Opinion
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Letters to the Editor
Education and hype
Sir, - Apropos the Editorial `Education as fundamental right' (Dec. 1) the 93rd Constitutional amendment making education a fundamental right of children between the ages of 6 and 14 years as passed by the Lok Sabha has generated more heat than light. Going by past experience, this is unlikely to make any difference in the entire education scenario and may meet the same fate as the Article 45 of the Constitution providing for free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years by 1960.
It will depend on how the powers-that-be implement this important amendment. One may not be surprised if the responsibility for its implementation is passed on to the States and even parents. It is not realised that there are compelling reasons why children do not attend schools and even if admitted drop out after some time.
In the meantime two systems of education, one for the elite in the form of the so-called prestigious public schools and the other for the poor or poorly equipped Government schools have developed. It is in the interest of the nation that there is only one system. Unfortunately, both the politicians and the bureaucrats have a stake in keeping the public illiterate lest their privileged position is threatened.
Vidya Sagar,
New Delhi
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