Which provision of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education…

Concept

Educational equity is advanced when law removes admission barriers and prevents exclusion based on social or economic disadvantage. A rights-based framework therefore focuses on equal access, non-discrimination, and protection from entry charges.

Application

Sections 8(c) and 9(c) of the RTE Act require the appropriate government and local authority to ensure that children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups are not discriminated against. Section 13 bars capitation fees and screening procedures, while section 12(1)(c) additionally requires specified-category and unaided schools to reserve at least 25% of Class I admissions for these groups. Together, these provisions act directly on unequal access at admission.

Contrast

• Neighbourhood-school norms address physical proximity and distance to school rather than selection or payment at admission.

• Pupil–teacher ratios and teacher qualifications address staffing and instructional quality rather than admission barriers.

• Ensuring non-discriminatory admission and prohibiting capitation fees removes both selection and extra-payment barriers.

• Curriculum and evaluation standards address academic content and assessment rather than access at admission.

Cross-check

The official Act separates proximity, staffing, curriculum, and admission safeguards into different duties and standards. The provisions on non-discrimination, screening, capitation fees, and reserved entry are the ones tied specifically to social and economic access at admission.

Result

Thus, the provision that directly addresses social disparities is ensuring non-discriminatory admission and prohibiting capitation fees.