Schools that do not adhere to the provisions of the RTE Act will now have to bear the brunt. The State government has decided to cancel the recognition granted to them.
Minister of State for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar informed the Legislative Council on Friday that the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act had empowered the government to derecognise private institutions that violate its provisions.
Replying to a question by Janata Dal (Secular) member Basavaraj Horatti, Mr. Ratnakar said district and taluk-level committees, headed by deputy commissioners and tahsildars, had been set up to ensure the proper implementation of the Act. The committees had also been authorised to take stringent action against erring institutions.
Although the committees had been authorised to initiate action — based on complaints received from students or parents — none had complained. Last year, the department had derecognised one institution for violating the RTE Act, he said.
As many as 93,690 children have been admitted to schools under the RTE in the academic year 2014-2015. The Education Department had started training teachers to improve the quality of education in its schools, Mr. Ratnakar said.
Raising the issue, Mr. Horatti said most private schools are averse to admitting students under the RTE Act.
If they do comply, the schools fleece the parents by collecting hefty fees under the heads of swimming-pool fee, horse-riding fee, lab and tuition fees, he said.
To another question by Bharatiya Janata Party member Ashwathnarayan, Mr. Ratnakar said there are 2,907 aided and 12,259 unaided primary schools; 3,660 aided and 5,625 unaided high schools; and 795 aided and 2,259 unaided PU colleges in the State.
