Lok Sabha Question No. 3846 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: Government Primary Schools
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAJESH RANJAN  (PAPPU  YADAV)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3846 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH  MARCH, 2018

## Government Primary Schools

†3846. SHRI RAJESH RANJAN:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the number of Government primary schools has declined in the country and the reason behind the same is preference of parents for private schools;
- (b) if so, the details of the primary schools closed in the country during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) the steps taken to improve the basic infrastructure in the schools and to meet the shortage of teachers and the number of schools in the country having electricity facility; and
- (d) the Right to Education Act is getting less effective due to growing dominance of private schools and whether the Government is considering to implement uniform education system and if so, the remedial measures taken in this regard?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRI UPENDRA KUSHWAHA)

(a) & (b): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 which came into force from 1 st April, 2010 provides children's access to elementary schools within the defined area or limits of neighbourhood. In pursuance to Section 6 of the RTE Act, all States have notified area or limits of their neighbourhood norms and schools are sanctioned to them  accordingly.  Further,  the  RTE  Act,  2009  also  mandates  under  Section  8  that  the appropriate  government  shall  provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary  education  to  every child and will ensure availability of a neighbourhood schools.

As per Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE), the number of primary schools has slightly declined from 7.12 lakh in 2014-15 to 7.08 lakh in 2015-16. The opening and closing of schools are within the purview of State Governments and UT Administrations. Information  regarding  primary  schools  closed  in  the  country  is  not  maintained  Centrally. Some States and UTs are undertaking an exercise to positively consolidate schools  with a view  to  strengthen  elementary  education  and  for  optimum  utilization  of  resources.  The Ministry of Human Resource Development has emphasized that the States and UTs need to take adequate safeguards to ensure that neighbourhood access of any child is not affected by this exercise.

(c): The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 under Section 19  provides  for  norms  and  standards  for  a  school.  The  appropriate  Governments  have  the responsibility  and  mandate  to  provide  school  infrastructure  including  drinking  water  facility and toilets in schools as per the RTE norms.  All States and UTs have been advised to comply with  the  provision  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009  which  inter  alia  states  that  every  school  building should have safe and adequate drinking water facilities for all children; and separate toilets for boys and girls. The Ministry  supports  States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  for  creation  and  augmentation  of infrastructure facilities including drinking water, toilet facilities and electrification in schools across  the  country  at  elementary  level  through  Sarva  Shiksha  Abhiyan  (SSA).   As  per UDISE(2015-16), a total of 6,01,130  schools (55.82 %) at elementary level have electricity facility. The recruitment, service conditions and deployment of teachers are primarily in the domain of the State Governments/ UT Administrations. The Central Government through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) provides assistance to the States/ UTs for additional teachers to maintain appropriate Pupil Teacher Ratio as pr the norms of the Right of Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009.  However,  the  Central Government  has  been  consistently  pursuing  the  matter  of  expeditious  recruitment  and redeployment of teachers with the States/UTs at various forums. Advisories to implement the norms of the RTE Act have also been issued to States/UTs from time to time. (d): The RTE Act, 2009 lays down the duties of the appropriate Government and the local authority to provide good quality elementary education conforming to norms and standards and to ensure that curriculum and courses of study are prescribed in a timely manner. The Central Government reviews and monitors implementation of the RTE Act  periodically  with  the  States  and  Union  Territories  at  different  forums,  including  the State  Education  Ministers'  conference. Section  29  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009  lays  down  a curriculum which  promotes,  among  others,  all  round  development  of  the child  and development  of  physical  and  mental  abilities  to  the  fullest  extent.  National  Curriculum Framework (NCF), 2005 has been adopted as the curriculum under the RTE Act, 2009. All States have either adopted or adapted their curriculum as per NCF, 2005.

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