Equality of educational opportunity is a myth in Arunachal Pradesh

By Tejang Chakma

Published by Merinews.com on 13 June 2012. The article has also been featured in the Merinews Picks section for the day.

“In 2011 five non-Chakma students of a middle school were given admission by a secondary school in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district. But, 20 Chakma students of the same middle school were denied admission, and this discrimination continues.”

IN 2011, as many as 91 children had to involuntarily drop out after being refused admission to secondary schools in Arunachal Pradesh’s Changlang district. These children, belonging to Buddhist Chakma community, who had passed Class 8 from four upper primary schools under Miao and Kharsang circles failed to get admission due to overcrowding and other related problems in the existing secondary schools.

There are only two secondary schools at Miao and Kharsang circles. These two schools are far from adequate due to increase in student population. Admission was not given by the school authorities despite interventions by the higher authorities to save one precious academic year of the students.

The grounds for refusing admission by the school authorities are facts. However, what was shocking is that some of the Chakma students were discriminated by one of the schools.

The school in question was Miao Higher Secondary school. During last academic session the school admitted five students (non Chakmas) who had passed their Class 8 examination from Government Middle School, Deban under Miao circle despite overcrowding. But 20 Chakma students who passed Class 8th from the same school were denied admission due to overcrowding and other pretexts. The non-Chakma students were preferred over the Chakmas. More importantly, out of the 20 Chakma students, 10 students were passed-outs of previous academic session of 2010-11. At least, these students should have been given priority as they have already lost one precious year. Is this not discrimination by the authority of Miao school?

This violates Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution of India, and India’s obligation under international human rights law such as United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (in particular, Article 28 of the CRC). Article 29(2) Constitution of India provides that none shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.

Education should be made accessible to all. Secondary education serves as a bridge between elementary and higher education and prepares children between the age group of 14-18 for entry into higher education.

The denial of secondary education to the children also results in the denial of several other human rights to these children.