news details |
|
|
| J&K to introduce Right to Education ordinance soon; gets Finance, Planning Deptts approval | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Dec 3: After a lapse of four years, Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to promulgate ordinance for making free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children from 6 to 14 years of age.
Sources informed Early Times that Jammu and Kashmir Children Right to Free and Compulsory Education Ordinance-2013 has got concurrence from the Finance and Planning Departments for being made applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir within shortest possible time. After these mandatory approvals, the ordinance is now being sent to the Law Department for legal vetting.
Once the Law Department vets the ordinance, it would then be sent to the State Cabinet for approval. After the state cabinet approves the ordinance, government would send it to the Governor for approval as well as its promulgation. Sources maintained that after Governor promulgates the ordinance, state legislature would be required to approve the bill within next six months.
They said that Congress high command has repeatedly asked Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is also Minister for School Education to make the act applicable to the state of Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible. Since the Education Department had readied the bill and were planning to introduce it during the upcoming budget session, New Delhi's intervention has resulted in the process being tailored.
It needs to be mentioned here that prior to Congress getting back the portfolio, a high empowered committee had been constituted on the instructions of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to study the need for making necessary amendment in the state act. He was asked to minutely study the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act Right to Education Act, enacted by the centre in 2002 so as to suggest the need to incorporate any amendments in the state Act.
Although, as per the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Act, there is a provision of free and compulsory education up to 8th class but it is yet to become a fundamental right for the children of the state. As the Central laws are not applicable in the state until passed in the state assembly due to Article 370, therefore, the State Education Department studied both Acts but then decided to go ahead with new draft of Jammu and Kashmir Children Right to Free and Compulsory Education Ordinance.
"Free and compulsory education up to 8th class, thrust on quality education, schools within the shortest possible distance, especially in far-flung areas and minimum rooms and teachers required for a school, are the other priority areas of the government," sources said adding, "The government is also mulling to engage trained teachers only after a particular time".
It may be mentioned here that the state government had so far been studying the Jammu and Kashmir Children Right to Free and Compulsory Education Ordinance-2013 with an aim to incorporate its certain provisions to make the existing J&K State Education Act more stringent and effective. "But now the same can be adopted in totality with added provisions," sources informed, adding, "SRO 123 will also be superseded once the Children Right to Free and Compulsory Education Ordinance-2013 is adopted in full." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
