Nagpur: Over 3,000 schools may boycott RTE admissions at the upcoming academic session, citing non-payment of free admission fees under the 25% quota.
Schools under the umbrella of the Independent English Schools Association (IESA) have reported that the Department of Education has declined to clear their bills citing’ frivolous motives.’
IESA President Rajendra Dayma said that they raised a number of objections but did not receive any response from the authorities. “It’s like talking to a wall. They state that our bills can not be processed because the student’s’ Aadhaar number’ is not listed. But it’s the education department that gives RTE entry, not us. If the student documents were all in order when the government chose him/her in the RTE lottery, how come that same student is ineligible for a fee refund?”Dayma said that.
The Association demanded that all such disqualified students be recalled by the Department of Education. “The student’s status is legal when the education department sends it to us, but it is illegal when we ask for a fee refund,” he said.
IESA claims to have some 3,700 schools under its banner. “Out of these, almost 15% got their bills in full. The RTE admission boycott will be in those schools for which the bills are pending, “Dayma said.
The second issue that IESA is raising in arms concerns the proposed change in intake capacity. Dayma said, “A change in the intake capacity has been proposed from the next academic session, which will adversely affect us. For example, if my school’s intake capacity was 100 in 2019, 25 seats (25 per cent) would be reserved for the RTE quota as per law. “But if only 50 of these are filled, then from the next academic session (2020-21) my intake capacity will be reduced to 25-50. All this because the education department states that the enrollment of the previous year will be considered for next year’s computation, “he said.
IESA claims that this will have a negative impact on their development in the long run. “What if I get 75 applicants for general admission next year? Since my total admission strength will be reduced to 50, it is detrimental to the growth of my school, “he added.
