COIMBATORE: With the State government finally notifying the Tamil Nadu Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules - 2011, more than a year after the Central Act (The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009) came into force on April 1, 2010, children belonging to the disadvantaged and weaker section of the society can now seek 25 per cent of seats in private schools.According to N Anandhi, Chief Education Officer, Coimbatore, “The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (Central Act) came into effect from April 1, 2010. However, private schools in Coimbatore city were yet to provide 25 per cent seats to those from the disadvantaged and weaker section of the society, as they were waiting for the State to frame rules.”She further added, “With the State notifying the rules, it will be implemented from the next academic year and private schools have to provide 25 per cent seats to students belonging to the weaker sections. The government will reimburse the cost of education for these students, to the particular schools. The public can seek admission in private schools only in areas where there are no government or aided schools.”R Manimohan, the chairman of Students Welfare Association of Parents (SWAP), Coimbatore said, “The State government notifying the rules was a welcome move, as something is better than nothing. The economically downtrodden people will be benefited by this.”According to him, the Act guarantees citizens their fundamental right. “As per the Constitution (86th Amendment) Act, 2002 (article 21 A), the State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to 14 years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine." "This amendment was made following a Supreme Court judgement in this regard. After nearly 10 years, 25 per cent of people will be now getting free education, which is the fundamental right of all citizens.”As the government would reimburse the education expenses of this 25 per cent, this would help in better implementation of the Act, Manimohan felt. “Private schools have till now said that they cannot bear the cost of education of these students as they have to pass on the cost to the other parents. With the government reimbursing the cost of education for these students, there will not be problems for private schools in implementing this. PB Prince Gajendra Babu, general secretary of the State Platform for Common School System, while welcoming the government’s move, pointed out that the criteria for selecting the 25 per cent beneficiaries has still not been specified.
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