Indian bishops’ concern over sections of new education law

(May 4, 2010) India’s Catholic bishops have expressed concern about certain sections in a new law that seeks free and compulsory education for children up to the age of 14. The Right to Education Act, which states that no child should be held back, expelled or required to pass a board examination until the completion of elementary education, came into force in India in April. Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavelikara, chairperson of the commission for education of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), told a press conference in New Delhi on Monday that the Church appreciates the federal government’s efforts to spread universal education for all by passing the Right to Education Act. But some sections in it violate the constitutional rights of minority communities. He said sections 21 and 22 of the act take away the minority groups’ right to administer their educational institutions. The Indian Constitution allows religious and linguistic minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. The new law suggests imposing a government-appointed committee on schools apart from its management board. Bishop Ignathios said the Church is holding talks with the federal government in a bid to amend the two sections. He also said that if the government does not amend the sections, the Church will approach the court.