Mumbai: Often a well-intended policy can make more damage just because of poor implementation and lack of involvement by the officials. Such is the case with the Right to Education policy. “The state government is not taking responsibility for the education of students who have secured admissions through Right to Education (RTE),” claim some parents. Parents and authorities of private unaided schools have complained the state is not providing funds to manage the fees.
Under RTE Act, students of weak financial backgrounds can secure admissions for free in private unaided schools. According to the Act, 25 per cent seats are reserved for these students who can study till Class 8 for free. The state government manages the education of these students by providing funds to the school authorities to manage their fees, cost of stationary and other basic needs.
The school authorities, however, have different story to tell. They allege, the state has neither provided the promised funds nor\ve been protesting repeatedly. The state is giving us a deaf ear.” Parents claimed their children are suffering due to this tussle between the school and the state. Pratiksha Sawant, a parent said, “If both the state and the schools decide not to provide funds for the fees of our children, how will they study? The state is responsible for managing the education of students under RTE and the school cannot withdraw or deny admissions, this is such a mess. This tussle is going to affect the academic lives of students.”
Authorities of these schools stated they will be compelled to withdraw or deny admissions under RTE due to lack of funds. A senior member of a private unaided school, said, “How are we supposed to fund the education of a large number of students till Class 8 without any financial support from the state? We will be forced to deny admissions at one point if the state continues to neglect our plea.”
