RTE News Uodates from Other Sources

Maharashtra Makes Rules on 25% agenda;  CRY seeks improvement in quality of government schools; Delhi asks Madarsas to improve; Welfare Party against RTE; Reimbursement formula still unclear in Delhi

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And you shall soon see MAG Patrika buzz at the grassroots for community engagement for quality education in public schools...

Tell us if you wanna be a part of the campaign

1. 

Maha Govt Makes Rule for 25% seats for poor in Private Schools

 

Mumbai,Sep 14 (PTI) Maharashtra Government has made it mandatory for the private schools to allot 25 per cent of seats to students belonging to deprived and weaker sections of the society.
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters after the weekly cabinet meeting today that the reservation will be for socially and economically deprived sections.
The decision was taken at the meeting, wherein ''The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules 2011'' were framed.
He also said primary education will now be defined as from standard first to the eighth.

2. 

CRY calls for improving quality of government schools

Mumbai, Sep 15 (PTI) Welcoming the decision of the Maharashtra government to frame the 'The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules 2011', the child rights NGO CRY today said that there was also a need to improve quality of government schools. "The passing of the act by the state government is a good move but one will have to address the need to expand and improve government schools," CRY's Regional Director Kreeanne Rabadi said. "The most developed countries like the UK and the US base their children's education on free public schools. If everyone in India is to receive education, it has to be offered, it as an entitlement, a right, via free government schools," Rabadi said. "With the right investments, accountability and quality parameters, government schools can be made good institutes for learning," she said. Yesterday Maharashtra government made rules under Right to Education Act and made it mandatory for the private schools to allot 25 per cent of seats to students belonging to the deprived and weaker sections of the society.

 3.   

Sheila Dikshit asks minority communities to focus on modern education Sep 15, 2011

Seeking reform in Madrasas, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today called upon minority communities to focus on modern education and exhorted them to take optimum benefit of the Right to Education Act. Describing the RTE as a major initiative of the UPA government to bring about reform in the education sector, Dikshit said "Union Government has enacted this unique legislation to eliminate illiteracy from the country and spread the light of knowledge. The minorities must avail optimum benefit from the RTE," she said speaking at a workshop on minority education. "The Madarsas need to be upgraded further. Every family should come forward to get their children educated and make them skilled as the world today is competitive," she said. She said there will no dearth of funds for expansion of education programmes in minority dominated areas. 4.  CCS Study  on RTE New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS) Private schools are admitting 25 percent children from disadvantaged sections of the society under the Right to Education (RTE) Act but are apprehensive about receiving reimbursement from the government, a study says. The study was conducted in north and northeast Delhi by the CCS revealed Forty-seven percent poor parents pay for getting their wards admitted in high-budget schools, the study stated. ‘‘The act is not a freebie for children from downtrodden sections of the society but it is an act to bring diversity in the class rooms,’ said Kiran Bhatty, the head of Right To Education division at the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

 5.

WELFARE PARTY DENOUNCES RTE, URGES GOVT. TO WITHDRAW IT

   

The Right to Education Act says that every boy/girl of age between 6-14 has right to education and shall have to get education in the government recognized schools only and if any student found taking education in non-recognized schools shall be treated as culprit. Not only the student but his/her parents and those schools too shall be treated as culprits. This seems a draconian Act.

Welfare Party of India has put the following questions before Human Resource Development Minister Mr. Kapil Sibbal: 1. Are there sufficient number of government recognized schools and have sufficient capacity to provide education for 40,000,000 students (of age between 6-14 )? 2.  How many schools are there in number and what is the capacity of each school? 3. How many schools are opened by Central government and how many by state governments  and where the buildings are? 4. The central government takes Education Cess Tax. Where does the government has opened the schools and how many in number? 5. Is it not incumbent upon the government to provide free education to the entire children of the country?

“No doubt, education must be compulsory and free to each and every child born in India. Every child born in India deserves it but we regret to say that even after 63 years of independence this dream does not seem to be true whereas it is the duty of a state. Although, the country has done remarkable progress in the field of Science, Technology, Defense and Economy but 100% literacy could not be achieved. A majority of people are still illiterate. Definitely HRD minister has no answer to these thorny questions,” said Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, Secretary General of the party in statement.

“As regard to Madrasas, these are the only institutions which produce citizens of high moral values. So, HRD minister should keep them run according to their own systems and syllabus. Of course, Welfare Party of India favours to introduce Mathematics, Science and Technology also along with Islamic syllabus without any pre-condition and interference of the government,” the statement added.   

The WPI leader said that by insisting such an act by HRD minister, the UPA government wants to keep 40,0000000  children uneducated so that they may not be able to decide the fate of the country. “They should become just a blind vote bank.” The Party has also decided to bring this matter to the people of the nation and shall drive a nationwide campaign against this mischievous act to get it withdrawn.

