Govt schools plan to have free elementary education

The government plan was initiated following complaints forwarded by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights about students being charged for the same.

Officials said as part of the RTE Act,which came into effect from April 1,children in the age group of six and 14 are to be provided free and compulsory elementary education by the state government.

“However,the Delhi School Education Rules,1973,have a clear mandate on maintaining a pupil fund and a PTA fund. We need to bring in an amendment and are looking at the modalities and the options available,” said an official at the Directorate.

The child rights panel had recently forwarded a complaint about students of Class VI being charged a fee,a violation of Article 8(a) of the RTE.

According to DCPCR Chairman Amod Kanth,the organisation is entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of the Act. “We have been consistently forwarding complaints and it is through our efforts that the Directorate has finally moved on the matter,” he said.

If the policy comes in force,it will abolish any kind of fee charged from students up to Class VIII. The government,however,is still in the process of drafting the amendment.

The government schools at present charge a nominal fee of Rs 100 for the PTA fund and about Rs 50 for registration. The fee charged for the pupil fund is Rs 5 per month for primary schools and Rs 10 per month for middle sections.

“The fee is charged in installments but we will have to see how this will work with primary schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi,” said the official. The Directorate is also looking at discussions with private schools on implementing the norms of laid down by the Act.