Mumbai: The parents of students in minority schools have said the State’s plans to form a study team to frame an education policy were ‘incomplete’ as they have not been made a part of it.
The government through a Government Resolution (GR) on Saturday announced the formation a 10-member study team headed by State Education Commissioner Dheeraj Kumar. The team comprises State Education Department officials and principals of minority schools from Mazgaon, Pune and Osmanabad.
The GR said the High Court in its judgments had allowed minority schools not to comply with the Right to Education Act 2009 (RTE) rules. They cited as an example the provision of 25% of seats for children from economically weaker sections. The resolution said, “There is no comprehensive rule for these schools to follow, or an agreement on what exemptions should be allowed for minority schools. The study team will aim to resolve this within a two-month time window.”
Anubha Sahay, advocate and president of India-wide Parents Association, which is also protesting against the fee hike, said on Monday, “The fee hike committee announced by the State government on Saturday had two parents as members. This committee should too. Parents are positioned better than principals to communicate grievances to the government and will help them in drafting the policy.”
Jinalee Moorjani, whose children study in Classes III and IV at Ryan International School, said, “My children feel that they come under scrutiny by teachers as I am a vocal protester against the school’s indiscriminate fee hikes. The school does not have a 50% seat allocation for minority Christian students as it is supposed to. Minority schools cannot use their status without fulfilling their responsibility. Without parents the committee is devoid of full accountability.”
Ravindra Kalambekar, vice-president of the Parent-Teachers Association at St. Joseph’s High School, also a Christian minority school, said, “As a PTA member, I know that at the school, there is very low involvement by parents in the administration. We haven’t had a PTA meeting this year.” He said “Parents being part of the panel would show that the State government recognises we have rights as parents, and that our view matters.”
