GIS and remote sensing based integrated geospatial approach for implementation of Right to Education Act: A case study from Rural India

Abstract. Child education is vital for any nation, as it plays a key role in the development of human resources. In India, the government has made primary education compulsory through the enactment of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, aiming to achieve universal primary education across the country. The establishment of a sufficient number of new primary and upper primary schools is a fundamental requirement for the successful implementation of the RTE Act. The present research was undertaken to develop a GIS based integrated geospatial approach for identifying suitable locations for new schools under the RTE Act in Bara tehsil, which includes the Shankargarh and Jasra blocks of Prayagraj district, India. A GPS based field survey was conducted to collect the locations of existing schools. Subsequently, two rule based spatial models were developed and implemented to identify and prioritize suitable sites for the establishment of new primary and upper primary schools, based on RTE criteria. The analysis revealed that 42 new primary schools and 4 new upper primary schools are needed in Bara tehsil. Additionally, a Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) map was generated using Sentinel-2B satellite imagery to support administrators in the final site selection, taking into consideration surrounding LULC classes, terrain conditions and local socio-economic factors. The framework of the developed integrated spatial approach is modular and can be adapted for application in other blocks or districts across India.