“Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.”
-Kofi Annan
Education is an act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical potential of an individual. A vital element to balance the societal factors, education contributes to the economic development of a country. Countries without educated population cannot foresee and implement the best policies necessary for the growth of an otherwise developing country.
The battle to make elementary education imperative for everyone was started by the great son of India, Gopal Krishna Gokhale about hundred years ago. He urged before the Imperial Legislative Assembly to confer upon the Indians the Right to Education. It was only after ninety years in August 2009 that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act was enacted by the Parliament.
According to this act, education is declared as a fundamental right for all children of the age group of 6 to 14 years, irrespective of any caste, color or creed. The Right to Education provision eliminates discrimination in the educational system at all levels, thereby, setting standards. The fundamental right to education is explicitly set out in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 14 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. This act also ensures that private school needs to reserve at least 25 percent seats for the students of weaker section.
