New Delhi: A new report claimed on Wednesday that over 80% of Delhi’s private schools are not heeding the right to education (RTE) law on reserving 25% of seats for children coming from economically weaker sections (EWS).
The report, called ‘Bright Spots: Status of Social Inclusion Through RTE‘, is based on a survey which has a sample size of over 10,000 people. This survey was carried out by Indus Action, an NGO working in the education sector.
The aim of Section 12 (1) (C) of the Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 is to increase social involvement and to reserve a minimum 25% seats for EWS and children of disadvantaged groups in private, non-aided and non-minority schools.
It has been mentioned in the survey that many state schools are not publishing data related to the monitoring of children enrolled in the schools, while five states and union territories have not yet notified the provision. The report says that 13 states and union territories have no information regarding the number of students enrolled in schools under this provision. In collaboration with PVR Nest, Indus Action will present this report officially on Friday.
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The reports states that the reason for the lack of policy implementation is that, in some states, there is a relaxation of the income limit whereas in others, there is a limit on minimum wages. In addition, some states are considering only BPL (below the poverty line) families under EWS. The Indian Express quoted the report as saying, “There is also ambiguity on the definition of education. Some school assistants charge fees which are huge on the beneficiary parents and guardians.”
Furthermore, the report states that after passing Class 8, the students suffer from a lack of institutional clarity regarding their future. In addition, the requirement of Aadhaar and other documents has excluded children of migrants, children of single mothers and others from the beneficiary population.
(With agency inputs)