Context

The UN-sponsored first-ever International Day to Protect Education from Attack is being observed for the first time on September 9 2020. 

About

• The September-9 International Day to Protect Education from Attack was established on May 2020 by a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly, calling on UNESCO and UNICEF to raise awareness of the plight of millions of children living in countries affected by conflict.
• The resolution proclaiming the Day was presented by the State of Qatar and co-sponsored by 62 countries.
• The Day draws attention to the plight of more than 75 million 3-to-18-year-olds living in 35 crisis-affected countries and to their urgent need of educational support.

Attack on Education More than 22,000 students, teachers, and academics were injured, killed, or harmed in attacks on education during armed conflict or insecurity over the past five years. Between 2015 and 2019, 93 countries experienced at least one reported attack on education. Students and educators were most frequently harmed by direct attacks in Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Palestine. Armed forces, other state actors, and armed groups used schools and universities for military purposes in 34 countries between 2015 and 2019, including as bases, detention centers, and weapons stores. In the past five years, state armed forces or armed groups reportedly recruited students from schools in 17 countries.

Education in India

• While India’s latest literacy rate stands at 78%, education scenario in the country is still at a very poor stage and there is a lot of scope for improvement.
• In rural areas, about 70% of the individuals aged 15 years and above could not complete their secondary education, i.e, 10th standard and above, and in urban areas, about 40% of individuals were not able to secure the same education level, according to the latest data by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

Right to Education

• The Right to Education Act 2009, also known as the RTE Act 2009, was enacted by the Parliament of India on 4 August 2009.
• It describes modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children aged between 6-14 years in India under Article 21 (A) of the Constitution of India. 

Constitutional Background Originally Part IV of Constitution of India, Article 45 and Article 39 (f) of DPSP, had a provision for state funded as well as equitable and accessible education. In 1993, the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in the Unnikrishnan JP vs State of Andhra Pradesh & Others held that Education is a Fundamental right flowing from Article 21. Eighty-sixth amendment of Indian Constitution Act 2002 inserted article 21A in the Indian Constitution which provides free and necessary education of all children in between the age of six to fourteen years as a fundamental Right.