The state govt on Monday informed the division bench of justices Anoop Mohta and AS Gadkari of Bombay high court that the third round for securing admission under the Right to Education Act had been extended till Aug 28. It also said that if vacancies remained in schools under the prescribe quota even after that, it would consider launching a fourth round.
The govt and the BMC informed the court that efforts were being put in at the local level to ensure that children got admission. The court was also told that awareness was being created about the Act through print and other forms of media.
The statements were made during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Anudanit Shiksha Bachao Samiti, an NGO, on behalf of affected parents whose children haven't yet got admission under RTE Act.
The court, during the hearing on Aug 1, had sought clarification from the govt over the confusion prevailing in implementing RTE; who would bear the extra cost in case the school fee exceed the stipulated amount was the issue in contention. The court had also remarked that the govt hadn't spread enough awareness about the Act and that parents hadn't been informed that children would be provided books as well.
After going through the affidavits filed by BMC and the state on Monday, the court noted: “It appears all concerned are taking effective steps to enrol children in relevant areas as well as remote regions.” The court also observed that the assurances made should not remain on paper.
How many schools have std 8, Court to govt
While hearing another petition, filed by Brihan Mumbai Mahanagar Palika Shikshan Sabha, seeking directive to BMC to make it mandatory to have classes up to standard 8 in corporation schools as under the RTE Act, petitioners stated that civic-run schools had classes only up to standard 7, forcing students to either to drop out or seek admission in private aided schools.
Counsel Anil Sakhare, appearing for BMC, submitted that 100 divisions had been added to civic schools and that the percentage of students joining standard 8 was less than those passing out of class 7. He also said the corporation hadn't received any complaint of students suffering.
The court then directed the govt and the civic body to file an affidavit by Sept 9 giving details on in how many Mumbai schools and those in rural areas standard 8 had been started.
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