Unable to pay fees demanded by schools for extracurricular activities, books and uniforms, parents of a few students admitted under the RTE quota in private schools have pulled their children out and put them in government schools.
Vemanna V., a daily wage worker, had admitted his children under the quota at a private school in Basaveshwarnagar during the 2012-2013 academic year. His dream of getting his daughter English education for free has now been belied.
“I was told that the government will reimburse the fees. But I did not know that I will have to pay for uniforms, books and extracurricular activities. The first year, I paid Rs. 4,000 and for class 2 they asked me to pay Rs. 7,000… that’s when I decided to enrol her in a government school,” he said.
His daughter, Gangotri, who studies in class 4 in Sanegoravanahalli government primary school, is confused when asked about the school she prefers. “The private school would teach us English. It was nice… But the government school is also nice. They do not ask my father to pay any fees,” she said. The Education Department officials, however, argue that these are “rare” instances. They have come to their notice, but they are “helpless”. Despite the department having issued repeated circulars to private schools to not “extract” money from parents of students admitted under the quota, the department has not been able to crack down on those who violate it.
Department sources also pointed out that migration of parents to other areas is another reason for children dropping out of the quota, as children admitted under the RTE quota cannot get a transfer.
