Educational Policy, Schemes and Right to Education
Educational Policy, Schemes and Right to Education tests the legal framework and current missions. The RTE Act, 2009 gives free and compulsory elementary education to children aged 6–14; NEP 2020 sets the 5+3+3+4 structure; Samagra Shiksha integrates school education schemes.
Core rules
- RTE: no capitation fee, no screening, no physical punishment; 25% seats in the entry class of unaided private schools for EWS/disadvantaged groups, with state reimbursement.
- Norms include pupil-teacher ratio (primary 1:30, upper primary 1:35), infrastructure, SMC and CCE. The original no-detention provision was amended in 2019 to allow detention after re-examination in specified cases.
- NEP 2020: foundational literacy and numeracy, NIPUN Bharat, mother-tongue medium, DIKSHA, PARAKH and holistic progress card.
- Schemes: PM POSHAN, Samagra Shiksha, PM SHRI and NISHTHA teacher training.
Worked example
An unaided private school has 60 seats in Class I. 25% = 15 seats for EWS/disadvantaged children. The school cannot charge them tuition; the state reimburses as prescribed. Reasoning: the quota applies at the entry level, not every class.
Traps
RTE covers 6–14, not 0–14. The 25% quota is not for all private schools. NEP is policy, not a statute. CCE means varied continuous assessment, not no assessment.