This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8176095.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Indian bill moots free education Indian bill moots free education
(about 3 hours later)
A landmark bill is due to be introduced in the Indian parliament that seeks to guarantee universal, free and compulsory education for children.A landmark bill is due to be introduced in the Indian parliament that seeks to guarantee universal, free and compulsory education for children.
The legislation applies to children between the ages of six and 14.The legislation applies to children between the ages of six and 14.
The government estimates that at present 70 million children do not go to school and more than a third of the country is illiterate.The government estimates that at present 70 million children do not go to school and more than a third of the country is illiterate.
Achieving universal education is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals to be met by the year 2015.Achieving universal education is one of the UN's Millennium Development Goals to be met by the year 2015.
More than 60 years after India's independence, the government is introducing what is being described as a landmark education bill.More than 60 years after India's independence, the government is introducing what is being described as a landmark education bill.
Under it, a quarter of the places in private schools will be reserved for poor children and the government will set up neighbourhood schools in three years.Under it, a quarter of the places in private schools will be reserved for poor children and the government will set up neighbourhood schools in three years.
It will also end widespread practices by which schools impose admission fees on parents to guarantee their children a place and bureaucrats enjoy discretionary powers on deciding who to let in.It will also end widespread practices by which schools impose admission fees on parents to guarantee their children a place and bureaucrats enjoy discretionary powers on deciding who to let in.
But it is not clear how the government plans to pay for this.But it is not clear how the government plans to pay for this.
At the moment India spends a little over three percent of its GDP on education. At the moment India spends a little over 3% of its GDP on education.
Critics of the bill also say it does not cover children below the age of six and therefore fails to recognise the importance of the early years in a child's development.Critics of the bill also say it does not cover children below the age of six and therefore fails to recognise the importance of the early years in a child's development.
They say it also does little to address India's unequitable school system under which there are vast discrepancies between well funded private schools and state-run schools with poor quality teaching staff and infrastructure.They say it also does little to address India's unequitable school system under which there are vast discrepancies between well funded private schools and state-run schools with poor quality teaching staff and infrastructure.