The Right to Education Act (RTE), which requires that 25% seats in all unaided private schools—except unaided minority private schools—be provided free of cost to children from low-income group families living near the schools, has raised several questions. However, they mainly pertain to issues like funding; and not many are questioning how it will affect the children?
With 25% students in each classroom hailing from underprivileged sections, what happens to them when they come in touch with their affluent counterparts?
“Getting both sets of children inside the same classroom without prior homework will be a foolish thing to do. The rich ones will get to flaunt what the poorer ones can’t afford and it will create an unhealthy environment,” Father Divya Paul, a child psychologist, said. And the onus for making this happen will fall on the parents and the school administration, he said.
“They need to set down basic guidelines and rules to ensure that the children from the lower strata don’t feel left out, starting from uniforms and equipment needed for education,” Paul added.
Ellen Shinde, a child psychologist working for 121 Healthcare Ltd, likens the integration of the poorer sections with affluent ones to inclusive classrooms.
“Inclusive classrooms have children with special needs in the same class as other kids. Both sections end up learning something from one another and that’s what might happen when this act comes to play.
‘Valid concern’
“Of course, there will be some form of bullying. Schools should really sit down before the academic year begins and map out all the different problems that could possibly arise and solutions,” Shinde said.
Anuja Mudur, a school counselor, says that teachers should make the effort.
“This will affect the other 25% as there are chances they will not be accepted into peer groups. That will make them feel inferior, as they will also be smaller in numbers. And there is also a possibility that teachers might show bias and not include these children in other activities,” Anuja said.
“Schools should address the children already enrolled before the academic year begins. They should explain to them why they should not be segregated. And one sensitive teacher can make all the difference,” Anuja said.
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