The Tamil Nadu government has finally notified the rules under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
With this, the State has taken an important milestone in ensuring education for all children between six and 14 years of age
Activists , non-government organisations and members of civil society came forward with suggestions, some of which have been incorporated. These include giving more teeth to the School Management Committee and local bodies, defining ‘children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections' and providing clarity on school mapping, which is essential to identify neighbourhood schools where children can be admitted. There was some disappointment, however, that the rules do not specify the manner in which schools ought to select students from the disadvantaged groups and weaker sections in their neighbourhood, to the extent of 25 per cent of the strength of their Class I or pre-school, as required under Section 12 of the Act.
At least 20 States have already notified their draft rules, including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Delhi.
