1st School Choice National Conference 2009

The first School Choice National Conference (SCNC) on Quality Education for All: Policy Solutions for Better Schooling, organized by the School Choice Campaign on 16 December 2009 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, was well attended and appreciated by the participants. The Conference had an excellent blend of top-level national and international academics, policy makers, eminent speakers and education experts and advisors as well as a very good representation of delegates comprising of development workers, corporates, academicians and school leaders, government officials, civil society, social activists, youth and the media.

Speaking at the Inauguration of the Conference, Mr Sam Carlson, Lead Education Specialist - World Bank, summarized the challenges for the government and civil society groups in executing the Right to Education in India. Calling for more Public Private Partnerships, Mr Carlson demanded more emphasis on quality of school education. Also present were Dr Parth Shah, President – Centre for Civil Society and Mr Kanwal Rekhi, who spoke on the need for school choice solutions to reforming and liberalizing school education in India.

The Conference sessions focused on the implementation of the key provisions of the Right to Education and their potential impact on the future of Indian elementary education.

1st School Choice National Conference 2009

16 Dec 2009 16 Dec 2009
india Habitat Center, New Delhi

Application Deadline

01 Dec 2009

Covered Sessions

Session

Private Schools and the Poor: Implementing the 25% in Section 12 of RTE

Chair: Prof R Govinda
Speakers: Mr Anders Hultin, Mr Karthik Muralidharan & Mr Amit Kaushik

About the Session:
Section 12 of the Right to Education Act – reservation of at least 25% of seats in government-aided, private unaided and special schools for children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups – provides the clearest indication of the Government’s vision of social inclusion. This section stands out as the harbinger of educational equality by creating opportunities for underprivileged children to study in private schools. The first session of the Conference will explore the challenges to the implementation of Section 12. The speakers in this session will present their expert views on the best practices to ensure successful implementation of this provision. Similar schemes that have been implemented within India and around the world will be discussed.

Session

Graded Recognition System: Positive Regulation

Chair: Mr Sridhar Rajagoplan
Speakers: Ms Molly McMahon & Mr Baladevan R

About the session:
Provisions under Section 19 of the Right to Education Act provide harsh penalties for schools that fail to gain recognition within three years. An increasing number of schools being run from lower class neighbourhoods are educating the most disadvantaged students in urban areas. Charging a nominal fee (around Rs 400 per month), these ‘Budget Private Schools’ cater extensively to children from economically weaker backgrounds. The growing popularity, amongst poor parents, of such schools in slums and weaker sections of society has confirmed their acceptability and credibility. However, unable to meet the elaborate recognition criteria such as a large playground, land requirements, minimum teacher qualifications or fixed pay conditions, many budget private schools are unrecognized. Given their popularity in economically backward regions of cities, the shutting down of such schools would cut access of many students to quality education. This session would explore innovative ways of including such schools under the purview of law through ‘positive regulation’.