Done sans permission, say schools

Registration for RTE admissions

Registration of private-unaided schools for Right to Education (RTE) admissions have been done without their permission by the state education department as per these schools.

The schools are still not willing to conduct admissions under RTE until the government pays the reimbursement amount pending since last five years.

Schools revealed the state has voluntarily registered schools for RTE online admissions which began on February 10.

The school authorities were not notified about this registration.

Also, as over 3,000 schools decided not to register till the funds are registered the state did not seek permission from schools. Rajendra Singh, leader of Independent Schools Association, said, “As schools were not willing to provide data for registration the state has uploaded data of 2015 voluntarily. This is old data and new information is with us hence this is an illegal act.”

Under the RTE Act, 25 per cent of admission seats are reserved for marginalised students in private unaided schools. The state government funds the education of these students in the age group of six to 14 years upto Class 8. But in the last five years, the government has not paid the entire reimbursement amount to these schools which has created financial pressure.

School authorities stated they will not admit students till the reimbursement amount of Rs 800 crore is paid. “We cannot admit students because the state has not provided finance to fund the education of Students. Parents should realise it is not us but the state government which is creating a hurdle,” Singh added.

The state education department stated that it has dispersed Rs 154 crore out of the pending amount of Rs 302 crore. Mahesh Palkar, civic Education officer managing RTE admissions, said, “We have spoken to the schools and they have willingly registered. The funds will be provided gradually and admissions will go on.”

The schools are still not willing to conduct admissions under RTE until the government pays the reimbursement amount pending since last five years