News from other sources: See how a child craves for education.... review - I am Kalam - To Kalam, with love- The Hindu

I am Kalam - To Kalam, with love

Sudhish Kamath

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A must watch I am Kalam

If someone were to take the most inspiring ideas from the books of APJ Abdul Kalam and made a movie to show their application in contemporary India, it would be a lot like Nila Madhab Panda's I am Kalam, a hit at festivals around the world. The film was rated 4.40 on 5 by audiences at the Transilvania International Film Festival recently.

“An ignited mind is the most powerful resource on earth, above the earth and under the earth.”

Street smart Chottu (Harsh Mayar), who works in a Rajasthani dhaba that caters to the haveli-turned-hotel, catches Kalam's address on TV and becomes an ignited mind. He already had a passion for books and education and dreamt of becoming one of those models sporting ties on TV. But now, he finds a role model in the President and gives himself a name. Kalam.

“The right kind of education on moral values will upgrade society and the country.”

Little Kalam does not lie. He does not steal. He stands up for friends. He works hard and wants to earn to fund his education. He's a great example for kids. And this is one reason you must take your kids to watch this film.

“The ‘dream-thought-action' philosophy is what I would like inculcated in each and every student.”

When Kalam catches the President's four-step path to success (Dreams. Action Plan. Hard Work. Courage), he transforms into a student. So what if he's not in school.

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

The game changers in Kalam's life happen through the friendless young rich Rajput prince (Hussan Saad) and a foreign tourist Lucy who share their knowledge with him. While the Prince teaches him English, the tourist teaches him French and the young lad himself teaches them everything he knows — from Hindi to camel riding to lesser known aspects about India. The village in Rajasthan becomes a microcosm for what India represents today with one foot firmly in the past and one in the present. The haveli may open itself up to tourists, but is still unwilling to sell out completely.

“Give one hour a day exclusively for book reading and you will become a knowledge centre in a few years.”

Kalam becomes a knowledge centre in months and shows great promise of becoming a leader. The filmmaker wants to ensure that we don't dismiss this off as idealism and shows us change in Kalam, slowly and steadily. He learns simple things that any of us can in a matter of minutes — whether it's about making tea, or wearing a tie, to basic greetings in different languages. And he connects everything he learns from people with what he reads in books.

“Music and dance can be used as an instrument for ensuring global peace and act as a binding force.”

There's a beautiful scene in the middle of the film when a whole group joins in an impromptu jamming session led by Chottu.

There's a guitarist, there are folk artistes and there's a foreigner playing an Indian string instrument.

“If India is to become developed by 2020, it will do so only by riding on the shoulders of the young.”

Thankfully, the change in Kalam does not happen because of the foreigner. It happens because of children. They overcome their obstacles and speak up for what they want by initiating a dialogue with the older generation.

“What matters in this life more than winning for ourselves is helping others win.”

Kalam does not care about winning himself. He is confident. He knows he will reach his destination some day. And wants his best friend to win, whether it is a French test or a Hindi elocution contest in school.

“It is not a disgrace to not reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for.”

While many Indian youth (like Pitobash as Luvtund) grow up idolising film stars, we are really lucky to have Kalam. And it's a good thing that someone made a film to give kids a role model, someone they can become.

I am Kalam

Genre: Drama

Director: Nila Madhab Panda

Cast: Harsh Mayar, Hussan Saad, Pitobash, Gulshan Grover

Storyline: A street smart underprivileged kid befriends a rich Rajput prince and dreams of going to school

Bottomline: A thank you letter to former President Kalam for inspiring children

News from other sources: SC reserves verdict on Right to Education Act - PTI

Press Trust Of India, Wed-03-Aug-2011, Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 3 (PTI) The Supreme Court today reserved its verdict on the validity of provisions of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act which make it mandatory for private schools to reserve of 25 per cent seats for children of economically backward sections.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S H Kapadia and justices K S Radhakrishnan and Swantanter Kumar concluded the marathon hearings which began on February 17 to examine certain provisions of the law which made right to education a fundamental right of children in the age group of 6-14 years.

A batch of petitions by private unaided institutions and others contended that the Act violated the rights of private educational institutions under Article 19(1)(g) which provided maximum autonomy to private managements to run their institutions without governmental interference. However, the Centre defended the law saying it was aimed at uplifting the socially and economically weaker section of society.

A batch of petitions by private unaided institutions and others contended that the Act violated the rights of private educational institutions under Article 19(1)(g) which provided maximum autonomy to private managements to run their institutions without governmental interference. However, the Centre defended the law saying it was aimed at uplifting the socially and economically weaker section of society.

The main petitioner Society for Un-aided Private Schools, Rajasthan, and a host of associations representing various private schools have questioned the validity of the Act on the ground that it impinged on their rights to run the educational institutions.

The Act also mandated that private educational institutions have to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for children from poor families. PTI