Seeking statutory regulations/laws to fix a minimum age for entry level class of all formal schools to be not less than four years - SJ writes to Kapil Sibal

Shri Kapil Sibal,

Union Minister for Human Resources Development,

Shastri Bhawan, C-Wing, Dr Rajendra Prasad Road,

New Delhi - 110 001

04.02.2012

 

SUBJECT: Seeking statutory regulations/laws to fix a minimum age for entry level class of all formal schools to be not less than four years

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

This is to bring to your notice the absence of any clear provision in the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 with regard the minimum age for entry level class in formal schools. While it should be the Union HRD Ministry's primary endeavor to bring the standard of all government schools in the country at par with the Kendriya Vidyalayas, unless the Ministry does not make necessary amendments in the RTE Act or issues an official clarification/notification stating that four years should be the minimum age for entry level class in formal schools it will be difficult to check commercialization of education as well as in doing away with undue pressure on parents to seek school admission for their children as young as two-three years old in unaided private schools.

 

Since the Delhi High Court in its order dated 27/01/2012 could not fix four years as the entry level class for formal schooling due to the non-implementation of the Ganguly Committee Report by the Government and school authorities – even while referring the RTE Act in the matter -- it becomes all the more necessary that the Union HRD Ministry comes out with an official notification or amendment in the RTE Act since the court has made the Act's Sections 12 and 11 provisions to come to the conclusion that 3+ can be the entry point which is leading to a deplorable situation. 

 

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours truly,

 

Ashok Agarwal, Advocate

Advisor, Social Jurist

M-09811101923