Campaign to demand Right To Education Bill
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History of RTE


Actions
EMAIL/FAX the Prime Minister

Click here for a list of petitioners


Past Actions (2007)
EMAIL/FAX the Prime Minister

Click here for a list of petitioners


Past Actions (2006)
EMAIL the Indian Embassies in USA

EMAIL/FAX the Prime Minister

Click here for a list of petitioners

Sign the online petition


Events (2006)
Protest at the Indian Embassy in San Francisco    Photos


Presentations
Asha Silicon Valley

History of Right to Education/Timeline of important events:

  • 1950: Constitution of India contained Article 45, as one of the directive principles of State policy, which states 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."
  • 1968: First National Commission for education under Dr. Kothari submits its reports. It introduced several far-reaching changes as uniform curriculum for both boys and girls, mathematics and science as compulsory subjects etc. It also proposed a Common School System.
  • 1976: Constitution amendment making education a concurrent subject (responsibility of both state and center) was passed.
  • 1986: National policy on Education (NPE) endorsing Common School System (CSS) was formulated. Subsequent NPE’s endorsed CSS but it has never been implemented.
  • 1993: The Supreme court in the case Unnikrishnan vs State of Andhra Pradesh ruled that the right to education is a fundamental right that flows from the Right to life in Article 21 of the Constitution.
  • 1997: Constitution Amendment making Education a fundamental right was introduced.
  • 2002: 86th Constitution Amendment added Article 21A stating that “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age six to fourteen years in such as a way as the State may, by law, determine.” The 86th Amendment also modified Article 45 which reads as “The state shall endeavor to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of 6 years”.
  • 2005: CABE committee report constituted to draft the Right to Education Bill submits its report.
  • July 2006: Media reports indicate that federal government is planning to ask all state governments to pass Right to Education bill in their respective legislatures based on a model bill drafted by federal Government. It has shelved plans to introduce a federal bill in this regard.

Resources
Right to Education Bill 2005 (PDF, 122KB)

Draft Recommendations of NAC to Govt. of India (PDF, 46KB)

Report on Consultation on RTE Bill 2005 (PDF, 120KB)

Notes on Common School System by Prof. Anil Sadgopal (PDF, 164KB)

Pratham Notes on "Free and Compulsory Education for Children Bill, 2003" (PDF, 33KB)

Relevant Articles of Indian Constitution referred by the RTE Bill 2005 (PDF, 20KB)

More Information on the ILP site

Documents
Asha for Education Chapter feedback on RTE Bill (PDF, 313KB)

Memorandum submitted to the SFO Consul General, Aug 14, 2006 (PDF, 23KB)