According to a recent study conducted by the government of Andhra Pradesh 37,000 children in the State don’t go to school. Alarmingly, this year the literacy rate in the State was lower than the national average — a fact we definitely cannot be proud of. However, government officials insist that the introduction of Right to Education (RTE) Act in April 2010, has slowly yet steadily improved the condition.
According to statistics nearly 30 per cent of the kids in the City don’t go to school, however, child labour had decreased substantially. But if you look deep enough, you’ll realise that children are still forced to work due to parental pressure and the added responsibility of supporting the family.
But the introduction of the Right to Education Act promises to change things. “The Act aims to provide free and compulsory education to all. Ever since it was implemented, there have been more enrolments in schools,” says Chandana Khan, principal secretary to government, primary education department and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. “The government is reaching out to people to spread awareness about the importance of education and how their lives can transform due to it.
Our officers constantly interact for community mobilisation and highlight the importance of educating their children,” she said.
Dr PV Ramesh, principal secretary to government, Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department says that implementing the RTE is the fundamental responsibility of the government. “Investments have been made to improve the quality of education. But there’s a lot more that still needs to be done,” he said.
Agrees MS Chandra, founder, Centre for Action Research and People’s Development, “The government was supposed to implement schemes in schools and failing to do so has made children, especially girls drop out of school, thus worsening the situation.”
“The Supreme Court has issued guidelines to the government here to make toilets in all schools by the end of November and that hasn’t happened so far. This is the main reason why the dropout rate of girls has increased from last year’s 63 per cent to 64 per cent this year. Corporal punishment too is a reason for the RTE going bust,” continued Chandra.
Educating the children will only improve the living conditions not just for the family, but the community as well.
“Their parents didn’t get the opportunities their children now have and they belong to a brave new world where education is a priority. They should not be deprived of the basic right to education,” concluded Chandana Khan.
http://postnoon.com/2011/12/25/tool-to-turn-society-around/14176