Chapter III, Section 10 of the Right to Education Act states that ‘It shall be the duty of every parent or guardian to admit or cause to be admitted his or her child or ward, as the case may be, to an elementary education in the neighbourhood school.’

In the lengthy document that espouses the duties of the government, local authority, schools and teachers to ensure that all children are sent to school, the RTE Act has very little to do with the key decision maker in a child’s education—the parent.

The passing of the RTE Act in April 2010 makes it mandatory for private schools to have a playground. If they can’t do so in the next two and a half years, they will have to shut shop. This attempt to provide children with the right to play seems meritorious at the outset and one can make no substantial argument against open spaces and the advantage of free play on child development. But is there a direct correlation between shutting down schools without playgrounds and giving children more space to play?