Few takers for 25% seats reserved in private schools for EWS students

There are a few takers for 25 per cent seats kept reserved in private schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act for students belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups. In over 2,500 unaided private schools in the state, there are only around 450 students, who have taken admission under the RTE Act to avail of free education. “We have decided to enhance our publicity campaign to disseminate information about it. Also, we have written to deputy directors in each district to visit private schools and figure out how admissions under the RTE Act can be increased,” said Ashish Kohli, Director, Elementary Education Department.

Enrolment in pvt schools increased

• Over the past two decades, the government schools have witnessed a steady decline in enrolment, resulting in several primary and upper primary schools becoming unviable.
• In sharp contrast, the enrolment in private schools has increased manifold over the years.
• At present, the private schools, which are just around 20 per cent of the total number of schools in the state, cater to over 35 per cent of the total number of students.

Not using the RTE Act for admission to private schools is quite surprising, especially when most people prefer private schools over government schools for educating their children in the state. Over the past two decades, the government schools have witnessed a steady decline in enrolment, resulting in several primary and upper primary schools becoming unviable. In sharp contrast, the enrolment in private schools has increased sharply over the years. At present, the private schools, which are just around 20 per cent of the total number of schools in the state, cater to over 35 per cent of the total number of students.

As per the Education Department, the lack of awareness about the RTE provision and reluctance on the part of some schools to give admissions to children coming from the EWS category can be the reasons behind eligible people not applying for seats kept reserved for their children. “For raising awareness, the department will ramp up its publicity campaigns. And if any school is found to have refused admission to eligible candidates under the RTE Act, the department will take suitable action,” said Kohli.

The lack of awareness seems to be a bigger hurdle than reluctance on the part of the schools. “We have no clue about it. We have not been informed about the Act even by the government school where my two daughters are studying. I will be more than happy to send my daughters to a good private school if I don’t have to pay for it,” said a house help in Shimla.

Private schools are reimbursed funds for the number of seats it allots to the students belonging to the EWS and disadvantaged groups. “For the last academic session, private schools got reimbursed money for 450 such seats,” said Kohli.