The six-hour long strike of the parents’ forum on violation of Right to Education (RTE) Act from 6 am to 12 pm on Monday affected the academic atmosphere in the capital city. A number of missionary schools and other private schools, barring a few prominent private ones, remained closed. However, the schools that were opened could not record 100 per cent attendance. The fact was disclosed by Principals of Delhi Public School, Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School and Cambrian Public School.
Notably, the demands of the parents forum included ban on re-admission fees, development fee, infrastructural fee and building fees as these are against the RTE norms. “Decisions taken by the School Principals during a State-level meeting headed by Principal Secretary to CM Sanjay Kumar and HRD Secretary Aradhana Patnaik were illogical. Principals decided not to charge money for re-admission, capitation and not to increase the bus fee. But, no decision for banning development fees was taken as it is the only commercial mode of generating a heavy amount from the parents,” said Federation of Jharkhand State Abhibhawak Mahasangh’s president Ajay Rai.
The government, on the request of Principals, has also agreed to enroll poor students in the 25 percent reserved seats in schools with the enrolment of general students from October to the month of March. Rai pointed out that most of the schools are yet to follow the decisions taken in the meeting held on April 24. “If the government and schools fail to put a ban on development fees within a week, we will file a PIl in the Jharkhand High Court,” he added.
The government, on April 24, had asked more than 50 Private School Principals of the State to submit a list of their fee categorization to the respective district administration within 15 days. Patnaik said the final decision over the development fees will then be taken. Sources maintained similar instructions were given to schools in 2010 as well by the HRD department but no action was taken.
Meanwhile, the forum supported by various social and political organizations like NSUI, Shiv Sena, CPI, wings of Congress, Jharkhand Vidyut Supply Technical Workers Union, Jharkhand Diesel Auto Drivers Association and Jharkhand Wholesaler Retailers led rallies across the Main Road to Albert Ekka Chowk today. Rai and Women Congress head Abha Sinha were arrested by Kotwali Police while protesting and were later released.