Now classroom learning will make Indians RTI-friendly. The Act, ever since its inception in 2005, has been battling the poor public understanding of it. Government, therefore, thought about educating people young about the nitty-gritties of the Act by incorporating it in primary and secondary education. The National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT) has started the efforts already.
The information provided by Kanta Kelkar, under secretary, NCERT, on July 23, under RTI says efforts are being made in the direction. The Act has been referred to in chapters of the textbooks of standard IX to XII. The issue of RTI has been dealt within the context of democratic governance. Besides, NCERT is developing supplementary reading material on RTI separately. "This should help strengthen the understanding and implementation of RTI Act in a better manner," read the information.
The council started the efforts to include the RTI Act in school curriculum in 2006.
NCERT Textbook Solutions based on the National Curriculum Forum (NCF), 2005 already highlight the importance of the Act as it promotes accountability and transparency in the functioning of the public institutions, says the information. The subjects like political science, economics and sociology have been incorporated with the references on the Act for students of Class IX, X, XI and XII. The books discuss RTI through narratives and cartoons.
The issue of inclusion of RTI in school curriculum has been raised by several RTI activists and organisations so far.Mahendra Pratap Singh an RTI activist, had sought the information about the same under RTI in February, 2010 from the Minister of Human Resource Development In response, under secretary, NCERT, stated that efforts have started. NCERT has also provided a list of textbooks wherein chapters on RTI have been incorporated.
While tidbits on the Act have been added in the textbooks, separate supplementary reading material, which NCERT claims to be developing on RTI, might be a distant thing. Though Kanta Kelkar, under secretary, NCERT could not be contacted for a comment, R K Sethi deputy secretary, NCERT, New Delhi said, "We cannot say about academic issues, such a material could be developed by social science department of the council."
Contrary to this, director's (NCERT) office could not share much on the content and inclusion of reading material in school curriculum. "It may be included in the textbook," was best sources at the office could share.
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