The Quality Education Forum of India (QEFI) is a forum that aims to lend its support to the ongoing efforts of all stakeholders to make the right of children to quality education a reality in the Republic of India. In this process QEFI takes cognizance of the outcome of the implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009 based on the data generated by the Government sources and research findings of credible institutions. It aims to bring to the attention of the Government of India and the Governments of all States and Union Territories, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector, the urgent need to initiate steps to amend the provisions of the Right to Education Act 2009 or to replace it with a more practical and realistic Right to Quality Education Act through appropriate legislation.
QEFI believes that the Central government and the state governments are determined to overcome the challenges before them for ensuring that each child not only has access to free, inclusive quality education but also completes his/her education. Quality education implies that all learners acquire the knowledge, qualities, attitudes and skills needed to promote sustainable living; respect human rights and gender equality; promote a culture of peace and non-violence; work for global citizenship; overcome all forms of discrimination and celebrate the cultural and religious diversity. To achieve such noble objectives necessitates the need for holistic curriculum development and for enhancing the capacity of teachers.
Taking note of the current scenario, five years after the implementation of the RTE Act, one can see that the large scale shutting down of private, unaided schools due to non-compliance with the difficult norms and standards stipulated in the RTE Act, and also the simultaneous shutting down of government schools due to lack of demand for low-quality schools, has created a national crisis and left the children in a limbo, especially when the country's child population is increasing.
According to DISE state report cards for each year (http://www.dise.in), between 2006 and 2015, total enrolment in government elementary schools fell by 67 lakh students while private school enrolment rose by 3 crore 55 lakh students. Low levels of teacher accountability and lower student learning levels have caused parents to desert publicly-funded schools and choose private schools. QEFI postulates that shutting down private schools when enrolments in public schools in some states is also falling, has practically denied our children their right to education. There are no safeguards in the RTE Act and its Model Rules for the displaced children’s right to education when a private school is forcibly closed down after de-recognition.
QEFI invites all stakeholders to join hands together to either amend the provisions, rules and GOs that have inadvertently worked against the very noble objective of the RTE Act 2009 namely that of providing free and compulsory education to all children in the age group of 6- 14;or work towards the legislation of a new Act on free, inclusive, quality education for all.