Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009 guarantees the right to education as a fundamental right to every child aged between 6 and 14 years- a major milestone in ensuring universal access to elementary education.

Odisha is one of the leading States in India to initiate the process of implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 considering it as a landmark act in the history of education. The Department of School and Mass Education, being the nodal Department to implement the Act, has taken proactive steps towards its grounding at all crucial levels, while reaching out to as many stakeholders as possible. SSA is the principal vehicle for the implementation of the RTE Act in the state .The RTE Act, 2009 came into force in Odisha w.e.f. 1st April, 2010

State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has been mandated under Section 31 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 to examine and review the safeguards of the rights provided under the Act and to recommend measures for its effective implementation; to inquire into complaints relating to violation of child’s right to free and compulsory education and to take necessary steps as provided under Section 15 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

Towards realizing its commitment for Universalizing Elementary Education during 2013 onwards, the Commission has undertaken varied activities providing for equity, inclusivity, quality and sustainable education in Odisha.

Building upon its functions assigned under Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the CPCR Act, 2005, the Commission has been effectively monitoring the implementation of the children’s right to education through undertaking survey, studies, fact finding enquiries, organizing public hearings, inquiring into and taking suo-motu cognizance of complaints, making field visits to interact with all the relevant stakeholders like officials from State education departments, school management committees, civil society organizations and district collectors; and to investigate and obtain the information regarding the gaps and challenges in the decentralized implementation of education to all children.

The Commission has also been writing letters to S & ME Dept. on issues related to children’s right to education that requires policy intervention. The Commission has also endeavoured in organizing consultations and meets at the state level and regional level, strengthening convergence and coordination between the Nodal Dept. and other allied departments of the government.

Main features of the Right to Education Act, 2009

• Free and compulsory education to all children in the 6 to 14 age group;
• No child shall be held back, expelled or required to pass a board examination until completion of elementary education;
• If A child above six years of age has not been admitted in any school or though admitted, could not complete his or her elementary education, then, he or she shall be admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age;
• Provided that where a child is directly admitted in a class appropriate to his or her age, then, he or she shall, in order to be at par with others, have a right to receive special training, in such manner and within such time limits, as may be prescribed: Provided further that a child so admitted to elementary education shall be entitled to free education till completion of elementary education even after fourteen years
• No child shall be denied admission in a school for lack of age proof.
• A child who completes elementary education shall be awarded a certificate;
• Calls for a fixed student-teacher ratio;
• Provides for 25 percent reservation for economically & socially disadvantaged communities in admission to entry class one/pre-primary class in all private un-aided non-minority schools;
• Mandates improvement in quality of education

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RTE Downloads

Subject	Date	Download
Memorandum of Appeal	12/09/2020	1.78 MB