NAC to be constituted for effective implementation of Education Act

New Delhi, Feb 25 (ANI): The Economic Survey for 2009-10 presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Parliament on Thursday states that the universalisation of Elementary Education of adequate quality to ensure satisfactory learning standards is an objective that needs to be pursued vigorously.

The survey points out that the Right of children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 to provide for free and compulsory education for all children of the age 6 to 14 years, was published in the Gazette of India on august 27, 2009 and has the following salient features:very child of the age 6-14 years shall have a right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education.

The appropriate Government and the local authority shall establish, within such area or limits of neighbourhood, a school where it is not so established, within a period of three years.

The Central and State Governments shall have concurrent responsibility for providing funds for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

It shall be the duty of every parent or guardian to admit or cause to be admitted his or her child or ward to an elementary education in the neighbourhood school.

No school or person shall, while admitting a child, collect any capitation fee and subject the child or his or her parents or guardians to any screening procedure.

No teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity.

The Central Government shall constitute by notification a National Advisory Council, consisting of members to be appointed from amongst persons having knowledge and practical experience in the field of elementary education and child development for advising the Central Government on implementation of the provisions of the Act in an effective manner.

The survey also states that the Rashtrihya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), a new centrally sponsored scheme, to enhance access to secondary education and improve its quality was launched in March 2009. (ANI)