To readers who complain that too many of our lead features are legal stories, an apology. But the fact is that the year 2005 was marked with unprecedented parliamentary activism which culminated in legislation. And given the ‘other income’ generation preoccupations of our duly elected representatives, it’s possible — indeed probable — that such legislation may not receive detailed examination in Parliament. Therefore bearing in mind that legislation pertaining to education directly affects the lives and future of the entire next generation, it is vitally necessary that it is thoroughly analysed and debated by the academic and parental communities, even if not by students themselves. Moreover isn’t it rather strange that the country’s major news glossies seldom bother to comment upon education initiatives of critical importance to the future of the nation?

Be that as it may, the enabling legislation to give effect to the 86th Constitution Amendment Act, 2002 and the more recently enacted Article 21-A of the Constitution which at long last makes it the obligation of the State (i.e. Central and state governments) to provide free and compulsory education to all children between the ages six-14 nationwide, is too important to be spared rigorous examination and analysis. Quite obviously issues such as the quality of education to be provided, measuring learning outcomes, ways and means to fund this overdue gigantic initiative, division of parental, state and societal obligations etc need to be intensively discussed and debated.

Fortunately, for all its faults India is a functional democracy in which the fiats of the executive and imprimatur of Parliament can be freely debated, criticised and opposed without fear of the midnight knock and a bullet in the back of the head. Fortunately also, the nation is gifted with purposive, high quality intellectuals and argumentative Indians who make the time to study issues of national importance and are prepared to debate and discuss them in all available forums.

Dr. Parth J. Shah, promoter-president of the Delhi-based Centre for Civil Society is one such individual who has thoroughly studied the Right to Education Bill, 2005, drafted to enable Article 21-A and has discerned several dangerous provisions and omissions within it. In particular, he is alarmed that the Bill is deafeningly silent about ways and means to encourage private initiatives in education. That’s an important dissent because especially in school education, the good reputation which post-independence India has acquired is entirely due to non-government efforts and initiatives. These and other issues of vital importance for the future direction of primary-cum-secondary education in the world’s youngest nation are addressed in our first cover story of 2006.

And in our second lead feature, assistant editor Summiya Yasmeen reviews 2005 — by her account a landmark year — from the education development perspective.

Happy New Year!

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