Capacity Building Workshop: Empowering Families through the Right to Education (RTE) Act
APNA held RTE workshops in Ranchi and Hazaribagh, training 120+ parents, educators and community leaders on Section 12(1)(c). Through demos, multilingual guides and support on documents and applications, families were empowered. APNA also announced the upcoming RTE Service Camps.
On 19 and 20 November 2022, the Association for Parivartan of Nation (APNA) conducted a transformative Capacity Building Workshop on the Right to Education (RTE) Campaign across APNA offices in Ranchi and Hazaribagh. With over 120 parents, children, educators, and local community leaders in attendance, the two-day workshop aimed to dismantle the barriers that prevent underprivileged families from accessing quality education for their children.
At the heart of this initiative was Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education Act (2009), a groundbreaking provision that reserves 25% of entry-level seats in private unaided schools for children from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds. While this clause opens doors to elite institutions such as DAV, DPS, and Guru Nanak Public Schools, its impact remains blunted by low awareness and complex procedures.
This workshop mattered as Jharkhand, home to thousands of marginalised families, has struggled with low RTE awareness and application rates. Parents often lack the necessary documents or fear navigating the digital portals and bureaucratic hurdles involved. This workshop addressed these exact challenges, equipping participants with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to claim their children's right to education. Demystifying the RTE Act was one of the workshop’s goals. Participants were introduced to the critical provisions of the Act, with a special focus on Section 12(1)(c). Through real-life examples and visual aids, they learned how this clause can be a gateway out of poverty for countless families. “It felt like a door had been opened for my daughter. I didn’t know we had the right to apply to schools like DPS. Now I feel I can do it,” said Laxmi Devi, a mother from Ranchi.
Documentation was made simple as experts broke down the often confusing list of required documents: birth certificates, address proof, BPL cards, income certificates, and more. Step-by-step guides were distributed, and multilingual materials were provided for ease of understanding. In the interactive Q&A, parents and community leaders participated in open dialogue, voicing challenges and receiving direct answers. Sessions allowed facilitators to clarify state-specific nuances in Jharkhand’s RTE implementation. “Many parents want to send their children to good schools, but get stuck at the first step- documentation. This workshop is helping remove that fear,” observed Nagar, a local educator and participant.
The event concluded with a firm commitment to on-ground support, marking the announcement of RTE Education Service Camps to be set up across targeted urban and rural pockets in both Ranchi and Hazaribagh. “These camps will act as one-stop support centres- helping families fill out forms, gather documents, and track applications,” shared Pallavi, Programme Coordinator at APNA. This workshop was more than a standalone training; it was a catalyst for systemic change. It showcased how informed citizens can become empowered citizens- and how the promise of “Education for All” can be fulfilled, one community at a time. With plans underway for expanded outreach, policy advocacy, and field-based support structures, APNA remains committed to ensuring that every child in Jharkhand, not just the privileged, has a fair chance at a brighter future.
