Chamar Mahan Sabha Questions Administration On Right To Education Act

Patiala: Chamar Mahan Sabha, while welcoming the note served by the education division to 473 private educational institutions charged of breaching the Right to Education Act by not giving admission to pupils belonged to economically weaker segments, has asked for that the authorities should also take action against the educational institutions that were not following the regulations.

Mr. Paramjit Singh Kainth, sabha president stated, “The sabha suspects that the notifications are simply aimed at misguiding the feebler segments. Mere warnings won’t do. What we wish is solid action.”

“Some newspapers in recent times issued reports citing education minister Sikander Singh Maluka as stating that 473 private educational institutions which were breaching the RTE Act would confront closure. But no action has been taken up to now. The RTE Act has not been enforced during the last two-and-a-half years. We fear the minister made this declaration to cover up for the administration’s incapability to make private schools fall in order,” he said.

A sabha representative stated that the state administration had forwarded a notice during November 2010 on the Right to Education Act, but since then the majority of private educational institutions had shown little preference to admit kids from economically weaker segments, comprising scheduled castes and other backward classes.

“Parliament, after noticing that kids from weaker sections were refused the right to education across the nation, had passed the Children’s Free and Compulsory Right to Education Act in 2009. But even two-and-a-half years after notifying the Act, the Punjab government has failed to implement it.

The managements of private educational institutions are making all sorts of excuses to escape their job. Why is the administration not taking action against them?” added Mr. Kainth.