Weekly Newsletter - 2 (May)

66% Slum Children in Delhi malnourished: CRY Survey

Publication: Development Channel
Date: Fri, 2011-05-06

New Delhi: Over 66 per cent of children in Delhi slums are malnourished, suggests a new survey. The survey was conducted by NGO-Child Rights and You (CRY) in Delhi and other states.The survey conducted in seven districts of Delhi. In the seven districts analysed, approximately 7,500 children between ages 0-6 were present in the districts.The survey found that 30 per cent of children born in these districts were under-weight, while 63 were born anaemic.

It was found that most malnourishment cases occur among children from Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes. The main reason for malnourishment is the poor health status of the mothers.The survey found that Anganwadi centres in the capital city are useless as they lack infrastructure, the wages offered are low, there is unavailability of space for children to play and educational facilities are also missing.

According to the study vulnerable sections like street children, beggars, children of migrant labour and sex workers are not covered in any government schemes.The report also says that there is tremendous increase almost double in the number of people living below poverty line.The study found that in Madhya Pradesh 60 per cent children are malnourished, while in Uttar Pradesh, 85 per cent are anaemic and 41.6 per cent are underweight. The national figures show 40 per cent children as underweight.

Source: http://www.developmentchannel.org/people/children/2236-66-pc-slum-children-in-delhi-malnourished-survey

A year on, only 10 states notify RTE rules

Publication: The Statesman
Date:  2011-04-01

NEW DELHI: A year after the Right to Education (RTE) Act came into force, only 10 states, including Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan Sikkim, Orissa, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, have notified the rules for implementation of this historic Act that mandates compulsory education for all children in the 6-14 age group till class VIII.
Out of 28 states, 16 are also yet to form state commissions for protection of child rights (SCPCR) which need to be formed to monitor the implementation of RTE Act in the respective state and to receive complaints regarding its violations from people.
The 11 states which have constituted SCPCR include Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chattisgarh and Orissa.
“It’s really sad that only ten out of 28 states have notified the Act in the last one year. It is also very important that SCPCRs are established in each state,” the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Ms Shantha Sinha told The Statesman.
“We have been writing and pushing each state for this and every time we are told that it is being done and it’s in the pipeline,” she said.
The NCPCR is the main body for monitoring the implementation of the Act. Apart from it, the responsibility of monitoring the RTE Act’s implementation lies with the SCPCRs or the Right to Education Protection Authority (REPA) .
“Awareness about the Act continues to be extremely low, specially at levels below the state.”
“While people are not aware, even teachers’ and head teachers’ knowledge is rudimentary,” Ms Sinha said, referring to 230 complaints registered by the NCPCR in the last year all over the country.
Of the 230 complaints received, 65 are from Delhi, 27 complaints were from Madhya Pradesh, 25 from Haryana and 22 each from Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. Most of these complaints range from admission (51) to corporal punishment (34).
To generate more awareness, the NCPCR has recommended that the basic entitlements under the Act be painted on walls of all government school buildings.
The Centre has also committed financial support of Rs 2.31 lakh crore over a five-year period from 2010-11 to 2014-15 for implementation of RTE-SSA programme across the country.
Its fund sharing pattern has been revised from the earlier pattern in the sliding scale of 65:35 ratio between the Centre and state for the five year period from 2010-11.

Source: http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=364525&catid=36&year=2011&month=04&day=2&Itemid=66

Tardy progress

Publication: Deccan Herald
Date: Mon, 2011-05-09

There are serious problems in the implementation of the Right to Education Act in all the states of the country.The Act, which makes all children aged between 6 and 14 entitled to free and compulsory education, was notified in April 2010. But its enforcement is shoddy and uneven and there are large numbers of complaints about lack of compliance with the provisions of the law from all over the country. The complaints come from people who are aware of the right and find violations of the law. But the majority of the people are unaware of the law. The number of complaints would have been manifold if they knew that their children’s rights are being denied. Since schools are going to reopen in the next few weeks and this is the peak admission time, it is necessary to address the problems urgently.

