education states that the "partnership |
| for the students of weaker section. | | | | between government and nongovernmental |
| However, the fundamental right to education can | | | | organizations, the private sector, local communities, |
| only be considered accomplished when it strictly | | | | religious groups, and families" are necessary. |
| adheres to the "4A" components, which precisely | | | | With this, the struggle to get access to education |
| refers to Availability (free education), Accessibility | | | | has ended. But to implement the act in a better way, |
| (non-discriminatory system), Acceptability (culturally | | | | greater awareness among the citizens is required so |
| acceptable content) and Adaptability (evolve with | | | | that its provisions can be clearly understood and |
| changing times). | | | | incorporated by all institutions, thereby, paving the |
| The free and compulsory education gives children the | | | | way for children to become glorious pillars of |
| required sense of independence and empowers them | | | | tomorrow to ensure a bright future. |
| to make a respectful livelihood on their own. One of | | | | |