Parents score poorly in RTE test

Ashwin Deshpande,whose child is studies in Class IV,said he did not know much about the provisions. “Whatever little I know,I have known it from newspapers. However,I think every child has the right to education and schools should make it a point to implement the provisions immediately,” said Deshpande.

Anil Jain,whose children study in D Y Patil School,said,“We have never been told about the Right to Education by the school. I know about the provisions because I am an education activist,too. I feel there is an immediate need to spread awareness so that more and more parents come to know about their and their children’s rights.”

Many parents said there was an immediate need to popularise the Act among economically backward families so that they are able to avail of their rights.

“None of the schools take the initiative actively to talk about these acts…Several schools do not allow parents to interact with teachers even if they have a problem,let alone spread awareness on RTE,” said Ambikanath Parida,whose daughter is a student of St Anne’s School.

Parents also stressed the need for the government to spread awareness. “There are so many people belonging economically backward families who are not even aware of something like the RTE. To expect schools to create awareness for such people is a bit unfair. The government should make it a point to talk to such people and let them know about their basic rights,” said Shreya Saha,parent of a student.