KAKINADA: Managements of private schools are opposing the state government’s notification allotting 25 percent of seats in private schools to poorer sections without proper framing of rules and regulations.
The government has issued a notification that parents can apply to admit their children in Class I of private schools. The government will pay the fee payable by the student to the private educational institutions.
Managements of private schools have, however, made it clear that the proposal cannot be implemented during this academic year as admissions in schools are over and classes had commenced two months ago.
“As per Right to Education Act, private schools should allot 25 percent of their seats to children of poorer sections. We welcome such a proposal. But, the state government should lay the rules and regulations before private schools can allot these seats,” said United Educational Institutions Federation chairman G. Mohan Rao.
The managements are also keen that the government fix the fees to be given to schools by the state on behalf of the student.
According to statistics provided by private school managements, there are 16,786 private schools in the state. Nearly 6.71 lakh students are studying Class I at present. If the government implements the 25 percent seat-allotment scheme, nearly 1.67 lakh students have to be admitted in private schools. “Can the financial situation of the state bear such expenditure,” asked the correspondent of a private school.
“We don’t trust the government on fees reimbursement scheme. Further, the government says fees reimbursement for 25 percent students will be given during the next academic year. But private schools have to pay salaries to teachers. How can schools pay salaries to teachers and staff for one year under the circumstances,” questioned federation legal advisor and High Court advocate M. Vijay.
He pointed out that there is a procedure for fixation of fees. The government must first calculate the expenditure per student of a government school. Then, fees of private schools have to be taken into consideration. The fee that is the least has to be fixed.
Advocate Vijay disclosed that private school managements will approach High Court for justice.
Regional joint director (School Education) D. Madhusudan Rao told Deccan Chronicle that the fee has not been fixed yet. Parents should apply online, along with their priority of private schools, which are within a distance of 1 km to 3 km. “Private schools will have to allot 25 percent of their seats to poorer sections as decided by the state government,” Madhusudan Rao maintained.
