Though the Right to Education (RTE) Act guarantees students from economically backward sections the right to free primary education with 25 per cent seats in schools reserved for them, more than 1,400 students in Mumbai are struggling to get into the schools assigned to them in the first round of first allotment list under RTE.
After complaints from parents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued notice to 33 schools for irregularities in admission process under RTE last week, but schools are still reluctant in admitting these students. While some schools are using minority status as an excuse, others are charging unreasonable amount of money for textbooks, uniforms, and tuition fees, say harried parents.
Malad resident Sufiya Bhukhari, who has been trying to get admission for her son in Class I, said, “Even after getting the name in allotment list and admission letter, my son and 15 other students, have been denied admission in St. Joseph’s Primary School. When I reached the school, the Principal said that the school is a minority school and does not come under the ambit of RTE. However, I found that it’s not a minority school, but is trying to get that status.” When The Hindu contacted the school, authorities claimed that the school had a minority status, and did not come under the RTE ambit.
Jogeshwari resident Mohammed Hidayatullah said St. Mary’s English Medium School denied admission to his daughter saying the documents he submitted are not authorised. Despite getting a letter from an education department official ( Sujata Khare, Superintendent, Private Primary School), stating the documents are verified, the school has refused to accept the documents. Parents allege that they are struggling for admission for last three months, but government authorities have not paid any heed.
Around 18 students have been denied admission by Malati Jayant Dalal School, Santacruz East, which has been served a notice by the BMC. Parents claim the school cancelled admissions stating it was a minority institution. They say the school admits students only from the Gujarati community. Haseeb Khan, a parent, said: “At the time of allotment, this school did not have a minority tag, but was given the status recently. The principal says he cannot do anything as he has to go by the management’s instructions. What we should do now?”
Phone calls and text messages to Prakash Charhate, Deputy Director of Education, went unanswered.
Ms. Khare did not comment on the issue, saying she is not authorised to speak to the media.
K. Narayan, secretary, Anudanit Shiksha Bachao Samiti, said: “We have raised the issue of irregularity in RTE on many occasions before Deputy Director of Education and other officers, but they have not taken any action. Recently, they issued notices to some schools, but if no action is taken by June 30, when the second round of admissions under RTE is scheduled to start, thousands of us will protest in front of the residence of Vinod Tawde, the State Education Minister.”
NGO Forum for Fairness in Education’s President Mr. Jayant Jain said, “The government should take strict action if any school denies admission to any student.” Naseem Shaikh from Bandra said schools are denying admissions under various pretexts. “Sometime they say the school has been wrongly selected in the computerised list.”
The writer is an intern with The Hindu.
