Is the RTE quota in school admissions implemented properly?
6 Dec, 2013An application was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking information about the schools in Malad and Goregaon that had admitted students to the full quota of 25% seats as reserved for students from the economically backward class under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
The reply to the application states that there are around 50 schools in the said areas and that nearly 40-50% of the seats, meant for the RTE quota, have not been filled. The data provided in the reply shows that only a few schools had their full RTE quota for the academic year 2013-14 filled. It showed that most of the schools have filled only about 10% of the reserved seats and there are some schools which have not admitted even a single student under the RTE quota.
The applicant has alleged that the schools might be planning to sell the vacant seats, meant for those belonging to economically backward classes, to those who are willing to pay for them. The members of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) have approached the Education Officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asking action against the schools which have already initiated admission process despite a clear order from the Maharashtra Education Department banning admissions till January, 2014.
For an earlier report on RTE titled “68% cases of violation of RTE remain are not acted upon” please refer to : http://www.rtifoundationofindia.com/68-cases-violation-rte-remain-are-not-acted-upon-3541#.UqEpF8QW1OE