A muli-layer education system is not acceptable – Prof. Muchkund Dubey

INVC,,

Delhi,,

India is entering into the processes of finalization of the 12th Five Year Plan. At the same time, the Right to Education Act that holds the promise of increased investment on education has a whole host of deadlines that would come to fruition only in the next Five Year Plan period. Furthermore, the track record of delayed implementation in several states implies that several issues would spill into the 12th Plan. The intention of the government to extend the Right to Education until Class 10th, creates the need for a fundamental rethink in the secondary education sector. Given that the Plan would lay down the contours of planning and financing till 2017, it is also time to re-open the debate about upward revisions of the RTE norms, if equitable quality education for all of India’s citizens is to be ensured. Issues related to ensuring foundational investment for children under six would also need to be looked at.

 The present consultation was organized by RTE Forum. This is an informal alliance of all principal Education Networks and Civil Society Organizations including, but not limited to UNICEF, Oxfam-India, PCCSS, Save the Children, Wada Na Todo Abhiyan, Plan-India, CACL, CRY, NAFRE, NCE, AKF, World Room to Read, AIF, Welthungerhilfe, ActionAid India, UNESCO, ChristianAid, World Vision, VSO, Skillshare International and Water Aid as members. In addition to these, several State education networks and agencies are part of the process in over 10 states of India. The consultation drew upon the experience of the National Stocktaking of the RTE Act held on 31st March the report of which was released.

 Prof. Muchkund Dubey, Former Foreign Secretary, Government of India and Chairperson, CSD said “A muli-layer education system is not acceptable. The money required for creating a strong education system is actually affordable for every child in India at present”. Vinod Raina, Member RTE National Advisory Council of the Government of India and one of the drafters of RTE Act said, “Education finances have to be enhanced significantly if equitable quality education has to reach every Indian child from pre-school to class X. The need to meet the fiscal deficit target should not a constraint for the financing of the RTE and the direction of the 12^th Five Year Plan. Entry into Public- Private partnership is not a solution for ensuring universalisation of education. It has been an adhoc decision and relies on seeing corporate players as funders, not partners in the process.”