While the state has still not revealed to what extent it will reimburse private schools that will have to reserve 25 per cent of seats for children from economically weaker sections, it has decided to grade private schools across the state in preparation for implementing the Right to Education Act.
Principal secretary of primary education, Ms Chandana Khan categorically stated on Saturday that all private schools will have to reserve 25 per cent seats for poor students from the new academic year (2012-13) as directed by the Supreme Court. With the state government deciding to grade private schools across the state, the school education department will do so on parameters such as availability of qualified teachers, facilities, and student-teacher ratio as stipulated by the RTE Act and will begin enforcing the 25 per cent quota in those private schools that comply with the RTE norms.
Explaining the reason for the grading, principal secretary of primary education, Chandana Khan said, “The grading of private schools is essential since the quality standards differ from school to school. There are some private schools in the state that are inferior to government schools in terms of availability of qualified teachers and facilities. If we start admitting 25 per cent poor students in all the private schools without
taking these factors into account, the RTE Act will turn out to be a fee reimbursement scheme for school managements and will not serve the desired purpose, besides imposing a financial burden on the government.” Ms Khan said the government will hold consultations with all the stakeholders over implementing the 25 per cent quota.
On the important question of the funding, Ms Khan said, “There is no clarity on the budget required for the purpose.”
The state government has to bear the expenses towards fee reimbursement for the quota students, since the Centre has not brought this under SSA scheme. However, the state has requested the Centre to do so.
