Mumbai: Three months into the new academic year, around 1,000 students of the total students, who have secured admissions into city schools under the Right to Education (RTE) Act are yet to get the 28 articles that the school is supposed to provide them with.
These articles include school uniforms, identity cards and bags. To protest against the issue, parents of several such affected students gathered at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s education department at Dadar on Wednesday, demanding the basic facilities promised to their kids under this act. A few kids also participated in the protest along with their parents.
The parents were seen complaining that their children feel left out at the school, as they don’t have uniforms similar to their classmates.
“My daughter cries, saying no for going to school as she doesn’t have uniforms and certain books like other kids. She says that her teachers and friends treat her different because of that,” said a parent. The other parents also had similar stories to share. Most of these parents live in places like Khar, Santa Cruz, Byculla and Masjid.
“In the RTE system, we (BMC’s education department) transfer the funds required to provide the 28 articles to these private schools. Then, it is the school’s responsibility to use these funds to do the needful. If they don’t, then the parents must hold them responsible and not the department,” said an education official on the condition of anonymity.
RTE Activist Sudhir Paranjape, while slamming the department said, “According to the RTE guidelines, it is mandatory for the school to provide the kids with free books, uniforms, etc. However, it looks like the BMC is not concerned about quality education. It seems that they feel that their responsibility ends at giving admission to these kids.”
“We have been behind this issue since the last couple of months and have even issued notices to these schools,” he added.
Education Act
The RTE is an act that describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between the age of 6 and 14. The RTE was formed in 2009. Under this act, private schools are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for BPL students. The rule is applicable to all schools and is mandatory.
The RTE is an act that describes the modalities of the importance of free and compulsory education for children between the age of 6 and 14. The RTE was formed in 2009. Under this act, private schools are supposed to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for BPL students. The rule is applicable to all schools and is mandatory.
