Bagul insists on free education till higher secondary grade
Chaitraly Deshmukh Tajane
Pune: Aba Bagul, former group leader of the Congress party has appeal to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), has demanded free secondary and higher secondary education in private schools for students from middle class and economically weaker sections considering the inflation and COVID-related financial issues. In this regard, Aba Bagul, has sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bagul shares the contents of the letter with Pune Pulse. It read – India is a country of youth. On the strength of this young generation, India is moving towards becoming a superpower. It is believed that India will soon become a superpower if the youth get the right education, guidance and skill development in a good way. In that sense, according to the Right to Education Act, 2009, there is a need to strengthen the students of middle class and economically weaker sections by providing free secondary and higher secondary education in private schools. The Right to Education Act 2009 is providing good quality primary education to children from middle class and economically weaker sections. But after the completion of primary education, due to economic conditions, these students leave secondary and higher secondary education half way and become directionless as well as driven to addiction, which is causing a great loss to the country. And this pandemic has impacted huge financial crises.”
The letter further stated, “The quality of education at Zilla Parishad, Municipality, municipal corporation is currently declining. This is because we are focusing more on unfruitful things, that is, we spend crores of rupees every year to make cities smart. It does the same roads, the same footpaths, drainage lines and other development works. But we do not spend on providing good quality and free education to the students of the middle class and economically weaker sections who will make the country a superpower in the future. Every section of this country has a right to education. There should be 100 per cent free education in private schools.”
Speaking to Pune Pulse he said, “PM is the guardian of this country and he often addresses the people through the radio programme “mann ki baat.” Accordingly, we should understand the minds of the students of the country and make a law to make secondary and higher secondary education free of cost to them. For this a discussion should be held with all state Chief Ministers. I feel that the ZP’s, municipal corporations should be given grants from the Centre to the state.”
