ABSTRACT

This chapter addresses the issue of rights with regard to basic or elementary education in India. Any issue, for example education, can be addressed from a variety of perspectives. We approach basic education from a rights perspective in contrast to charity, humanitarian or need-based perspectives. This approach is therefore rights-based (RBA) and not needs-based (NBA). We go onto further examine the policy and structural framework of the Indian school system. Tracing development of the framework, it is argued that a common school, or the common school system in the Indian context, is the only hope for realization of the right to education. A common school is understood to be a school which does not select or sort children on any criteria, and offers equal opportunity to all in terms of admission from the neighbourhood.