The Hindu : National : Sibal urges school principals to make “some sacrifices”

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Sibal urges school principals to make “some sacrifices”

Special Correspondent

“Centre committed to quota for poor in private schools”
Compensatory mechanism will be worked out

NEW DELHI: Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday reiterated the government’s commitment to implement 25 per cent quota in private schools for children from economically weaker sections as proposed in the Right to Education Bill.

Launching the consultation process for reforms in education, Mr. Sibal, during his interaction with school principals here, said the institutions had a responsibility to educate people as the country is estimated to have 47 million surplus students by 2020.

The Right To Education Bill, which has been pending in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to reserve 25 per cent of seats for children from economically weaker sections.

As per the provisions of the Bill, the government will bear the cost of education of these children.

Allaying apprehensions expressed by some of the principals about the additional financial burden they would have to bear, Mr. Sibal said the government would prepare a compensatory mechanism for them “as per provisions of the Act.”

Asking the principals to make “some sacrifices” from their profits to ensure that all sections of society got education and skills, particularly those who had received subsidy or had bought land at a cheap rate.

The Minister said the government would also explore the option of starting double shifts in schools for full utilisation of the resources.

Consultations

The Minister stated that this was the beginning of the consultation process and he would set up a group for interaction on education reforms and some school principals would be part of it. Mr. Sibal said consultations would be held with the people in rural areas and in smaller towns also. While there was broad consensus on the education reforms proposed by the Ministry, particularly on making Class X examination optional, the principals were of the opinion that the finer details should worked out for clarity.

Abha Sehgal of Sanskriti School even suggested that the rich students be made to pay for the poor students as “social responsibility.”

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