Mumbai: As many as 4,500 private unaided schools continue to protest, as the state has neither initiated safety measures nor given them reimbursement for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Some schools remained shut on Monday as a mark of protest, while others continued to function as the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) board examinations are round the corner.
The authorities of the schools, which fall under the Federation of Schools Association of Maharashtra (FSAM), claimed the state is not concerned about private schools.
It has not installed safety measures in these schools as per the School Protection Act. A senior official of the FSAM said, “All state-run schools are treated as priority and safety measures are implemented well in advance. But when it comes to private schools, the state does not seem to bother much despite repeated complaints.”
In addition, the schools have 25 per cent reservation under the Act for students from the economically-backward classes. Students can get free education up to Class 8, with the state providing funds and managing their education. But the state has not provided funds in the last few years, according to the authorities of private-unaided schools.
Schools may continue their protest until the state releases their funds.
Kanaka Vibhute, a parent, said, “Students under the RTE Act are provided free education. It is the responsibility of the state government to fund their education. The studies of our children must not be affected due to the tussel between state government and schools.”
