What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
SHIMLA: The Himachal government will take strict action against private schools that fail to admit children belonging to the weaker and underprivileged sections of the society as laid down by the RTE (Right to Education) Act.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to the Director of Primary Education on the issue, after tracing admission records for children of this section. They raised questions regarding the number of private schools in the state and how many have actually admitted atleast 25 per cent children belonging to this category into their schools as per the RTE Act. The letter also enquired about the number of children who had actually availed of the schemes initiated under this Act.
All deputy directors of education have been strictly instructed to provide details to the directorate in this connection. Currently there are 2,753 private schools in the state.
According to the RTE Act apart from admitting a minimum of 25 per cent children from the weaker sections, private schools are also required to admit those Below Poverty Line (BPL) as well as handicapped children. Preference is also expected to be given to those belonging to the SC/ST category.
Though the Act came into force in the state in 2010, there has been no clarification on the rules stipulated. Specific rules had been laid down by the erstwhile Congress government regarding this whereby private schools would admit the children and the cost of their education would be borne by the government. Though the RTE has provided for these benefits, the Himachal government will now enforce it strictly in the true sense.
