1. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act has come into force on 1st April 2010. It is good news this came into effect in less than a year after it was passed in the parliament in August 2009.
2. This Act mandates provision of free and compulsory education for children between 6 and 14 years old. 
3. The Act specifies reservation of 25% of places in Private schools for children from poor families but it is unclear how 'poor' will be measured.
4. The Act also made provisions for no donation or capitation fees and no interview of the child or parent for admission.
5. The Right to Education of persons with disabilities until 18 years of age has also been a fundamental right.
6. There is also provision for special training of school drop-outs.

This Act is aimed to be impemented over the next five years and funding has been approved with Central and State sharing 65:35.

As we all will agree that Muslims are virtually behind the National standards and rates of education, which also reflected in Ranganath Mishra's report, we have to be aware and seize this oppurtunity.

Recite in the name of your Lord who created –
Created man from a clinging substance.
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous –
Who taught by the pen –
Taught man that which he knew not.

Al Quran 96: 1-5
Sahih International

Ajmal Khan Kudlebbai MBBS MRCPsych
Senior Medical Officer
Department of Psychiatry
RIPAS Hospital
Brunei