Even after more than five months since the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 came into effect across the country, many states are yet to notify the rules.

The states, according to their specific conditions and requirement, were supposed to notify their rules based on the model rules prepared by the centre. Till date the only state which has notified the rules is Sikkim, says Kiran Bhatty, national commissioner (RTE), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the body responsible for monitoring the implementation of the act.

"There are six-eight states including Madhya Pradesh and Orissa which have drafted the rules but have not notified yet. But all states will have to norify the rules before September 30, which is the deadline," she said. The guidelines formed by the states will address forming School Management Committees (SMC) and change in admission procedure. 

Emphasising the importance of grievances redressal system in the act, Bhatty said NCPCR is attempting to find local solutions. "We want the system to find the solution within itself. So that grievances are addressed as locally and as quickly as possible." In this system, she said, local authorities like zila parishads and gram panchayats have to be designated by the department of education of all the states, to play their role.

The act, which came into effect on April 1, also talks of reserving 25 percents seats in the private schools for children coming from economically weaker sections. On this Bhatty said that though a system has not been finalised yet but the commission will ensure that selection is done publicly and schools will have to report to the commission. She added that the commission is networking with civil society groups for their role in making the implemetation a success.

The act also talks about the quality education which, Bhatty said, can only be accomplished through good teachers. She added, "Till date it was thought that if you cannot be in any other profession then be a teacher. Or take up a teaching job in a government school, where you hardly have to work. That mindset towards this profession has to be changed. We have witnessing the downward trend in the teaching and now we have to start from the scratch and it will take time."