Mumbai: Over 4,500 private unaided schools of the state will remain shut on Monday. Schools are protesting as the state has not initiated safety measures in these schools. Also, parents have not paid fees of students securing admission within 25 per cent reservation under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Authorities of schools claimed the state has not fulfilled their demands like providing reimbursement for payment of fees for RTE students. The schools have paid the fees themselves as they have not received any financial aid from the state. Parents have been laid back and have taken RTE admissions for granted too.
Rajendra Singh, leader of Independent English Schools Association (IESA), said, “Parents have been defaulting and have not paid their fees. We have been managing fees of students by ourselves but it is high time now.” According to authorities, safety initiatives as per the School Protection Act have not been implemented. Vishwada Mane, a school leader said, “There are no provisions for safety measures like keeping a check on school bus drivers, conductors or non-teaching staff in our schools. Is the state waiting for an untoward incident to occur to ensure security measures? The state is not favouring private unaided schools.”
Under the RTE Act, students of financially weak backgrounds can secure free education till Class 8. A 25 per cent reservation is implemented in all private unaided schools where seats are reserved for these students. The state manages and funds the entire education of these students. Singh added, “The state has not provided us sufficient funds since years. And we have been constantly fighting for the same. It is the responsibility of the state to provide funds for the education of students under RTE reservation.”
