Right to education historic, will work to make it reality: PM

NEW DELHI - Describing the Right to Education Act a “historic step”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Tuesday said his government will work in tandem with the states to make it a reality.

“The Right to Education Act is a historic step that will give every Indian child the means to become productive, responsible and active citizen of the country. We will work in cooperation and partnership with state governments and other stakeholders to make the fundamental right to education a reality,” the prime minister said after releasing the UPA-II’s report card to mark one year in office.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory education (RTE) Act, which came into force from April 1 this year, provides for free education to all children till Class 8. The act has been highlighted as the most prominent achievement of the human resource development (HRD) ministry.

“Nothing can be more precious to us than the future of our children. It is they who will fulfil our dreams, hopes and aspirations for a better tomorrow,” the prime minister said.

Stating that a number of steps have been taken in the field of higher education, Manmohan Singh said that reforms will soon be introduced in medical education as well.

“We have already taken several initiatives in the field of higher education. In the coming year, we will work on reforming the system of medical studies,” he said.

A tussle is on between the HRD and health ministries for keeping Medical education under their ambit. While the HRD ministry wants to include medical education under the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research, health ministry proposes the formation of a separate National Council for Human Resource in Health.

In the field of higher education, the report card mentions the establishment of 16 central universities and six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) across the country.

Establishing over 19,000 primary and upper primary schools, mid-day meal scheme, introduction of grading system in schools and interest subsidy on education loans to poor students with parental income less than Rs.4.5 lakh per annum are the other prominent steps mentioned in the report card.

The report also includes a scheme for the establishment and management of girls’ hostels launched last year.