Current education system failed to meet vital parameters: Harsh Mander

JAIPUR: The second day of the seminar on Right to Education organized by the Rajasthan RTE Consortium started with a session on 'universalization and equity in the context of education.' Harsh Mander, member, National Advisory Council and Supreme Courtappointed special commissioner, Right to Food spoke on providing equity and qualitybased education to the deprived and underprivileged children.

"The education system in the country has failed to meet the expectations on the three major parameters -- to increase employability, to attain equity in society and to develop better citizens," said Mander.

In the next session, talking about the background of the Right to Education, Vinod Raina, member, RTE Act drafting committee, termed the Act as a political document and it should be seen in this light only. "The RTE activists should convince political parties for bringing changes in the Act required for its effective implementation. Politicians cannot be ignored if we really want this Act to yield 100% results," said Raina.

He opined that Act should be based on common and nationalized schools. The policy of 25% reser-vation for deprived and under-privileged children in private schools will actually benefit the eco-nomically capable-class of the society and not those who really need it. Rhere is a great need to im-prove the standard in government schools as more than 70% children of the country go to these schools.

Yogendra Bhushan, convener, Rajasthan RTE Consortium and director, Bodh Siksha Samiti, said that authorities generally escape the issues related to equity on the economic basis. He showed his dissatisfaction on the often used terms as "least quality education." The consortium is a platform jointly formed by Bodh Shiksha Samiti, UNICEF, Save the Children, Plan India, World Vision, Sight Savers, Action Aid, Aid Et Action, Cry, Oxfam, Room to Read, Prtham, and Educate Girls.