Unaided schools bill in winter session: Darda

Thousands of private schools stuck pending permission to start,even though they do not want any government aid or grant,have hope from School Education Minister Rajendra Darda.

Darda is planning to introduce the proposed Self Finance School Bill he had announced earlier to facilitate permission for starting private,unaided schools,in the winter session. He,however,said permission will be granted on the condition that schools will adhere to Right to Education (RTE) Act.

He said a GR inviting suggestions and objections regarding setting up of schools to meet RTE goals,following the recent mapping of schools as per population,elicited thousands of queries from those wanting to start private,unaided schools. We released a GR on schools needed as per a survey. We had invited people to come forward with objections and suggestions. In the past few days we have got many applications from people coming forward seeking permission to set up schools, he said.

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He hoped the bill will be introduced in the winter session. Earlier,there were talks of introducing it in the monsoon session. Permission for a large number of private schools has been stuck owing to several reasons,one contentious area being unaided schools later claiming government aid. There have been instances of schools having gone to court over the matter.

Darda,saying it was not possible for the government to give aid to every school,said,There is a need of schools to impart quality education in many areas in the state. We have made a list of number of schools needed in rural Maharashtra. We will soon start work on urban areas. We are working on the bill but any school coming forward for permission will have to follow RTE rules.

Educationists,lauding the bill,said the government should ensure RTE guidelines are implemented properly in these schools. The government needs to make sure schools follow RTE guidelines. Schools should present accounts to the education departments of their area and be made accountable, said Ramchandra Jadhav,PMC education chief.

Educationist Ramesh Panse said,The minister has promised the bill. However,the state has yet not come up with a set of rules pertaining to RTE. The bill is great. Forming rules should now be government priority.”

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Speaking on the law proposed to regulate fee,Darda said,We have held seven meetings. We will hold the final on July 25. The final draft has been prepared. It will be presented on the final meeting and some decision will be taken.

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