Right to Education Act 2009 in U. P. Ground Realities, Preparedness & P ropositions

1. Right to Education Act 2009 in U. P.Ground Realities, Preparedness & Propositions State Collective for Right to Education

2. Uttar Pradesh: The Big Picture • 190 Million Population (almost equals the population of world’s 5th most populous country- Brazil) • 14.90% Population 0-6 years • 30.28% Illiterate (almost 40% women are illiterate) Census 2011

3. The Journey of RTE in Uttar Pradesh • In April 2010 State government expressed inability to bear the financial burden and demanded 100% Central assistance (Rs. 18000 Crores) towards implementation of RTE • June 2010 appointment of para teachers stopped in the wake of RTE • June 2011 -Constitution of SMCs • July 2011- Govt. notified Rules • The year long delay has been mainly due to state-centre deadlock on cost sharing • Project Approval Board declined to approve fund for new primary & upper primary schools & uniform for 1.7 crore children

4. State RTE Rules-Hopes and • For FY 2011-12 State Govt allocates Rs. 19086 Crore for Basic Education • Central Government sanctioned 10,366 new primary schools and over 1000 new upper primary schools for Uttar Pradesh in September 2011 after the state notified RTE Rules. • The new primary schools will be provided two teachers each, and in the upper primary schools, three subject teachers for Language, Mathematics, Science and Social Science. • The central government has also sanctioned 121 composite schools for urban deprived children • In addition, sanctions have been accorded for providing two sets of school uniforms to 1.75 crore children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections studying in primary and upper primary classes.

5. Highlights of the Uttar Pradesh Right of Children to Free & Compulsory Education Rules, 2011 • Area of neighbourhood inserts a population norm along with distance. ( For Class I-V, 1 Km or Population atleast 300 for Primary & for Class 6th -8th 3 Km. or at least 800 Population ) • Makes it essential for Local Authority to get approval of zilaShikshaAdhikari to make transport available • The local authority shall be responsible to ensure that no discrimination happens. • UID for child allotted by ZilaShikshaAdhikari

6. Individual record info to be updated on district website. Positive development. • Local Authority maintaining list of names of all children under 25% quota admitted in their area. • Making admissions under 25% transparent, available in public domain, schools need to inform government if admission denied. Follow process of admission as laid down by government. • ZilaShikshaAdhikari and not SCPCR/REPA will be the authority for appeal for de-recognition. Involvement of District Magistrate in the process • The actual membership has been spelled out for SMCs instead of % ages. Lekhpal, ANM to be part of the committee for some reason!!

7. Guardian members to choose members from weaker sections • Selection of guardian members through general consensus in open meeting • DM to review sanctioned strength of teachers every year before July and redeployment of teachers • Ignores Model Rule clause-Equal pay for bridge course teachers, accountability to SMC as part of the service rules. • SMs and Local Authority bodies for grievance redressal for teachers • Complaints to be made to the VEC/Ward Committee, complaints to go to BSA. Second appeal to ZilaPanahcyat. Basic ShikshaParishad to monitor complaints • SCPCR/REPA to set up help line & complaint forwarding entity ??

8. Data speak • Gross Enrollment Ratio (Primary)- 91-16 • Drop out rate- 10.61 • Transition rate (V-VI)- 62.27 • Retention rate (I-V)- 73.21 • Out of school Children- 194146 • OoS Children covered in 2010-106529 • OoS Children to be covered in 2011-87617 PAB- 2011-12

9. Primary schools having Student Class Room Ratio over 30- 60% • 28% schools lacked separate toilet for girls • 41% schools don’t have ramp • 38% schools lack play ground • 51% schools without kitchen shed • Pupil Teacher Ratio- 45 (standard 30) • 22880 Primary Teachers are in position against 125377 sanctioned posts • 143183 SMCs constituted

10. The Ground Realities • Multi stakeholder rapid survey covering 36 schools across four districts (Lucknow, Allahabad, Raebareli,Barabanki) • Rapid sample survey in LakhimpurKheri, Lalitpur& Kushi Nagar • Public Hearings held across LakhimpurKheri,Mirzapur, Allahabad, Ghazipur,Lalitpur, Kushinagar, Sonbhadra, Ballia & Mau districts

11. 82% parents from Barabanki, 17% in Lucknow & 21% parents in Raebareli reported to have paid some fee towards admission in Lucknow • 45.5% schools in Lucknow, 20% In Allahabad, 27% in Raebareli,40% in Barabanki had boundary wall with gate • 60% schools in Mirzapur lacked toilet facility • 18% primary schools in Lucknow & 40% in Raebareli had functional toilets while the percentage for the same for Barabanki& Allahabad was 80% • Percentage of schools having separate space for Library ranged between 9%-20% • Over 50% schools surveyed lacked ramp

12. Key Concerns • Poor Infrastructure- Lack of functional toilets, secured boundary walls, kitchen shed , library, ramp etc. • Low PTR- Huge gap in sanctioned position dependency on non qualified, poorly trained Para teachers.. • Teaching Learning Environment- drop out, absenteeism, discrimination & exclusion • People’s Participation- Process of SMC formation & capacity building • Grievance Redressal Mechanism- SCPCR/REPA not in place,local authority (VEC)

13. Larger Issues • State-Centre relations • Minority concerns • Private Schools • Population Enumeration