A review meeting held by the human resources development ministry last week has decided to evolve procedures to address the complaints. Most complaints relate to denial of admission, prejudiced admission procedures, demand for capitation fees, poor quality of teaching, absence of schools in accessible areas and lack of teachers and physical infrastructure. Some of these problems should have been addressed in the past few months but some others like the admission problems can still be sorted out. One important complaint relates to the 25 per cent quota for economically weaker sections in private schools. Many schools are unwilling to implement the provision and some have even incited parents to oppose it on objectionable grounds. The fee compensation scheme in the case of such students is being disputed. But the refusal of some school managements to admit poor students on grounds of difference in family backgrounds and alleged learning disabilities are more serious and should be handled strictly.

The ministry has decided to make the grievance redressal mechanism more accessible to people. The mechanism does not exist in some states. Redressal bodies should function effectively at the lowest levels like panchayats. There is a proposal to put in place a malpractices law which can better handle violations of the RTE Act. While this may be considered, the present focus should be on using the powers which are already available. Wider dissemination of the rights under the Act, especially in the educationally and economically backward areas, is necessary. Non-government organisations and others interested in education should also be involved in the awareness programme.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/159563/tardy-progress.html

 

Public school seats may double in New Delhi

Publication: Times of India
Date: Fri, 2011-05-06

NEW DELHI: The number of seats available in Delhi's public schools may double if a Planning Commission proposal is implemented. The Planning Commission has directed Delhi government to take a call on mandating public schools to go for double shift to meet the increasing demand of admissions. The directorate of education has already sent a directive to schools giving detailed guidelines about how it should be done.

NEW DELHI: The number of seats available in Delhi's public schools may double if a Planning Commission proposal is implemented.

The Planning Commission has directed Delhi government to take a call on mandating public schools to go for double shift to meet the increasing demand of admissions. The directorate of education has already sent a directive to schools giving detailed guidelines about how it should be done.

The issue came up in a meeting to finalize the annual plan for the capital where plan panel deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia asked Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit to consider the proposal which will double the intake in the public schools in the city which is struggling to meet the admission demand.

Confirming the plan, Dikshit said that the idea was basically to cater to the increased demand that would follow because of the implementation of the Right to Education Act. "This is the second year of RTE. Some schools like Delhi Public School and Sanskriti are already doing it on a voluntary basis. It is not a hard and fast rule yet because we are still looking at the proposition but what is clear is that the second school would have to be a completely separate establishment with a different set of teachers, other staff, etc."

Asked if the fee structures of the two shifts would be the same, the CM said that should ideally be the case. "But in the case of Sanskriti Umang is being run as a sort of a social responsibility initiative. Some schools have met us - some of them came today also to give their suggestions which we are open to. But as of now we do not want to force things on anybody. It is a sort of open proposition that is under consideration."

According to chairman of the DPS Society, Ashok Chandra, "It is fine, but it should be made mandatory as it will not be a viable option for all schools. The final decision should be left to the individual organizations."

On a similar line, principal of Springdales, Pusa Road, Ameeta Mulla Wattal said: "In fact nearly a month ago we received a circular suggesting that private schools should adopt double shift. It also stated that these will be run as separate independent schools with a time gap of one hour between the two shifts and with a separate principal and faculty. Private schools are already resource-challenged and as far as I know most of the schools of the National Progressive Schools' Conference are overloaded with initiatives and will not be possible, at least in my school, to start a second shift."

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Public-school-seats-may-double/articleshow/8172694.cms

 

More work hours may hit teachers’ efficiency - India - DNA

Publication: DNA India
Date: Fri, 2011-05-06

GUJRAT: Will the new working hours for primary school teachers, fixed under Right to Education (RTE) Act, make teachers quit their jobs or will they adjust to the longer hours?

Under the RTE Act, it is mandatory for primary school teachers to report for eight hour duty at schools, two hours more than the normal school hours. Teachers are supposed to spend the extra time preparing for the next day and checking note-books.

Vice-president of Gujarat Primary Teachers Association, Shanti Shah said, "The state has around two lakh primary school teachers, of which 50% are women. There are several households where husband and wife both work as teachers. If such people dedicate eight hours to their work, their family life gets disturbed. Also, what about those teachers who travel to far off village schools. Will women be able to face such a life?"

Disappointed with the government, he said it has not taken women teachers into account. "We have submitted a letter to Gujarat government to make changes in the rules. We even staged a dharna in Delhi against this rule, but in vain," added Shah.

