A Study Of Awareness And Opinion Of Teachers Regarding Right To Education Act -2009

Abstract

Education in traditional Bharat was a privilege; privilege of Certain Vamas and linga. Thus, institutionalised education in India, in its origin, was discriminatory in nature and function. This discrimination in spite of opposition from various sections at different historical junctures continued unabatedly. Buddha opposed discrimination in educational admissions and in principle proposed education for all in antiquity. In modem India, reformers, from time to time, fought against this institutionalized discrimination and demanded education for all. Efforts of Mahatma Phule and Gopala Krishna Gokhle during British rule brought the demand for education as a national demand. 1.2.0 Landmarks in the history of compulsory free education in India In 1882 Mahatma Jyotirav Phule demanded free education for historically denied people of sudras and women in his memorandum to Hunter Commission; Mahatma He had started first school for women in Pune .He taught his wife and gave education to women. He has given a statement about education that is: 1911 Gopala Krishna Gokhale's education for all bill in Imperial Legislative Assembly that was defeated; Again in 1912, Gopal Krishna Gokhale introduced Elementary Education Bill which was to permit local body an option to introduce compulsory education in selected areas on certain conditions but bill was not carried through in the legislature Council Gokhale's concluding remarks carried the prophecy "The bill thrown out today will come back again the Gov. of India (GOI) in 1921 enacted law far introducing compulsory primary education in the meantime, Vithal Bhai Patel had successfully piloted compulsory primary education bill in the Bombay legislature assembly in 1918. 1 RIE Library Bhopal • 1937 Gandhi's Basic education policy. • 1944 Sargent Plan, or Post World War II plan Educational Development in India to achieve Universal Elementary Education in 40 years by 1984; • 1947 Kher Committee was set up to explore ways and means to achieving VEE within ten years at lesser cost; • 1947 Sub-committee on Fundamental Rights of Constituent Assembly places Free and Compulsory education on the list of Fundamental Rights in Clause 23. It reads, "Every citizen is entitled as of right to free primary education and it shall be the duty of the State to provide within a period of ten years . from the commencement of this Constitution for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen ears". However, Advisory Committee of the Constituent Assembly rejects Free and Compulsory Education as a fundamental right. Later the committee sent the clause to 'non-justiciable right' (This now known as Directive Principles of State Policy- part IV of the Constitution) Thus, Constitutional framers in the light and spirit of international covenants and independence struggle guaranteed fundamental rights to all citizens of India. But, the Article 45 of the Constitution which guarantees education for all the children below the age of 14 years is under Directive Principles of State Policy that is not an enforceable right. 1950 Article 45 of Directive Principles of Policy of Constitution of India provides that, . "The State shall endeavor to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years '.