The Lok Sabha on Wednesday night unanimously passed the Constitution Amendment Bill to make education for children in 6-14 years age group a Fundamental Right with government assuring it wanted to develop a school curriculae without creating social tensions.
The bill was passed with 346 votes in favour and none against. Replying to a four-hour debate on the bill, HRD Minister M M Joshi allayed the apprehension of leader of opposition Sonia Gandhi that an attempt was being made to review school syllabi to propagate a particular ideology, saying we want to develop a curriculum which is in the interests of the country and.....Help in meeting the goal of secularism and that it does not hurt religious sentiments.
Joshi said the amendment was a revolutionary step as it would make it the duty of the parents to send their children to school but would not penalise them for not doing so. Bureau Report