Gap in RTE Act and ground reality dissected
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 25 2012:
An official team of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), who arrived here on a two-day visit to the state to find out how far the provisions of The Rights of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 have been translated into action in the government schools of Manipur, had an interactive session with child rights activists, educationists and media persons of the state, at Manipur Press Club here today.
The discussion witnessed flood of grievances pouring out over the sorry state of administration in most government schools even after nearly two years of implementing the Act which makes free and compulsory education a fundamental right for all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years.
After hearing the grievances, NCPCR team led by its National Co-ordinator, RTE, Division, Kiran Bhatty suggested appointment of two state representatives of the Commission from among the people working in the field of Child Rights and education.
The NCPCR team visited the state as part of the public awareness campaign being conducted by Theatre in Education Unit for Children of Khenjonglang in association with Hueiyen Lanpao as media partner.
Speaking on the occasion, Thaninleima, Director of Khenjonglang informed that the campaign was taken up to bring out the existing gap in the implementation of RTE Act.
Through this campaign, information and feedbacks were collected from parents and teachers.
Pointing out that unlike in other states of the country, there is great concern among the parents in Manipur over education of their children, Thaninleima noted that there are instances where a mother sends her children to a private school by indulging herself in prostitution.
Among the participants, RK Tarachand observed that RTE Act can be effectively enforced in the state only when the 'Act itself is taken to the people' .
It is very important to have a vision and make the provisions of the Act reach out to the villages.
He also suggested that since the mother is the best teacher of a child, the RTE should be taken to the family itself.
"And there are certain areas in the state where schools are non-existent", he added.
Nandini Thokchom, Chid Rights Defender, said that since Manipur is a conflict zone and the situation here is quite different from the rest of the country, there is the need to have specific rules for Manipur as far as the RTE is concerned.
"Many people don't have the ownership of the ACT", Nandini asserted and that many of the teachers of the state are not aware of RTE and don't even know what are their duties and responsibilities.
Agreeing to the suggestions of Nandini, Kiran Bhatty pointed out that a group should be involved in framing specific requirements for the state so that NCPCR can take up the issue.
Soubam Niladhaja, Publisher, Hueiyen Lanpao suggested that institution of a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights without which monitoring over implementation or non-implementation of the provisions guaranteed in the Act would be meaningless.
Bijaya Yumlembam, Programme Executive, AIR, pointed out that almost all Commissions in the state and elsewhere seems to have been established with a political agenda.
As such, there is apprehension that institution of a State Commission for Protection of Child Rights may meet similar fate.
She also questioned the sincerity and commitment of government of India over RTE Act.
In her response, Kiran Bhatty observed it is a difficult question to answer whether the Government of India is sincere about RTE or not, but we should not rest with the idea and belief that the authority concerned is not sincere.
Instead try and bring out ways and means to make the authority act.
Child Rights activist, Mala Lisham deliberated on the issues of child trafficking in the state and suggested to have an extensive study on why RTE Act is not going well in the state.
During the course of discussion, Kiran Bhatty suggested that such campaign should be taken forward and the information gathered during be made available to the NCPCR.
She also encouraged the people of the state to file complaint over deprivation of right of children to free and compulsory education directly through NCPCR or email at [email protected] .
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