Right To Education: Assessing The Intersection Of Constitutional Law And Access To Quality Education

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Sathishkumar V, Guest Faculty, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Chennai

ABSTRACT

The Right to Education (RTE) has emerged as one of the most significant socio-economic rights under the Indian constitutional framework. Recognised as a fundamental right under Article 21A of the Constitution through the Constitution (Eighty-Sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, the right seeks to guarantee free and compulsory education to all children between the ages of six and fourteen years. The enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, further operationalised this constitutional mandate by establishing standards for access, enrolment, and educational infrastructure. Despite substantial progress in improving enrolment rates, concerns relating to educational quality, teacher shortages, infrastructural deficiencies, and socio-economic disparities continue to impede the realisation of meaningful education. This article examines the constitutional evolution of the Right to Education, analyses key judicial pronouncements, and evaluates the effectiveness of legislative measures in ensuring quality education. It further explores the challenges faced in implementing the constitutional promise of education and proposes reforms aimed at strengthening educational access, equity, and quality. The study concludes that while constitutional recognition has expanded educational opportunities, sustained policy interventions and institutional accountability are essential for achieving the broader objective of educational justice.

Keywords: Right to Education, Article 21A, Constitutional Law, Fundamental Rights, Quality Education, RTE Act, 2009.

230. RIGHT TO EDUCATION- ASSESSING THE INTERSECTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND ACCESS TO QU

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