With the enforcing of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in the state, there will be an addition of about 60,000 students on the rolls of various schools.
As imparting elementary education is mandatory under the RTE, the authorities concerned would have to admit all non-school going, eligible children in schools, including non-aided private schools. Also, providing them midday meal is also mandatory. However, who will foot the bill for midday meals in case of private schools is not clear yet. In case of government and aided schools, the Centre and the state government concerned share the financial burden.
However, as now non-government and non-aided schools would also have to admit 25 per cent students belonging to poor and disadvantaged sections of society, providing midday meal in such schools has become a ticklish issue. “In absence of any commitment in this regard from the Centre, the state government will have to foot the bill for the midday meal,” said a senior official of the Education Department.
Other issue that is bothering the authorities is that most of the private schools are not conforming to the conditions laid down by the Centre with regard to infrastructure and teaching facilities. There are about 10,000 private schools in the state. Of these, 7,500 do not fulfil the conditions laid down by the Centre. “Either such schools will have to conform to the conditions laid down by the Centre or these will have to wind up,” the official added.
Other issue is related to admission. Should such children fill separate form for every school to seek admission or a centralised system should be adopted. That issue is yet to be resolved. Admission will be made through draw of lots. Schools would not be given the discretion to pick up children of their choice.
Official sources said the state government had been spending about Rs 1,000 per child in government schools. Private schools, which will admit students under the RTE Act, are most likely to be paid at same the rate for providing free education to such children.
As imparting elementary education is mandatory under the RTE, the authorities concerned would have to admit all non-school going, eligible children in schools, including non-aided private schools. Also, providing them midday meal is also mandatory. However, who will foot the bill for midday meals in case of private schools is not clear yet. In case of government and aided schools, the Centre and the state government concerned share the financial burden.
However, as now non-government and non-aided schools would also have to admit 25 per cent students belonging to poor and disadvantaged sections of society, providing midday meal in such schools has become a ticklish issue. “In absence of any commitment in this regard from the Centre, the state government will have to foot the bill for the midday meal,” said a senior official of the Education Department.
Other issue that is bothering the authorities is that most of the private schools are not conforming to the conditions laid down by the Centre with regard to infrastructure and teaching facilities. There are about 10,000 private schools in the state. Of these, 7,500 do not fulfil the conditions laid down by the Centre. “Either such schools will have to conform to the conditions laid down by the Centre or these will have to wind up,” the official added.
Other issue is related to admission. Should such children fill separate form for every school to seek admission or a centralised system should be adopted. That issue is yet to be resolved. Admission will be made through draw of lots. Schools would not be given the discretion to pick up children of their choice.
Official sources said the state government had been spending about Rs 1,000 per child in government schools. Private schools, which will admit students under the RTE Act, are most likely to be paid at same the rate for providing free education to such children.
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