KOLHAPUR, Jan 27: Member of the co-ordinating committee of the ninth five year plan Vinod Raina, has urged that the proposed 83rd amendment to the Constitution declaring education as a fundamental right should be passed at the earliest along with the finance bill making arrangements for its implementation. Raina, also a member of the co-ordination committee of the national elementary education programme of the central government, was addressing a press conference at the circuit house in Kolhapur.He was in the city to address a function to create awareness on Education as a Fundamental Right.Raina said that Inder Kumar Gujral government had presented a bill seeking the 83rd amendment in the Rajya Sabha. ``However, during the Vajpayee government's rule the issue seems to have taken a backseat'', he said.Referring to `Public Report On Basic Education'- PROBE, a survey conducted by non government organisations in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, which was released at the hands of noble laurete Prof.Amartya Sen on January 2 in New Delhi, Raina said, the report poits out to certain myths about education.One of the widely circulated myths is that the poor section of the society does not undestand the importance of the education. However, the report clearly mentions that there is no dearth of demand for education. ``89 percent of the poor families surveyed felt that there children should be properly educated, he explained.Raina also pointed out that the motivation and accountability among teachers was very low according to the probe report. ``This is due to burden of additional government duties and low salaries,'' he reasoned.
