The helpline of the Education department to register complaints against malpractices of the private schools is proving to be of little help to the hapless parents. The officials posted at the complaints cell register the complaint, but when the parents call on the helpline after some days to know about the status of their grievance they are merely told that the official concerned is looking into the matter.
Interestingly, the parents are not given any complaint number by the department.The complaints cell was started at the office of District Education Officer (DEO) Primary, on April 2 by the Education department after a huge hue and cry was raised both in public and newspapers against the open loot of private school operators. The department also provided a phone number on which the parents can register the complaints. However, the so called help line is open only during the office time and remains closed on Sundays and other holidays.
The harassed parents have registered more than 120 complaints against all forms of malpractices of the private schools at the counter but the education department has taken direct action against only three schools. last week, the Chief Education Officer (CEO) SP Khali conducted surprise raids at three schools of the city and stopped the re-examination of the students, which these schools were conducting in violation of RTE.
The Right to Education (RTE) District Coordinator SK Verma said that the department has given show cause notices to all the schools against whom the complaints are received. The manner in which the Education department proceeds on the complaints becomes clear by the fact that it gives a time span of 30 days to the concerned school to reply on the notice. If the department is satisfied (which it invariably is) on the explanation provided by the school the matter is closed. In case the department officials are not satisfied by the reply then they visit the school and ask it to follow the rules under the RTE.
The Secretary of Uttarakhand Parents Association Sudesh Uniyal told The Pioneer that the helpline at the complaints counter of the education department is useless.
He said that the department does not possess any real power and also lacks will to punish the private school operators who are engaging in an open loot of the parents. Uniyal demanded that the department should provide a specific number to every complaint and regularly update the complainant on the status.