The Right to Education or RTE describes the importance of education for all. RTE throws light upon children’s right to free and compulsory education. Under this Right to Education Act, every child between the age of 6 to 14 is entitled to free education in India.
Also known as the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Act, RTE was enacted on 4 August 2009 by the Parliament of India. It came into force on 1 April 2010, when India became one of the 135 nations to make education a fundamental right for every child.
Free Education means that no child would have to pay any fee or charges for elementary education in schools supported by the government.
The Right to Education Act casts an obligation on the local authorities and governments to both provide and ensure admission, completion, and attendance of children in elementary schools.
For the Right to Education Act, India has adopted a rights-based framework. Such a framework cast a legal obligation on the Central and State governments for implementation of the act. The Act requires all private schools to ensure that 25% of seats get reserved for the poor and other backward categories.
However, minority-run institutions aren’t bound to implement the 25% reservation rule after the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2014. The Right to Education Act also provides requirements for the appointment of teachers who are appropriately trained and have the right qualifications.
Moreover, it prohibits capitation fee, running of schools without recognition, screening procedure for admission of children, and mental harassment.
