The Hindu: Bhubaneswar: Saturday,
June 25, 2016.
Even six
years after implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory
Education (RTE Act) in Odisha, privately-run schools continued to deceive the
State government over admission of Economically Weaker Section (EWS), alleged
parents, educationists and rights activists here on Friday.
“No
control over private schools”
“The State
government has absolutely no control over private schools which have mushroomed
in urban areas over the years and more recently in rural pockets. As per RTE
Act, government should monitor whether a private school has earmarked 25 per cent
of the seats for EWS students. But in Odisha, the government does not know the
number of private schools operating in the State,” said Sanjukta Panigrahi, a
parent, addressing a press conference.
Ms. Panigrahi
alleged, “several private schools in an attempt to avoid admitting students
from EWS come up with advertisements for very few seats. Subsequently, they
keep on adding students as per their convenience. The fraud in private schools
would not have been possible had the government information as to what is going
on in these schools.”
Activists
alleged the government has no concrete information about private schools, which
have been consistently refusing to address grievance of parents.
“State School
and Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra recently informed Odisha
Assembly that there were 75 private schools functioning in Bhubaneswar. But as
per information obtained under RTI Act, there are 93 schools in the capital
city,” said Pradip Pradhan, RTI Activist.
Mr. Pradhan
also charged that, “the State government had never bothered to know if students
from poorer section of society were getting admission in private schools, most
of which were either provided land free of cost or at subsidised rate. It was
in December 2014, the Block Education Officers were directed to compile
information on these schools” Mr. Pradhan pointed out.
Activists
alleged private schools continued to violate CBSE guideline by indiscriminately
effecting fee hikes and forcing students to buy books of publication house of
their choice instead of NCERT books.
Activists
alleged that the State government has no concrete information about private
schools.