Private schools up in arms against government over RTE reimbursement

EduVarta News Network

Private schools in the state are now in despair. Not that they are awaiting any permission, but the State government has failed to reimburse the money these schools are spending on the students that have been admitted under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education 2009 (RTE). For the last eight years, the schools have been conducting admissions under RTE and have not been paid the reimbursement amount from the last five years.

The state government has to pay an amount of over Rs250 crores to the schools in the state. Private schools fed up with repeated requests to the government said that if the government has no money for poor, deprived, economically weaker sections, then it should admit such students to municipal or zilla parishad schools where the fees are less.

Giving a stern warning, the school administrations mentioned that the schools will not implement the RTE procedure in their schools, if the dues are not cleared immediately. They have also appealed to the parents of students (both RTE and non-RTE) to support them. They also alleged that the RTE has not been implemented properly in the state. Bowing down to the pressure from society and politicians the schools admitted the students by conducting a lottery among the economically weaker sections”, they alleged.

But when it comes to paying the dues, the government threatens legal provisions and police action, this results in the burden of fees on other students”, they said adding that the fee reimbursement should be paid on time.

Rajendra Chorge, Vice President, Independent English Schools Association said, “Government is shifting the responsibility of education of poor students to others and also failing to pay the dues. This has affected the other students as we have to hike their fees.  Also, in the name of giving admission to poor students, currently the children of the rich are studying under RTE in schools. In a way this is corruption. If the government does not have the money to pay the fee reimbursement amount, the government should take the responsibility of teaching the RTE students in other schools.”

Sachin Kalbande, Chairman, RTE Foundation said, “As the state government has failed to issue the utility certificate to the central government at the right time, the government has lost nearly Rs 10,000 crores. Due to non-payment of fee reimbursement amount, various institute administrators in Maharashtra have decided not to grant RTE admission this year. In Delhi RTE students are given uniforms and books. Parents should ask the government why RTE students do not enjoy the same benefits across the country. Why is there one law in one state and another in another?"

Few facts :

1) Refusal to pay reimbursement amount

 A huge provision has been made in the budget of the school education department with more than Rs3,000 crores spent on child education, yet there is reluctance only to pay the reimbursement amount.

2) The formula for determining the amount of reimbursement is incorrect

 The government spends about Rs 47,000 on one student in a government school. The fee reimbursement amount for RTE students should be the same as the expenditure on government school students. However, the wrong formula is followed as the schools have to pay the amount. Rs 7,000 or 18,000 is fixed to the schools for copying fees. It is also not paid in time. Due to this, a burden of Rs. 2.5 thousand crores has fallen on the schools.