GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4324
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.01.2019
Out of School Children
4324. DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE
SHRI RAJU SHETTY:
SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT
SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE
SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL
SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV
Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
- (a) whether it is a fact that freshly released Census 2011 data has revealed that 8.4 crore children don’t go to school at all and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the provisions of Right to Education Act (RTE) describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 in the country to make education a fundamental right of every child and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether it is fact that about 20 per cent children of the age group covered under the Right to Education Act;
- (d) if so, the response of the Government thereon;
- (e) whether it is fact that children don’t go to school because they are forced to work; and
- (f) if so, the steps taken by the Government to ensure that the children of the above age group covered under the Right to Education Act should go to the school?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. SATYA PAL SINGH)
(a) Census 2011 has reported that 8.4 crore children do not go to school in the age group of 5 – 17 years. However, under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 the mandated age group for free and compulsory elementary education in a neighbourhood school is 6-14 years. According to Census 2011, the number of children who do not attend schools (including never attended and attended before) in the age group of 6-13 years are 3.81 crore. Census 2011 has shown a marked decline in the number of out of school children in this age group from 5.8 crore in 2001 to 3.8 crore in 2011, a 35% decline over a period of ten years.
(b) The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act has made provisions towards modalities of its implementation. This includes inter- alia, Opening of schools in the neighbourhood, provision of Special Training for out of school children, Prohibiting capitation fees and screening procedures for admission or denial of admission etc.
The RTE Act, has also mandated that no school shall be established or recognised unless it fulfils the norms and standards specified in the schedule of the act. The schedule of the act provides norms and standards for Norms of Teachers (Pupil Teacher Ratio), Norms of School Building, Minimum number of working days and instruction hours in an academic year etc.
The Act also mandates National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to examine and review the safeguards for rights provided under this act and recommend measures for their effective implementation.
(c) to (f) The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) commissioned an independent survey in 2014 through Indian Market Research Bureau (IMRB) to estimate out of school children across the country. According to estimate of the survey, in the age group of 6-13 years in the country, an estimated 60.64 lakh were out of school.
The Independent Survey also captured the reasons for the out of school children. Poverty/Economic reason has been reported by 23.76% respondents. ‘Child not interested in studies’ has been reported as a reason for 18.38% out of school children. A gender wise disaggregation of the reason reveals that a higher proportion of the girls are out of school because of the reason ‘needed to help in domestic work or needed to take care of siblings’ as compared to boys. A marginally higher proportion of boys are also out of school than girls for the reason ‘child to supplement household income’. ‘Education not considered necessary by the head of the household’ is also reported by more households with an out of school female child (6.27%) as compared to households with an out of school male child (2.39%).
Government of India in partnership with the State and UT Governments have taken a range of initiatives to ensure that all children are enrolled in schools and complete their elementary education. Under the erstwhile Centrally Sponsored Scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and integrated scheme for school education-Samagra Shiksha from 2018-19 which has subsumed the three erstwhile Schemes of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE), financial assistance is provided to States and UTs for undertaking various activities to reduce number of out of school children including opening of new schools, construction of schools & additional classrooms, opening and upgradation of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV), setting up of residential schools/hostels, provision of transportation/escort facilities, free uniforms, free text books and undertaking enrolment & retention drives. Further, special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, Seasonal hostels / residential camps, Special Training Centres at worksites are also supported to bring out of school children to the formal schooling system. Also, mid day meal is provided to students at the elementary level of education. Further, under the student oriented component for the children with special needs, financial assistance is provided for identification and assessment of children with special needs, aids and appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching learning material, stipend to girls students with disability, transport and escort facility etc.
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