Delhi govt move to amend education laws sparks protest

The changes in question are removal of Section 10(1) of Delhi School Education Act (1973) and Section 16 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education

A group of educationists and activists working towards implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) act on Sunday formed the 'India Campaign for Education', a national forum for advocacy on the RTE, and expressed concerns over the Delhi government's proposed amendments to education laws.

The amendments in question are removal of Section 10(1) of the Delhi School Education Act (1973) and Section 16 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education. Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia had on Friday tabled the Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015, in the legislative Assembly.

The forum contends that deleting Section 10(1) of the Delhi School Education Act (1973) — it will in effect do away with pay parity for teachers and other employees of recognised private schools with those of government schools — is in contravention of the right to equality and negates all the gains made by teachers to recognise their services as qualified professionals. The forum adds that this move will dilute the quality of education.

On deleting Section 16 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education — it provides for non-detention of children under the Act — the forum states this will demoralise students. Instead of removing the section, the forum has urged the government to make every effort to improve the quality of education, and to ensure that children are learning, and moving from one class to the next without disruption.

In a press statement, the forum called upon the government to "set the trend in favour of the poor and their aspirations for social transformation" and drop the "retrogressive measures, and retain the existing provisions in support of children’s right to education".