Telangana: Schools continue to ignore Right to Education Act for poor

Hyderabad: A landmark judgement by the Supreme Court in 2012 upheld the Right to Education Act which reserved 25 per cent of seats for students from economically weaker sections in private or unaided schools. Free education was to be provided for students from Grade 1 till the age of 14.

Half a decade later, the implementation of this judgement in Telangana state has been poor. Schools, however, have a different take.

Ms Usha Reddy, Principal of Meridian School, said, “We are not following the RTE. Unless the government comes up with ways to reimburse the fees that are to be waived, we cannot follow the RTE. There needs to be more clarity in the processes.”

Some schools follow the reservation policy. Mr Narasimha Reddy, Principal of Hyderabad Public School, Ramanthapur, said, “We follow the reservation policy for SC/ST students and other backward classes which totals to about 22 per cent. We cannot afford another 25 per cent under the RTE unless the government funds the scheme. Otherwise we have to cross-subsidise the amount by increasing the fee of the day scholars.”

“We provide scholarships to underprivileged students. We give them subsidies in the purchase of books and uniforms. Though it is not actually RTE, we try to do our bit. We cannot afford to provide free education,” said P. Obul Reddy Public School Principal Anjali Razdan.

Educational activists feel that the RTE has become a bone of contention between schools and the government with one blaming the other for the ineffectiveness.

Educational expert Umi Daniel said, “The scheme was created with the intention of ensuring that all children get quality education free. But it is not implemented, apart from a few exceptions.  The government should develop a financial arrangement so that the scheme is implemented."

Telangana Parents Association state president N. Narayana said protests had brought about no change on the RTE front. “Government order 44 that deals with RTE is pending in the High Court,” he said.

Know your right

• Right to Education Act, April 1, 2010.
•  Guarantees free and compulsory education for all children from the age group of 6 to 14.
• 25% of seats to be reserved for students from economically weaker sections in private and unaided schools.