Friday, April 13, 2012

Blog 12: Right to Education Act Upheld


In India’s capital, New Delhi, the Supreme Court has supported the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act.  This Right to Education Act states that students up to age 14 from a socially and economically struggling family have a right to free education.  The Supreme Court now backs the fact that this act applies to all schools even private-owned and irrespective of the board.  Starting the school year of 2012-2013, private schools have to admit at least 25% students from socially and economically backward families.  When these students attend the private school their education is still going to be free.  Classroom atmosphere will change now because these students will be allowed in the classroom with other advantaged students.  There will no longer be separate shifts for the students of poor families.  This integration is said to be beneficial for the students.

This issue seems to be bittersweet.  In this world we live in we want all children to have the right to equal education.  Private schools tend to have better quality education and better resources are accessible.  The government is only allowing 25% of students from socially and economically disadvantaged families which seems to be unfair because all children should be allowed to have a free education at the best schools.  Parents of the students are complaining because they may have to pick up the increased cost of the private schools.  This situation is similar to the one in Turkey about the minority schools.  These school systems are both allowing students from a disadvantaged background into the more advanced schools.  This issue displays the social problems within the educational system.  The educational system need to find ways to make all schools good quality instead of allowing a small percentage of students to get the chance to a good education.  This is still inequality because there are still those students who will not get the luxury of this type of education.

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