The Act is a reality and there is applause everywhere. And, the government deserves it too, for making the landmark Act see the light of the day. Amid all the congratulatory messages, there are voices being raised about its viability and success.

One of the arguments bandied about is the lack of infrastructure and funds to execute the provisions of the Act. Even though free and compulsory education for children until the age of 14 years was one of the Directive Principles of State Policy and meant to be implemented within 10 years of the Constitution formation, it failed to bring about any tangible action. With the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, the same will become enforceable.

The Act calls for a system to ensure quality education, to create support infrastructure, to train sufficient number of teachers and to ensure government’s financial support to private educational institutions. The financial burden is to be shared between the center and the states in the ratio of 55:45.

The sad part is that the enactment of the law is not enough to ensure that the millions of children, presently not in school, will receive basic education. The implementation of the Act will require, besides huge financial support, tremendous citizen involvement.

The majority of children not attending school are engaged in work, as child laborers or involved in sibling care. So, for the Act to succeed, it is imperative that child labor is stopped. Our past experiences prove that this is easier said than done.

Transformation of any magnitude can happen only if a beginning is made. The Act is a beginning. Now, it is over to the citizens of the country to guarantee its success.

In an effort to educate children in urban slums and remote rural areas, World Bank approved $1.5 billion for Indian schools. Though this is a huge investment in education sector for the World Bank, it is still a small amount to reach all the poor children in India. The loan will help Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a government program to provide education among young children. This amount is expected to change the lives of many poor families who have never sent their children to school and who are excluded both traditionally and economically.

Sam Carson, World Bank education specialist said that, “the latest funding was the third in a series of loans to support the government’s program”. He also voiced his concern regarding the high drop out rate of these children. Since its launch in 2002, school enrollments have increased by 57 million to 192 million between 2003 and 2009. But the number of children who left school fell to 8.1 million from 25 million in the same period. High drop-out rate is a cause for concern and the government should take appropriate measures to resolve it. Over 50 percent of the money allocated will be used over a period of three years to improve student learning, such as teacher training, remedial education, and free textbooks and for other learning materials.

Education sector received a 25 percent increase in funds in this year’s Union Budget. Government allocated around Rs.45, 711 crore this fiscal (2010-2011) compared to last year allocation of Rs.36, 400 crore. This is to implement the Right to Education Act which aims to make primary education accessible to all children across the country. Right to Education Act is expected to be implanted in April 2010.

The allocation for elementary education is increased from Rs.26, 800 crore last year to Rs.34, 711 crore this year. For higher education, compared to last year’s Rs.9, 600 crore this year the allocation is around Rs.11, 000 crore. According to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, UPA government is committed to implement the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. According to this Act, all children in the age group of 6 to 14 years are legally entitled to good quality education, based on principles of equity and non-discrimination.

Future holds bright prospects not only for Indian economy. Indian education scene is poised for a major revamp to help it reach global levels. This was the message conveyed by Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal at the Global Summit on Higher Education organized by CII.

Sibal added that the amazing economic growth of the country would be helpful in the establishment of global campuses in India. This would be helpful in retaining those seeking higher education in the country itself, instead of drawing them away to foreign shores.

The Minister said that this ambitious vision would be possible only if the country can generate lucrative returns for the foreign investments happening in the country. “For this to happen, India needs to gear up, become ready and accommodate all the foreign attention and give them their due return for the investment in our country,” he said.

Sibal has set high goals for Indian education by saying it will fuel global economy in the next 20 – 30 years. He projected India as the future education capital of the world, global research center and knowledge destination. According to the Minister, these are inevitable steps for India, if the country wants to be part of the future world order. He termed this as ‘knowledge economy’.

Sibal spoke at length on the importance of understanding the functioning of knowledge economy at another event. He said, “The real success of the knowledge economy would depend on the quality of wealth and not the quantity. And quality can only be achieved by having people who have an orientation towards research and innovation.”