Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Nov 21: Four years after the rest of country embraced the Right to Education (RTE), Jammu and Kashmir Government is all set to introduce the revolutionary step making it a fundamental right for free and compulsory education a fundamental right of children upto class 8th.
Top official sources told EXCELSIOR that the proposal of the Education Department to extend the RTE to the State had received the nod of the Planning Department and the Finance Department was also likely to give its clearance soon.
“After concurrence of the Finance Department, the Education Department is likely to move a memo before the Cabinet for introduction of the important Legislation”, sources said adding, “there is also a strong possibility that Government will issue an ordinance to pave way for implementation of the Act in the State”.
“The Education Department, which is headed by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand is keen to see the enforcement of the Act before the announcement of Code of Conduct by the Election Commission in view of forthcoming Parliamentary elections”, sources remarked.
Sources pointed out that the Education Department tomorrow would give a formal presentation to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and apprise him of all the salient features of the RTE Act, which is going to be introduced in the State. “The Chief Minister has also evinced keen interest in early implementation of the Act as it would benefit million of children in the State”, they added.
Asked about the huge financial implication of the Act, source asserted that the Central Government has assured to provide necessary funds required for the implementation of the RTE in State.
Elaborating on the feature of the Act, sources remarked, “with the introduction of RTE, the right to free and compulsory education would become a fundamental right for a child in the age group 6 to 14 years”, adding, “the State Government while incorporating all the important provisions of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 has also introduced some State specific provisions”.
“The Act would usher major reforms in the Education sector and would ensure compulsory admission, attendance and completion of elementary education besides ensuring good quality education to all”, sources emphasized.
The Act, which will be called the Jammu and Kashmir School Education (Amendment) Act, 2013 as per the existing draft proposes that every child of the age of six to 14 years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a nearby school till completion of elementary education. Besides, every child of the age of below six years shall have a right to seek admission to Kindergarten (K.G.) in a nearby school where such a facility may be provided for.
Further, the Act draft states that no child shall be liable to pay any kind of fee or charges or expenses which may prevent him or her from pursuing and completing the elementary education or from seeking admission to Kindergarten.
Confirming that the State Act is likely to be put before Cabinet soon, Education Minister Tara Chand said, “the Act would be bring a revolution in the education sector of the State and would provide free and compulsory education to all children till the age of 14”, adding, “Centre has also assured us to take care of all the financial implication of the sector”.
Dwelling further on the decisions taken by his Department he said, “we propose to regularize nearly 8000 education volunteers in the State soon. While 1000 have been regularized from Kashmir so far, nearly 3000 more are likely to be regularized soon. Similarly, regularization of 4000 education volunteers from Jammu region is also on the cards.”
“Also, nearly 8000 posts comprising teacher and lecturers have been referred to recruiting agencies. Another important step of the Department was to recruit teachers in schools near the border and Line of Control (LoC) on pattern of Rehbar-e-Taleem, so that education doesn’t suffer in those areas”, he asserted.
Commissioner/Secretary Education, Hardesh Kumar while elaborating on the RTE Act said, “after formulating the draft Act, we had conducted several workshops in different parts of the State. Thereafter, the Act was put in public domain for inviting suggestions and consultations were also held with some experts, who were instrumental in formulation of the Central Act”.
“After incorporating all the suggestions, we have sought the consent of Planning and Finance Department and now the proposal is in final stages”, he remarked.
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