On 22 February Delhi High Court issued notice to the Centre on a PIL challenging certain provisions of the Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009 and commanding to include religious educational bodies like Vedic Pathshalas, Madrasas and educational institutions under the act.
This is a plea challenging the provisions for being arbitrary and irrational. It wants a common syllabus and curriculum for children across the country. A notice was issued to the Union ministries of Education, Law and Justice and Home Affairs by a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh regarding the matter and further hearing is on March 30. The PIL stated Sections 1 (4) and 1 (5) of the RTE Act, implies the absence of a common curriculum in mother language which leads to the fostering and prolong ignorance as well as delays the accomplishment of fundamental duties. Petitioner advocate Ashwini Upadhyay mentions that creating a common education system is the duty of the Union. But it could not fulfill this requirement since it follows the pre-existing National Curriculum Framework (NCF) of 2005.
The plea mentions that the current system does not provide equal opportunity to all children as the syllabus and curriculum varies for each strata of the society. The petition articulate that a common curriculum and syllabus for the children up to 14 years would create a common culture, remove disparity and reduce discrimination in human relations.
