In what should come as a wake up call to the UPA government, Unesco’s annual report on the progress of the millennium development goals has suggested strengthening of policy commitments to quality education. The UPA government has after four-and-half years of delays finalised and approved the Right to Education Bill.

The legislation, which is expected to be introduced in Parliament when it reconvenes in December, would help create the requisite environment to ensure quality in education.

The report also draws attention to ensuring that children have basic literacy and numeric skills. This has been an area of concern for India. The Unesco report draws on findings by Pratham’s ASER report. “In a 2007 survey in India, fewer than half the children in grade 3 could read a simple text and only 58% could subtract or divide”.

Teacher absenteeism is another issue of concern. However, the report found that contrary to popular perception, absenteeism among teachers plagues both private and government schools. The report suggests greater commitment to reducing inequalities and sustained political leadership to reach education targets.

But it is not all negative for India. The report makes an example of how India was able to lead the aid relationship while finalising funds from the World bank. This the report suggests is a result of low levels of aid dependence, high levels of government capacity and strong national institutions for capacity development.