He said that quitting the job will not be an option taken by any teacher as the association will support the teachers completely.
However, many principals seem to be happy with the decision. Principal of Sheth CN Vidyalaya, Hitendra Trivedi said, "The teachers have no option but to follow this mandatory rule. But I believe it is a good decision. Instead of checking exam papers and note-books and preparing for next day at home, teachers can do the work at school with complete concentration during the extra two hours. I don't think this will lead to teachers leaving their jobs."

Another principal of a prominent school of the city, requesting anonymity, said, "The decision has its advantages and disadvantages. It will improve the productivity and quality of work of the teachers, but it will also lead to long working hours for them."

Interestingly, principal of Aroma School of the city, Bhaskar Patel said, "A few teachers may opt out of the profession. But the figures will be marginal. Hardly 1-2% of total teachers will leave the profession due to increased timings."

Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_more-work-hours-may-hit-teachers-efficiency_1539704

Parents demand municipal school at Bibvewadi

Publication: Times of India
Date: Thu, 2011-05-05

PUNE: Parents of 650-odd children in the Bibvewadi area where no municipal school exists for over four to five km, along with NGO Swadhar, have submitted a petition to the Pune Municipal Corporation's school board, pointing out the urgent need for a school in the area and for transport facilities to take the children to other schools in the interim.

The petition was signed on Wednesday during a public meeting of parents, member-activists of Swadhar -- which is also a member of the Action for the Rights of the Child, an umbrella organisation of various child rights groups in the city -- as well as officials from the PMC school board and the central government-run Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.

Local resident Ratna Rathod told TOI: "My daughters aged 10 and 11 years have been out of school for a year now since it is not possible for them to walk the distance to the school everyday, which is at least five km away. I request the PMC to start a school in this area at least this academic year onwards. If that is not possible, at least provide buses to take these children to school."

Anjali Bapat, member-activist of Swadhar, said: "So far the school board has kept promising that the PMC standing committee has approved a school in this area. But, apparently, since no reserved land belonging to the PMC is available, it is difficult for the school to materialise. That being the case, I wonder how the tenets of the Right to Education Act that promises free and fair education to every child -- by envisaging a school within a km of the child's residence -- would be met."

Bapat said that when the activists of Swadhar and ARC had asked the PMC for buses to ferry these children to schools, they were told that there was no budgetary allocation for the same. "The school board says it would provide free PMPML passes to these children, but that would not be of much use. These children belong to the primary school level and are too young to travel alone. Their parents, who are struggling to make ends meet, cannot take them everyday."

Dhananjay Pardeshi, deputy education officer, PMC, and Rajesh Thorat, co-ordinator of Sarva Shikshan Abhiyan, who were present at the meeting, asked Swadhar to identify places where a school could be run on rent. "Alternately, we, for our part, will look for land where a temporary shed can be built to house classes. If none of that works, we will provide transportation to these children", they said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Parents-demand-municipal-school-at-Bibvewadi/articleshow/8163711.cms

Delhi schools should admit children throughout the year: Minister

Publication: The Hindu
Date: Fri, 2011-05-06

New Delhi: Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely, said the process of enrolling children in nursery and pre-primary classes would continue throughout the year as per provisions of Right to Education Act.

Although Delhi government had set a July 31 deadline for nursery admission, Mr. Lovely said the RTE provides for enrolment throughout the year.

At a meeting, Mr. Lovely directed top officials of his department to ensure that all eligible children get admission in government-run as well as private schools.

“The Minister issued clear instructions to enrol the children in appropriate classes. He also directed the officials to ensure not a single child is left without getting admission,” said the official who attended the meeting.

Mr. Lovely said all the deputy directors of various zones have been told to prepare of list of private schools where seats under economically weaker section are lying vacant.

“These seats will be filled soon. We will seek fresh applications from children of poor families for admission under this category,” Mr. Lovely said.

The Delhi government had earlier this year issued guidelines asking all schools to reserve 25 per cent of the total seats for students belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) as per RTE Act.

The Education Minister said there has been an increase in enrolment of about one lakh students in government-run schools this year, compared to last year.

A total of 13,99,000 students were enrolled this year compared to 13,01,591 last year, an official said.

The city government is currently running 943 schools, which include around 700 senior secondary schools, 200 secondary schools and around 40 middle schools. 

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article1996654.ece   

News Articles collected by Abhinav Jaipuriar