Some have filled 25% reserved seats, while others say they haven't receive any applications
Most city schools that are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have completed admissions for the new academic year. Different schools are responding differently to the clause on 25 per cent reservation that is mandated by the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
While some schools say they received no query from parents of eligible children, others point to the presence of government schools within a 1-km radius. A lot of awareness may be required before the objective of this clause of the RTE Act is realised, say educationists.
The reservation, according to Tamil Nadu's guidelines for the RTE Act, is applicable to students coming from economically weaker sections — where the student's parents or guardians should have an annual income that is lower than Rs. 2 lakh — or from disadvantaged groups that include SC, ST, BC and MBC children, as well as orphaned children, children with HIV/AIDS or disabilities, and children of transgenders or scavengers.
School heads observe that of the applications they received for admission, most were eligible only in the ‘disadvantaged groups' category. Chinmaya Vidyalaya principal C. Sathiamoorthy said: “Hardly five per cent of our applications came from parents with an annual income lower then Rs. 2 lakh. We have reserved 40 seats in L.K.G. for children from these sections.”
In Maharshi Vidya Mandir, out of the 400 seats in pre-kg, 100 seats have been allotted for the reserved categories, according to school principal S. Namasivayam.
In an effort to understand the clause even better, the school education department recently wrote to the Ministry of Human Resource Development seeking clarity on this clause. Based on the response it received, the department has decided as follows — all private schools will reserve 25 per cent of their seats. However, a student from either of the categories — economically weaker section or disadvantaged groups — can have his or her fee reimbursed by the government only if there is no government school within 1 km radius in the neighbourhood. D. Sabitha, secretary, School Education, said: “We will refund the school fee in private schools only if there is no government school in the vicinity. Otherwise, the parent will have to bear the expenses.”
On whether this would benefit children who cannot afford the fee, a senior official in the school education department said: “In Chennai, it might seem like there are several government or local body schools. But when you go to rural areas, there are smaller towns and villages where there are private schools, but no government school in the vicinity. Children in such areas will henceforth not be denied education just because they cannot afford it.”
However, there are some questions that remain to be answered – who will verify if there is a government school within 1 km radius in a neighbourhood? Is it the private school, government or the parent's responsibility? Who will communicate the availability of seats in private schools to parents of students who qualify for admission?
In the absence of answers to such questions, some CBSE schools seem to be flouting RTE rules, defeating the very purpose of the clause. There are schools that are charging fees from those applying for the reserved seats as well. “If the government reimburses, we will repay the parents,” the head of a school in Chetpet said.
Some schools say they have not received any query so far. “We have not have received applicants for the reserved category. We are yet to decide how to fill up those seats,” says Rathi Menon, principal of Pon Vidyashram on East Coast Road. The same is the case with Vel's Vidyashram that has not received a single query regarding the reserved quota. However, in such cases, the schools are expected to put up details of the number of vacant seats available for such students on the notice board.
There are cases when the school head has to use her discretion. Lakhmi Srinivasan, principal, P.S. Senior Secondary School, said: “We had a parent from the ST category who has an annual income of 15 lakh, who demanded free admission. But we thought the seat should go to a family that needs it the most, and so we preferred to give it to a family with an annual income of Rs. 4 lakh.” The school has reserved 40 seats out of its total 160 seats for the reserved.
A few other schools do not seem to know the rules at all. In fact, the head of a popular school in R.A. Puram asked this reporter: “Can you tell me how this whole thing works?” The correspondent of another famous school in T. Nagar refused to share any information on admissions as per this clause, observing, that “the matter is too sensitive to discuss.”
Keywords: CBSE schools, RTE Act
RTE is good. the basic fact is that whether management of leading
cbse/icse and state board schools in chennai are keen to absorb the
children from these economically backward sections and socially
backward sections. even if so are the teachers keen to take additional
efforts to teach those children who suffer from learing disadvanatages
and difficulties. most of the leading cbse schools or icse shcools or
for that state board schools are only keen in concentrating on those
students who have a potential to obtain a rank and thereby bring
laurlels to the institution. even under current situation a lot of
normal students with learning problems are sidelined and relegated to
the backbenches as those who would not serve the interests of the
school. probably one in ten teachers does make an attempt to address
the learning difficulties.the basic problem is to address the teaching
attitude and aptitude of our already existing schools hand in hand
with efforts like the RTE.
Instead of giving money to Private schools in the name of RTE, the same could be spent on improving the standard of education in government run schools and if needed the number of government schools can be increased in our state. When most of the Government schools are doing exceedingly well, Why should Tamil Nadu Government waste so many crores by giving it to Private schools? Let our leaders think.
It is unfair to pay the private schools when Government schools are available within 1km / 2km / 3km radius from the residence of a student. When Government schools are equipped with qualified and experienced staff, good infrastructure and many educational tools given free, why should Govt. pay to a private school situated near by? If Parents willfully chose to disregard these facilities provided from our (citizens) money and go to private schools, then Govt should not meet their fees. If the Govt pays then it is a mockery of the RTE Act. Govt should pay the fees to private schools only if there are no Govt schools within the prescribed kilometres limits.
Print and Electronic media should highlight this important point and ensure that our public money does not go waste this way under the name of RTE.
Gathering the data about the vacancies available in schools under the
act is something very tricky and difficult for parents. It would be here
that The Hindu can help by collating such data and publishing it on the
newspaper during admissions time.
I feel the authorities should publicize the names of the CBSE schools where no application
received, so that social artists and general public will help them in finding suitable students
A great work by Jothi Ramalingam; a picture that is indeed worth a thousand words!!
Whether RTE is going to serve the purpose will reamin a big question mark!Instead of government trying to give quotas in private schools ,its better they provide quality education in govt. schools.Basic thing that needs to be done is providing better infrastructure,sanitation facilities and increasing the teaching staff.That way atleast the dropout count would be reduced.
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