Examining Right to Education (RTE) as a Human Right: Act versus Implementation

In the recent past, there has been a considerable amount of debate regarding the bill ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009’. It marks a historic moment for not only the children of India but also the whole education system of the country. This Act serves as a cornerstone to ensure that every child has his or her right as an entitlement to get enrolment in elementary education. It is a constitutional mandate for the state to provide primary education to all children. In this scenario, this paper tries to examine the RTE in the domain of education as a system, with an analytical discussion on the education policy in general and the right to education in particular. The view expressed by the author is the reflection of an academician who is involved in school teaching for over two decades