Exploring the Impact and Evolution of Key Safety and Security Policies for ages 6-14 in the Right to Education Act of 2009 in India: A Shiffman and Smith National Education Policy Analysis

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Investigator: Caihla Petiprin, MS
Sponsor: Global Health Sciences Education

Location(s): India

Description

Background: The lack of safety and security and educational barriers that elementary school aged children face, particularly the girl child, hold national concern in India yet have been largely neglected in National Education Policy. Consequently, literacy rates and other academic progress indicators reflect these system inadequacies. India houses the largest population of illiterate adults in the world at 287 million and ranks 123 out of 135 countries in female literacy. The Right to Education Act of 2009 came into effect April 2010, with the primary goal of addressing deficiencies by making elementary school “free and compulsory” for all children aged 6-14. The legislation included various other policy priorities such as safety and security in schools.

Research Question: Since the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009, how have key policies related to safety and security evolved for children aged 6-14 in schools in India, and what were their key impacts and implementation struggles?

Mentors: Dr. Denise Dunning and Vidhu Prabha