Pathankot, September 15
The Right to Education (RTE) Act, in its present form, was not acceptable to elite schools and reforms should be made to ensure that the privileges accruing out of the Act actually flow to the targetted beneficiaries.

The views were echoed by Rev Dr Jose Aikara, Chairman of the Association of Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) Schools, during the 5th annual general meeting of the Association held at the Indian Heritage School (IHS) here today.

Nearly 130 principals attended the proceedings in which cultural events were also organised by students. Gerry Arathon, Secretary of the Association, Soham Anand, Principal of the IHS, P Sai Nath, art critic and Vivek Talwar, chief cultural officer, Tata Power were also present.

While speaking at the sidelines of the function, Dr Aikara said the RTE Act brought in by the government was a step in the right direction but it had anomalies which needed to be ironed out for its proper implementation.

“The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 stipulates that private schools reserve 25 per cent of seats at the entry level for children belonging to ‘disadvantaged groups’ and ‘weaker sections’. We are implementing it but we are over burdened by our own compulsions. The government should leave it to the management of the elite schools about the students to be taught under this act.

Right now, it is the government which tells us which students to absorb,” Aikara added. “A student from an economically weaker family will feel disiilusioned while studying with students belonging to affluent families. The act should be amended to ensure this does not happen. One of the main points of contention has been the 25 per cent reservation of seats to the ‘weaker sections and disadvantaged groups’ in private educational institutions. It is definitely a noble idea that schools must be socially inclusive and quality education must be accessible to all, but the method the government has resorted to, by way of reservations, is not the right way forward. More harm will be done than good if the government walks on this path,” he claimed.

He added that more and more ISCE schools were being opened in far- flung areas so that rural students could benefit. “We opened one such school in Arunachal Pradesh where there was neither any internet nor mobile phone connectivity. The school is running successfully,” remarked Aikara.

The association awarded prizes to Sahil Diwedi, who stood second in the Inspire Award Science Exhibition held recently in New Delhi and Chiran Jeev for having secured 98 per cent marks in the March 2013, ISCE board exams.