Education Act faulty: Teachers

Hyderabad, Nov. 13: Yet another Children’s Day is here. Like every year, schoolchildren will dress up in lovely clothes and have a gala time.

However, at the same time, many other children will be labouring throughout the day to help their families make ends meet.

In Andhra Pradesh, 50 per cent of the children are below the age of 14. Shockingly, more than half of them don’t go to schools. Half of them are malnourished and are born with several diseases.

The one difference this year is the “Right to Education Act.” After 60 years of Independence, children are going to have the right to be educated till the age of 14.

“No one knows what purpose the Act would serve. There is still no clarity on the funds to implement the Act. It requires a massive Rs 1.74 lakh crore to implement it. Who will provide the money?” asked Mr I. Venkateshwar Rao, a senior teacher. Others called it a “Flawed Act” saying it cannot achieve the desired results in its current format.

“There are no quality parameters for teachers. It reserves 25 per cent seats for poor children in private schools. Why did the government have this provision? Why did it not propose common government schools for all kids, rich or poor?” asked Ms Kusumulatha, the principal of a Government High School.

The dropout rate in the state is alarmingly high. Though the consecutive governments boast of implementing different schemes — Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Mid-day meal scheme — to improve enrolment, they failed to retain the students.

According to official statistics, 25,94,755 students had enrolled in government schools in the state in Classes I to X in 1999-2000. The number fell to 10,18,856 by 2008-09, which is a drop of 60.73 per cent. In case of the SCs and STs, the dropout rate is 66.22 per cent and 81.77 per cent respectively.

Ms Mrudula, an activist, says, “Schools needs to play a bigger role. The teachers need to be regular.”