Right to Education Act (RTE Act)
Why it Matters?
The Supreme Court issued notice to the Centre after Tamil Nadu contested having to bear ₹3,000 crore reimbursements to private schools under the RTE Act without central support via the Samagra Shiksha scheme.
What You Should Know? RTE Act, 2009
The RTE Act was enacted on August 4, 2009. It came into force on April 1, 2010.
It is based on Article 21A of the Constitution.
The Act mandates free education in government and private schools for children aged 6–14.
Private schools must reserve 25% of seats for economically disadvantaged children. The state reimburses these schools.
It prohibits detention or expulsion until the completion of elementary education.
It sets minimum norms for infrastructure and teacher qualifications.
Special training is provided for dropouts to reach age-appropriate learning levels.
Samagra Shiksha Scheme
The Samagra Shiksha Scheme was launched in the Union Budget 2018–19.
It aims to universalize access to school education.
It is implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme with a 60:40 (90:10 for NE states) funding pattern between the Centre and States/UTs.
The scheme subsumes Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE) programs.