Education is a powerful tool for reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and creating opportunities for sustainable development

The National Educational Policy 2020 aims to pave the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education in the country. NEP 2020, approved by the Union Cabinet, explicitly helps in rebuilding the education structure to align with the goals of education in the 21st century. The Right to Education has been recognized as a fundamental right by the Supreme Court of India under the Constitution of India.
Education shall promote understanding, and tolerance, and foster the development of a responsible society. It is considered the third eye of man. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 envisages providing quality and holistic development to all the children of the country. From the perspective of the United Nations, without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, sustainable development cannot be achieved.
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 came into effect in April 2010 to provide free and compulsory education to all children from 6 to 14 years. In addition to compulsory education, the government should ensure admission, enrollment, and completion of elementary education by every child; ensure the availability of neighbourhood schools; and ensure that children belonging to underprivileged and weaker sections are not discriminated against in pursuing and completing elementary education on any grounds. It should also provide school buildings, infrastructure, trained teaching faculty, and learning equipment, and prescribe curriculum and courses of study. Additionally, it should provide training facilities for teachers.
Article 21-A and Article 45 state that the state shall provide free and compulsory education and early childhood care and education for all children without any discrimination. It is the need of the hour to effectively implement awareness programs to make people aware of the right of children to free and compulsory education up to the age of 14 years.
With the advent of the RTE, there is a legal obligation on the state and central government to execute the fundamental rights of a child as per Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. This Act also provides that no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass board exams until the completion of elementary education.
There is an obligatory provision to provide free and compulsory education to each and every child in a neighbourhood school within 1 km up to class 8 in India. No child is liable to pay fees or any other charges that may prevent him/her from pursuing and completing elementary education. Free education includes the provision of textbooks, uniforms, and special educational materials for children with disabilities in order to reduce the burden of school expenses.
Education is the fundamental right of every child, a prerogative for growth and development. Its importance cannot be overstated as it enables children to acquire knowledge, skills, and values necessary for their personal and social development. Education is also a powerful tool for reducing poverty, promoting gender equality, and creating opportunities for sustainable development. The Right to Education Act 2009 doesn’t just preach the importance of education but also has regulations and roles that ensure every child, irrespective of economic status, can get the education they deserve.
The writer is a teacher. He can be reached at [email protected]

Qysar Ul Islam Shah