Indian Express 25.10.2010
RTE hits roadblock as civic bodies look the other way
Maroosha Muzaffar Tags : Directorate of Education, DoE, RTE Posted: Mon Oct 25 2010, 03:43 hrs
“There is multiplicity of authority in Delhi. We have schools run by the MCD and NDMC, by the Delhi Cantonment Board and the Delhi government,” Director of School Education P Krishnamurthy told Newsline.
“But problems arise when there is lack of synergy among the various bodies,” Krishnamurthy explained.
Earlier, a committee set up by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for “Development of a Policy Framework for Implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009” had also recommended a single “unified body” to run the schools in the Capital.
The Act makes it mandatory for the states to give free education to children aged 6-14, but the DoE has been struggling due to a lack of land to construct schools, shortage of buildings and other infrastructure. This is why it wants to take over the schools run by the civic bodies.
“We had written to the MCD to either upgrade the schools or hand them to us. But we have got no response,” said Krishnamurthy.
RTE Branch Additional Director R K Sharma said: “There is a problem of coordination when there are many heads involved. Even when circulars are issued, it is difficult to implement them in MCD and NDMC schools. The Acts under which these bodies were formed say they can have Education departments of their own. So each body says education is their responsibility. But this multiplicity of authority in education should be done away with.”
While NDMC spokesperson Anand Tiwari said he was not aware of the issue, MCD Education Commissioner Mahinder Nagpal said they have received a letter from the DoE. “But we have categorically told them that we will not hand over our schools and will upgrade them instead. But that will take about three years. We need more teachers, more offices in the wake of the RTE,” Nagpal said.
