Unaided schools get derecognition notice

Mumbai: Several private unaided schools in the city have received a notice of derecognition from the state education ministry as they are yet to register themselves online for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The schools have not received reimbursement from the government for the last five years, which they are obliged to receive by the end of every academic year from the ministry. Furthermore, school representatives feel that the threat of derecognition will not help them to conduct admissions as they claim that reimbursements worth Rs 800 crore are due to them. Schools have decided to boycott admissions under the RTE Act if the state does not clear all the debt. 

According to RTE guidelines, all private unaided schools are supposed to register themselves on the state government portal where they register 25 per cent of their seats for needy and poor students. The responsibility of these students is taken by the government, which includes fees, uniforms, books and bags. Instead material, the government provides funds to every school as reimbursement at the end of academic year. 

State-based organisations like Independent English Schools (IESA), Private Unaided School Management Association (PUSMA) have joined hands to fight for funding. Bharat Malik, a member of PUSMA, said, “For the past five years we hoped that money would reach us (unaided schools) but look at the condition now. A load of Rs 800 crore is pending, and the state is expecting schools to run in the same manner again this year?” 

On the other hand, the ministry has asked all the private unaided schools to cooperate, which is mentioned in the derecognition notice, and assured it would pay the amount soon. The notice also states that if the schools do not finish the online registration before February, it will lose its recognition by all means.

Several private unaided schools in the city have received a notice of derecognition from the state education ministry as they are yet to register themselves online for admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009. The schools have not received reimbursement from the government for the last five years, which they are obliged to receive by the end of every academic year from the ministry. Furthermore, school representatives feel that the threat of derecognition will not help them to conduct admissions as they claim that reimbursements worth Rs 800 crore are due to them. Schools have decided to boycott admissions under the RTE Act if the state does not clear all the debt. 

According to RTE guidelines, all private unaided schools are supposed to register themselves on the state government portal where they register 25 per cent of their seats for needy and poor students. The responsibility of these students is taken by the government, which includes fees, uniforms, books and bags. Instead material, the government provides funds to every school as reimbursement at the end of academic year. 

State-based organisations like Independent English Schools (IESA), Private Unaided School Management Association (PUSMA) have joined hands to fight for funding. Bharat Malik, a member of PUSMA, said, “For the past five years we hoped that money would reach us (unaided schools) but look at the condition now. A load of '800 crore is pending, and the state is expecting schools to run in the same manner again this year?” 

On the other hand, the ministry has asked all the private unaided schools to cooperate, which is mentioned in the derecognition notice, and assured it would pay the amount soon. The notice also states that if the schools do not finish the online registration before February, it will lose its recognition by all means.