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Why are we here?
By sending children to private schools, Indians are being forced to pay for what should come free. While it is easy to dismiss government schools as ‘poor quality’, no private player can put in as much money and resources into elementary education as the government. Developing private schools at the cost of government schools betrays the promise of the 86th constitutional amendment act passed in 2002 which declared ‘the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children in the age of 6-14 yrs.’
In the last 7 years, 2.6 Lakh children have dropped out of BMC schools. Despite an annual budget of Rs. 1098 Crores for the 1158 schools that it runs, there are 30,000 children dropping out of BMC schools every year. While a few of these drop-outs are enrolled in private schools, the majority simply stop going to school.
This comes in the wake of the recent trend among all – not just the rich, but poor and middle classes too – to send children to private schools. Increasingly, the middle and poor classes are being forced to send their children to private schools only because the State-run schools are in shambles. This is despite the fact that government schools offer 27 articles free of cost per child, including books, bags, uniform and a midday meal.
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In a country that has the highest number of out-of-school children in the region – 27 million – private schools that charge for education will not be able to cater to all children.
CRY demands that the State government puts all its collective will behind making government schools deliver quality education that is free to all children. CRY and its partners are committed to mobilizing citizens across Maharashtra to demand equity and quality education for all children.
CRY and the Mumbai Marathon
Child Rights and You – CRY has been participating in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon since 2007. We have garnered support from individuals, corporate partners, as well as media partners around the cause of the right to education. CRY also takes part in the Delhi and Bangalore marathons.
This year, more than 150 people are running with CRY for the cause of free and equal education for all children. |
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