MSFEI slams state govt for casual approach to RTE implementation

The Maharashtra State Federation of Educational Institutions (MSFEI) has alleged that the state government is completely ignorant of rules of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, and have been extremely casual in implementing the law.

Addressing a press conference on Azam campus on Friday, the federation members criticised the state education minister and his secretary for their 'little knowledge of the Act'.

"The state government has been extremely lax in implementing the Act. There seems to be a very casual approach in meeting the deadline, which is approaching fast (March 31)," said P A Inamdar, president, Maharashtra Cosmopolitan Education Society. The federation members said several schools in the state, especially government schools, lacked infrastructure stipulated under the RTE but still no action is being taken against them.

"Government officials invariably target private unaided schools but never act against government-run schools," added Inamdar.

To address all the RTE-related issues faced by the unaided English medium schools, the federation has organised a day-long state-level summit of school managements and principals at the Pune Vidyarthi Gruha in the city on March 30. The representatives of the state education department, including education minister and chairman of CBSE, have been invited to the summit.

The federation also raised issues faced by unaided educational institutions in implementing 25 per cent reservations under RTE for students belonging to economically weaker section (EWS) of society. "We are not opposing the rule but the government's role in implementing it has not been addressed so far. The issue of reimbursement of fees of admitted students still remains unclear," said V N Patil, president, MSFEI.

"The government has also not clarified how much fees will be reimbursed for admissions under the 25 per cent quota," added Patil.

The federation demanded that the reimbursement from the government be as per the fee policy of every school. "The schools charge fees depending on infrastructure they provide. Hence, the reimbursement should also be made accordingly," said Patil. As per the latest government resolution, every school will be given two installments each of Rs 10, 200 per student as reimbursement for admitting students belonging to EWS.

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