Right to education act (rte) -importance & responsibilities

04/02/25

Blog

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Learning and education are the foundational pillars of any flourishing society. A nation that keeps the education of its youngest a priority, always reaps great rewards, be it economic, cultural, or social growth. Such nations give birth to great leaders and changemakers who go on to do great things in life and make a difference in the world.

India, as a developing nation, understands the importance of primary education and ensures that children get the best opportunities to learn and grow. To ensure that India’s goal of education for all is achieved, the Government of India launched the Right to Education (RTE) Act. In this blog, we will cover everything there is to know about the Right to Education in India, and the responsibilities of different stakeholders when it comes to children’s education. We will also discuss the work done at Bal Raksha Bharat (also known as Save the Children India) since 2004 to contribute to child education.

What is the Right to Education Act?

The Right to Education or RTE, was introduced in India in August 2009 and became effective in April 2010. The main objective of RTE was to make primary education a fundamental right for every child across all states, strata of society, and communities. Under this act, it is mandated that every child must have access to free and compulsory education from the ages of six to 14 at government schools.

Here are some important elements of this act one should know:

• The “free” part of this act emphasises that no child should have to pay school fees in government schools to get primary education (till grade 8).
• The “compulsory” part of the act places the responsibility upon government authorities to ensure the admission and completion of primary education for all children (between the ages of six and 14).
• The state and local governments are required to establish a school within 1 km of children’s residences where no schools previously existed.
• The pupil-to-teacher ratio in every school should be maintained at 30:1.
• The RTE prescribes duties for schools to maintain infrastructure, teacher training, school working days, and teaching equipment standards.

Importance of the Right to Education in India

Since the implementation of the RTE Act in India, the change has been immense, and it has made a real difference to the child enrollment ratio. Now, with free education available to children, parents who cannot afford to send their children to schools have some relief and an avenue to give educational opportunities to their children. This act has made a change by:

• Promoting Holistic Development: This act has made holistic and complete education an essential part of children’s lives. It helps them develop skills, values, and knowledge that are necessary to live a fulfilling life.
• Democratising Education: The RTE Act has helped ensure that every child has access to education and schools in their neighbourhood. It has also endeavoured to remove the socioeconomic barriers to education.
• Empowering Marginalised Groups: RTE can help bring social justice and equality, empowering marginalised groups and providing them with an equal opportunity to succeed.
• Increasing Financial Security: When one has access to opportunities to learn, it gives them the ability to earn a living, provide for their families, and lead a better life.

Also Read: Understanding the Importance of Child Welfare in India

What are the Roles and Responsibilities under the RTE Act?

When it comes to promoting equal access to education in India, there are certain responsibilities that different sections of society have to fulfil. These responsibilities are outlined in our constitution, and every stakeholder is expected to strictly adhere to their responsibilities to ensure that our society thrives:

1. Appropriate Government and Local Authorities

One of the main responsibilities of the appropriate government is to ensure children have access to free and compulsory education. This covers the following:

• Provide free elementary education to children between the ages of six and 14.
• Ensure compulsory school admission and attendance of children, and completion of education from the age of six to 14.
• Ensure there is a school in the neighbourhood within 1 km distance for primary level and within 3 km for upper-primary level.
• Ensure children from marginalised or disadvantaged backgrounds face no discrimination in access to schools, admission, or learning opportunities.
• Provide infrastructure, including school buildings, learning equipment, and teaching staff.

2. Parents and Guardians

It is the responsibility of every parent or guardian to admit their children or ward to an elementary school in the neighbourhood.

3. Schools and Teachers

The responsibility of schools and teachers focuses on ensuring there is a positive and inclusive learning environment for children. The school:

• Should not charge any capitation fee or use any screening process to enrol children.
• Should check that every child has proof of age at the time of registration.
• Should not deny admission to any child.
• Is prohibited from giving any physical punishment or mentally harassing any child.
• Should follow the prescribed procedures and guidelines for teacher appointments.
• Should ensure that teachers maintain punctuality, regular attendance, and completion of courses in school.
• Should hold regular meetings with parents and guardians and inform them about attendance, student performance, and other relevant information.

Where We Make a Difference?

We at Bal Raksha Bharat have been working for decades to ensure the RTE Act in India is implemented and followed by every responsible party. By facilitating donation for education, we address children’s learning needs by creating an inclusive, equitable, and safe learning environment for children between the ages of three to 18. Through these efforts, we have helped lakhs of children since our establishment in 2008.

