Right to Education Act to be implemented from April

After consultations, the government has finalised the sharing of funds in the ratio of 65 to 35 between the Centre and the states for implementing the law making education a fundamental right.
   
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, which was passed by Parliament in August last year, provides for free and compulsory education as a fundamental right of every child in the 6-14 age group and earmarks 25% seats to children from economically weaker sections in private schools.
   
However, the Act is yet to be implemented as the government has delayed its notification. The government was in the process of finalising funds sharing between Centre and the
states for implementing the Act.
   
An expert committee, set up to study the funds requirement and funding, had estimated that Rs1.71 lakh crore would be required in the next five years for implementing the Act. It had prepared three alternate models of sharing of funds. These ratios are 55-45, 65-35 and 75-25.
   
However, the government agreed to 65-35 ratio for sharing of funds. But, the ratio will be 90-10 between the Centre and the states in case of northeastern states, a ministry official said.
   
HRD ministry has decided to notify Act on April 1, paving the way for its implementation.