First workshop on RTE in Panchkula

Pramod Kumar,Haryana coordinator for implementation of the Act,conducted the workshop through an audio-visual presentation highlighting the main provisions. He stressed that the Act was a parliamentary legislation and there was no necessity for a separate state notification for the provision already notified by the Centre in its rules. He said all private schools had already given a written undertaking to the education department to implement and fulfil the provisions of the Act way back in July 2010.

Director of Satluj Public School and head of the Panchkula Private Schools Association P Serai said all schools were willing to implement the 25 per cent quota for poor students,but the department should not use the Act as a tool to threaten and penalise the schools. Advocate Pankaj Chandgothia,who has filed an application in the district court for implementation of the Act,was present at the workshop,which was attended by over 70 heads and principals of various government schools and about 20 private schools. District Elementary Education Officer S P Singh said if the Act was implemented with an open mind,there should be no problems in achieving the desired result.