HRD directive helps spread awareness

RANCHI: The directive issued by the human resource development (HRD) department regarding strict implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act in private schools this year has not only helped in ensuring the admission of below poverty line children (BPL) in every private school, but also opened the doors for parents to protest against fee hike in schools.
As a result of notices served by the respective district administrations and efforts by parents’ associations, some private schools even refunded the fees they had charged as development charges.
These associations are not just limiting their protests to private schools but have also started protesting at minority schools, which do not come under the jurisdiction of the RTE Act as per the judgement passed by Supreme Court in 2012. Since Tuesday, parents of children studying at Guru Nanak Higher Secondary School, a Sikh minority school, have been protesting at the school every morning, demanding fee refund.
After much chaos at the school premises on Thursday, principal Manohar Lal said, “We are a minority school and we do not come under the jurisdiction of the RTE Act. But still as a part of our responsibility, we teach poor children free of cost. However, now some people are trying to defame our school in the pretext of RTE and if this does not stop, I will approach the DC.”
HRD secretary Aradhna Patnaik said,“We have asked the DC to ensure that private schools comply to RTE provisions like 25% BPL reservation and not collecting capitation fees. RTE does not apply to minority schools.”