Experts see red over state's tweaking of RTE rules

There finally seems to be some action on the Right to Education (RTE) front in the state. The education department of Gujarat government is enrolling poor and socially backward students in class I under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, popularly known as Right to Education (RTE).

However, the mandated 25% may have students from groups other than these as well.

The state government has modified the rules put down by the Centre to accommodate students who may be differently-abled, HIV positive, child labourers, orphans, migrant workers’ kids or even those with special needs.

Under the RTE, schools have to fill 25% of their seats with students from specified sections— disadvantaged (socially backward class- SC, ST and OBC) and economically weaker section (EWS).

So, when enrolment under RTE begins in primary schools of eight municipal corporations of Gujarat, the 25% reserved students will not have just poor and socially backward class. This, many feel, indicates encroachment on the rights of poor and socially backward children. The ‘special’ students that the state plans to help under the RTE may or may not be categorised as ‘deprived of education’.

However, experts feel that this would affect the opportunities available to underprivileged students of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes. According to them, this move will cover more students but may deprive the needy.

Experts opine that if the state government intends to help more students, it should come up with a policy to reserve more than 25% seats in schools under RTE.

“Central government’s RTE norms include specific categories as there is a need to give them access to basic education. The state government’s idea of sharing this benefit with other category students is probably an effort to do something new. But, could they not think of making provision of additional seats for students from other categories? This would have ensured that more students get access to free education,” said education activist Sukhdev Patel.  

Commissioner of primary education Sangita Singh did not take calls made by dna. She did not respond to the calls despite directions from state education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama to speak to this correspondent. However, an official with primary education department justified the move saying that “it is the state government’s move keeping social justice to other kids in mind”.

Meanwhile, questions are also being raised on planning of the primary education department as there is no further announcement on the process of getting admission in school. “How will poor and socially backward students know about the admission process? Now that the admission process is already completed, will any school admit them? Whom should parents contact —the school or the DEO? Without bringing clarity in the issue, mere announcement is not going to benefit anyone,” he added.