With a barrage of Right to Education (RTE) related grievances piling up at the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry and the state governments,the government is considering setting up a well defined grievance redressal mechanism and a law to check malpractices in school education. The RTE promises free and compulsory education to all children aged between six and 14. At a review of the implementation of the RTE Act chaired by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal,all states have been asked to put grievance redressal systems in place. Listing out legal entitlements guaranteed under the RTE Act and making this information available in the public along with lists of designated officers for each of these legal entitlements has also been suggested. The lists should be displayed on school walls and panchayat buildings for wider dissemination of information. The ministry has advised that officers designated to handle legal entitlements should be education officers and a time schedule should be fixed for disposal of such grievances and complaints. A three month timeline should,it is suggested,be considered the maximum waiting period for disposal of such complaints.
