Context: 

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, marked a watershed moment in India's educational policy landscape. It aimed to ensure every child aged 6–14 years receives free and compulsory education. While the Act has helped India achieve near-universal enrolment, substantial challenges remain—especially in socio-economically and geographically disadvantaged regions.

The RTE Act was designed to democratize access to quality education and bridge historical inequalities. Over a decade and a half later, however, the picture is mixed. Access has improved, but quality, equity, and retention remain elusive.

Gaps in RTE Implementation:

While India currently has around a 98.4% enrollment rate among children aged 6–14 (ASER 2024), learning outcomes are poor:

·         Only 33% of Class 3 students can do basic subtraction.

·         Less than 50% of Class 5 students can read a Class 2-level text. This disconnect highlights the failure of the system to convert schooling into meaningful learning.

Private School EWS Quota: The 25% reservation for children from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in private unaided schools remains poorly implemented.

·         Delhi: 20–30% of EWS seats go unfilled annually.

·         Karnataka: RTE admissions dropped by over 98% between 2018 and 2023.

·         Andhra Pradesh & Gujarat: Face issues with delayed reimbursements and burdensome paperwork for parents.

RTE Norm Compliance: Nationwide, only 25.5% of schools meet all RTE norms. Common deficits include:

·         Inadequate pupil-teacher ratios

·         Lack of qualified staff

·         Poor infrastructure Thousands of private schools have been shut down since 2015 for non-compliance, further straining the public system.

Abandoning the No-Detention Policy:  The rollback of the no-detention policy in 16 states and 2 Union Territories marks a shift away from a child-centric pedagogy. Retention and failure in Classes 5 and 8 risk increasing dropout rates among children who are already at the margins of the system.

The Psychological Cost of Token Inclusion: Children admitted under the EWS quota in private schools often face covert discrimination and exclusion:

·         They are often singled out and stigmatized by teachers.

·         Social integration is weak, leading to identity crises and reduced self-esteem. This undermines the spirit of inclusion and violates the child's right to dignity and full participation.

Reframing RTE through the Capability Lens: Drawing on Amartya Sen’s capability approach, access alone does not equate to opportunity. Physical infrastructure, teacher availability, and curricular design must translate into real choices and learning gains for students. For example, a school library without books in local languages or trained librarians serves little educational value.

Major Government Initiatives for education:

School Education Reforms:

• PM SHRI Schools (2022–2027): A flagship initiative to develop over 14,500 model schools aligned with NEP principles. With an outlay of ₹27,360 crore, PM SHRI schools will demonstrate excellence in infrastructure, pedagogy, and student outcomes.
• Samagra Shiksha (2021–2026): A comprehensive program merging earlier schemes (SSA, RMSA, and Teacher Education), Samagra Shiksha aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education across all levels by addressing gender, social, and regional disparities.
• NIPUN Bharat (2021–2027): Targets foundational literacy and numeracy for all children by Grade 3, recognizing these as critical milestones for lifelong learning and academic success.
• Vidya Pravesh (2021): Introduces a three-month play-based school preparation module for Grade-I students, ensuring a smooth and engaging transition into formal education.
• PRERNA (2024): A pilot initiative combining heritage and innovation through immersive residential learning experiences for secondary students, encouraging leadership, problem-solving, and national pride.
• ULLAS/NILP (2022–2027): Focuses on adult education for individuals aged 15+, especially those without formal schooling. It promotes basic literacy, numeracy, and digital skills to empower marginalized populations.
• Vidyanjali (2021): A public participation platform to facilitate volunteering in schools, enhancing community engagement and leveraging CSR support.

Digital and Teacher Empowerment:

• DIKSHA (2017): A digital infrastructure platform for teacher training and resource sharing, supporting states in customizing content to their specific contexts.
• NISHTHA (2019 onward): The world’s largest teachers’ training program, now online, focuses on the holistic development of educators. It has expanded into NISHTHA 2.0 (secondary) and 3.0 (foundational literacy and numeracy).

Higher Education and Employability:

• SWAYAM Plus (2024): An evolved version of the SWAYAM platform, it integrates industry-specific content and a credit recognition framework to improve employability and bridge the industry-academia gap.
• PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme (2024–2031): A student-centric education loan scheme benefiting over 22 lakh students annually, targeted at those entering 860 top institutions. The fully digital interface ensures transparency and accessibility.
• NIRF Rankings (Since 2015): A transparent institutional ranking framework aimed at fostering competition and improving quality in higher education institutions.

Reform Agenda: Making RTE Future-Ready:

Extend Free Education to Age 18: The cut-off at age 14 is arbitrary and leaves students vulnerable at a critical stage. Extending the RTE Act to include secondary education (up to Class 12) would reduce dropouts and increase social mobility.

Prioritize Learning Outcomes

·         Implement outcome-based evaluation.

·         Encourage foundational literacy and numeracy.

·         Integrate life skills and digital literacy into curricula.

Universalize ECCE and Vocational Education

Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and vocational training must be integrated into the formal system to ensure holistic development and future employability.

Ensure Inclusion in Practice

·         Offer mother tongue-based multilingual education in tribal regions.

·         Train teachers in inclusive pedagogies and social sensitivity.

·         Establish peer mentorship and counseling for first-generation learners.

Strengthen Governance and Accountability

·         Ensure timely reimbursements to private schools.

·         Empower School Management Committees (SMCs) with financial oversight.

·         Use data dashboards to monitor compliance and grievances.

Conclusion:

Fifteen years into its journey, the RTE Act has helped India achieve important milestones, but its transformative potential remains underutilized. In tribal regions like West Singhbhum and across the country, structural barriers—geographic, linguistic, social, and economic—still hinder equitable access to quality education. The next phase must move beyond mere enrolment and focus on equity, inclusion, learning, and empowerment.

India must now reimagine education not just as a right, but as a tool for social transformation—one that prepares every child to participate fully in democratic, economic, and cultural life.