Statement by India under Agenda Item 3: Clustered Interactive Dialogue
with the SR on summary executions and the SR on education in the
41stSession of the Human Rights Council ( 24 June – 12 July 2019),
delivered by Ms. Mini Devi Kumam, First Secretary,
Permanent Mission of India, (Geneva, 26th June 2019)
Mr. President,
India thanks both SRs on the presentation of the reports.
2. The report on the right to education is comprehensive and relates to the Abidjan Principles. We find some recommendations as very valuable.
3. India prioritises inclusive and quality education for all. Under the right to free and compulsory education act, every child has a right to full time elementary education of satisfactory and equitable quality in a formal school. The school should also satisfy certain essential norms and standards. Recognizing the need for equitable access to quality education for all sections of the society, various measures have been taken to raise the literacy standards of excluded and marginalized groups and facilitate their access to education.
4. We also understand the obligation of States to regulate private actors involved in education, public-private partnerships and the role of donors and civil society. Towards this, under the right to education act of 2009, all private schools are required to reserve 25% of seats to children belonging to economically weaker section of the society and the expenses incurred would be reimbursed by state as part of the public-private partnership plan. The Act also provides that no child shall be held back, expelled, or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education.
5. Finally, while noting the possible impact on SDG 4 through unregulated growth of commercial education, we also highlight the importance of regulated public-private partnership for ensuring inclusive and quality education in India.
Thank you, Mr. President.
********
