Each child has the right to a good education and the right to attend school. World’s Children’s Day is celebrated yearly to encourage global understanding, raise children’s welfare awareness, and promote international cooperation. Every November 20, it is observed as Universal Children’s Day, which started in 1954.
The convention on the Rights of the Child, which was approved by the UN on that date and went into effect in 1990, was also adopted on that day. In light of this, this year’s World’s Children’s Day coincides with the 30th anniversary of the convention’s implementation.
What Does the Convention Say?
The convention of the world’s children’s day has been approved by 196 nations and territories, making it the largest international human rights convention ever. A number of children’s rights are outlined in the convention, including:
- They are entitled to receive an education.
- They must be given respect and decency.
- They should get care, be given room to grow, and be welcomed into their communities.
- They have the right to participate in choices that affect them and to voice their own ideas.
- No matter where they reside or what their racial or social background, ability, place of birth, or another status may be, they have the right to protection against violence and discrimination.
What is the Right to Education Act?
The right to education act 2009 was passed by the Indian Parliament on August 4, 2009. Indian children ages 6 to 14 are entitled to free, compulsory education, as stated in Article 21(A) of the Indian Constitution. After this Act was passed on April 1, 2010, India joined the other 135 nations in recognising education as a fundamental right for all children. It outlines the requirements for the minimal primary school, forbids the creation of unregistered institutions, and opposes entrance fees and children interviews. Additionally, the right to education in India keeps an eye on every neighbourhood through regular surveys and identifies children who ought to have access to education but don’t.
Convention and Education
Every nation that signed the convention on the Rights of the Child is required to:
- Make primary education both mandatory and free for everyone.
- Encourage the development of various secondary school options, including general and vocational programmes, and make them accessible to all students.
- Ensure that every child can access higher education
- Encourage frequent school attendance to lower dropout rates.
According to Article 29, education must fully develop each child’s individuality, talents, and capacities. It must inspire the child to appreciate not only their parents but also their own and other cultures, the environment, and their human rights.
Importance of the Right to Education
According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, each and every child has the right to get educated. But before the Covid-19 pandemic even started, close to 260 million children — or roughly one in ten — were not in school.
The health crisis has halted the schooling of hundreds of millions more children this year, and there are concerns that many will never return to the classroom. Education is the first step toward achieving all other fundamental human rights. By lowering poverty and socioeconomic inequality, empowering women and other marginalized groups, eliminating prejudice, and other things, education can help people live their lives happily. It allows enhanced access to prospects for a better life in terms of employment and business opportunities. Additionally, it may result in prosperity and tranquillity in the area. Education is, therefore, one of the most significant rights.
Benefits of the Right to Education
Neighborhood Development
Through education, community growth is ensured. It ensures the advancement of the country. As a result, one advantage of the RTE act is that it promotes communal and national growth.
Quality Education is Ensured
The right to education Act has the benefit of maintaining continuous control of educational institutions, which assures quality education through its mandates. For instance, the Act details the optimal teacher-student ratio as well as the infrastructure and equipment that are required. These guidelines ensure that children only receive the best instruction possible.
Eliminates poverty
The RTE act’s ability to combat poverty is one of its many advantages. One of the main reasons for poverty is the lack of educated youth in the country. Young people cannot obtain well-paying employment without a college degree. Education may aid individuals in escaping poverty and pursuing rewarding careers.
No Tolerance for Discrimination
The provisions of the 2009 Right to Education Act place a heavy emphasis on outlawing student discrimination based on caste, creed, or religion. This is a necessary step in eradicating societal bias in the country.
On World’s children’s Day, let’s take a step towards providing a better life for children. Support an NGO like Save the Children, which works on the ground level to fight for the rights of children, especially underprivileged children who are devoid of their basic rights. The NGO ensures that children get an education to pave a better future for themselves.