The government has increased the allocation to the education sector by over 25 per cent this year as it gears up to implement the Right To Education Act from April. The Budget raised the total allocation for education from Rs 36,400 crore in 2009-10 to Rs 45,711 crore in 2010-11. In the backdrop of the decision to implement the Right to Education Act-that aims to make primary education accessible to all children in the country-the allocation for elementary education,which was Rs 26,800 crore last year,has been increased to Rs 34,711 crore in this year. This money includes Rs 3,675 crore earmarked under the Thirteenth Finance Commission grants for 2010-11. The allocation for higher education has been hiked from Rs 9,600 crore last year to Rs 11,000 crore this year. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the UPA government was committed to inclusive development and it has been followed-up with the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009. This Act provides for a framework for legal entitlements for all children in the age group of six to 14 years to good quality education,based on principles of equity and non-discrimination,he said. The Budget has also made an allocation of Rs 40 crore for an overarching authority and accreditation agency for higher education.
