DNA: Ahmedabad: Friday,
March 14, 2014.
Taking
cognizance of media reports that over 70% of the seats, which are reserved for
the economically weaker sections under the Right to Education Act 2009, across
city schools remain vacant, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of
Child Rights has directed the education department to submit a detailed report
in this regard.
On Tuesday,
representatives from over 20 schools along with officials from the education
department were called for the hearing. Justifying the schools' position, a
representative said, "Not many students apply for the admissions under the
quota. We give admissions to students who do." Other schools claimed that
they are minority institutions and are exempted from the RTE reservation.
The
commission observed that in spite of the exemptions, the schools cannot deny
admissions to any student. "The purpose of the Act is to ensure all
students attend school. Schools cannot deny admission," said AN Tripathi,
secretary of the commission.
According to
the data acquired under the RTI from the office of the education inspector from
south, north and west zones, 9,510 seats of the 12,818 available at the entry
level remained vacant. According to the data, most schools who have failed to
fill up the seats have blamed it on the lack of demand and applications.
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