We echo the vision of the Government of India and aim to create an environment where children’s education, health, and well-being are our utmost priority. You can also contribute to this cause by making donation for NGO and doing your bit for child education in India.

Successes, Initiatives, and the Impact of the Right to Education in India

The RTE Act has brought about a revolution in education by making it completely inclusive. New UDISE+ data (2024-25) indicate that a larger number of eligible children are staying in school, along with tremendous drops in all dropout rates at an overall framework with a major percentage fall in Secondary dropout rate from 10.9% for 2023-24 to 8.2% in 2024-25. The ongoing reservation of a fourth for EWS/DG learners has apparent strong potential for social equity bases. Along with this, NEP 2020 implementation is now gaining momentum due to the transformed importance imparted to the mission of the FLN making the achievement of this national mission realized by 2025 more emphatic with renewed focus on teacher training and infrastructure development.

What Right to Education Prohibits?

Be it a surcharge or selection procedure for every act safeguarding the child in his right to education (6-14 years), the RTE Act puts in an explicit ban to ensure no discrimination occurs. Corporal punishment and mental harassment are prohibited because the Act envisages a safeguard for the pupil in a conducive learning environment. It goes on to state that no teacher may engage in private tuitions with the exception of occasional non-educational assignments like census, disaster relief duties, and elections.

Challenges & Limitations of the RTE Act

The education scenario in 2026 is transformed from that of quality and accountability towards the far more serious issue of access. Data likely derived from UDISE+ for 2024-25 indicates a structural change after an overall decrease of 11 lakh over a three-year span, as if a declining birth rate is not the only trend; students appear to be increasingly shifting from government schools to private institutions, now comprising 39 percent of total enrolments.

Reforms, Proposed Amendments & Future Directions (NEP 2020 Focus)

The NEP 2020 seeks to reform the future of the RTE Act through systematic changes. The foremost change to the NEP is the new curricular structure of 5 + 3 + 3 + 4 (as opposed to the earlier structure of 10 + 2), thereby including the 0-6 age group under a curriculum framework (previously an RTE gap) through the formalization of ECCE. States are gradually starting to comply with the NEP recommendation of a minimum age of 6+ for admission to Class 1. In other words, the implementation of the dilution of the provisions for reintroducing detention in Classes 5 and 8, under the provisions of the 2019 amendment, was intended to restore accountability for learning outcomes. The Ministry of Education is putting universal FLN by 2026 as a priority conversion through targeted missions and enhanced Pupil-Teacher Ratios.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the role of the RTE Act?

The RTE Act in India mandates that children between the ages of 6 and 14 have access to free and compulsory education. The role of this act focuses on making India a knowledge superpower where every child, no matter who they are or where they come from, has access to equal and inclusive learning opportunities.

What is the age limit of the RTE Act 2009?

The RTE Act 2009 applies to children between the ages of 6 to 14.

Is the act targeted only for weaker sections?

No, the RTE Act is a universal act that applies to wealthy as well as less privileged children from all communities, backgrounds and classes.

Who can get free schools in the RTE Act?

Everyone has the right to free and compulsory elementary education in a neighborhood school, guaranteed for children aged six to fourteen, regardless of their social or economic background, which ensures fair access under Article 21A.

Do private schools receive reimbursement on RTE admissions?

Yes, 25% of seats at the entry level in private non-minority unaided schools must be set aside for EWS/DG children. The government reimburses those schools on a per-child basis following the norms either prescribed by the state or in consonance with the school’s tuition fee, whichever is less.

How does the RTE Act impact girls’ education in India?

RTE guarantees non-discrimination and sets criteria for establishing schools at accessible distances, critical for the safety and attendance of girls. Improvement of infrastructure, especially separate functional toilets, is closely linked with reducing female dropouts.

What is the role of NGOs in empowering education?

Ensuring the success of the Right to Education Act would not have been possible but for NGO interventions like Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children). NGOs play a vital role in the identification and enrollment of out of school children whose operations include providing remedial classes of specialized nature and advocating for adequate infrastructure and policy implementations at the level of grass root.

Naveen Kumar

“Naveen is an SEO expert and digital marketing analyst at Bal Raksha Bharat with a passion for helping businesses grow online. With a data-driven approach, he specializes in boosting search rankings, driving traffic, and optimizing digital strategies. Follow for tips on SEO, content, and marketing trends."