The State government, in a bid to effectively implement the Right to Education Act (RTE) in private schools, has decided to carry out a special admission drive in the private schools across the State after many of them refused to comply with the Act (RTE).
The Government has also appointed principals of its certain schools as nodal officers for monitoring the special admission drive which will be held from May 12 to 14 in the private schools in the State. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of over 500 private school principals here on Friday.
According to District Education Officer (DEO) Ashutosh Chawar, it was noticed that many private schools in the State were not complying with the provisions of the RTE, one of the ambitious laws enacted by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre that guaranteed education to all, especially those from poor economic background.
Since the enactment of the RTE, it is mandatory for all the private and government schools to earmark at least 25 per cent of the seats in schools for students from economically poor background. When it comes to private schools, it is the duty of the government to fund their fees and other cost of their education. However, private schools play different tricks to avoid admitting poor children as there is ceiling in the education Bill of those students admitted under the RTE provision, unlike other students.
But now with the Government going for admission in these (private) schools, the school management will have no option left other than falling in line. The DEO also warned of stringent action against private schools that failed to comply with the RTE Act.
Meanwhile, the DEO also expressed his dissatisfaction over the condition of many school buses used to ferry students. It was noticed that many buses were not in good condition. He also directed the principals to ensure that only safe buses are deployed and any violation of the order, he said, would be met with serious repercussion.