Right to Education should be ‘minority friendly’, demand Mumbai schools

In response to the state government’s draft rule book on Right to Education (RTE), minority-run schools in the city and some parts of Maharashtra have demanded ‘minority friendly’ clauses to be included in the act.

Apprehensive that the RTE will impinge on minority rights, the schools will submit suggestions and comments to the government by November 25.

In a meeting on Tuesday between principals and academicians from minority institutions in the city, the schools have come up with nearly 50 suggestions.

While the HRD ministry has already moved an amendment in the RTE Act, giving advisory role to School Management Committees (SMCs) in minority-run schools, these schools have demanded an increase in the management representation in these committees.

“Most of the parents in minority-run schools are uneducated and unaware of the nitty-gritty of administration and policy. Having 75% of parents in the SMC will create more problems than it will solve. There should be more management representation,” said Zahir Kazi, president, Anjumn-I-Islam group of schools.

They want the Madrassas to be kept out of the purview of the RTE Act since they impart religious education. “Though Sibal had planned an amendment in the RTE Act exempting Madrassas from it, the state draft rules have made no mention of it,” said professor Zahir Ilahi, MH Saboo Siddik College of Engineering, Byculla.