The process to admit disadvantaged students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act quota, into its second year, is still not free from controversies. On Monday, members of the Autorickshaw Drivers’ Union, affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Union, gathered in front of the office of the Block Education Officer (BEO) in Rajajinagar to protest against alleged irregularities in the process, which ended on February 19. Nearly 50 people, some of whom had applied for seats under the 25 per cent RTE quota for their children, alleged there were loopholes in the lottery system for selections. Dayanand D., a parent who had applied to five schools for his child for a seat in Class 1 under the reservation system, said that only one school had invited parents to witness the draw. “When I questioned this, both the school managements and the BEO sent me back and forth by claiming that it was the responsibility of the other,” he said.
BEO Gopal Krishna, whose attempts to talk to the protesters failed, said, “These are individual allegations which don’t have any truth as the lottery is always drawn in front of the public. As for the so-called delay in the announcement of the results, often we’ve announced them one week in advance.”
The results of 354 schools coming under the Rajajinagar North 1 area was declared on Monday, he said.
Commissioner for Public Instruction S.R. Umashankar advised complainants to approach the Education Department with specific instances so that action could be initiated. He said that the seat selection process would be completed shortly.
