BMC violating RTE Act: Activists

The BMC's education budget of Rs 2,569 crore for 2018-19 hasn't enthused activists who say the corporation is not doing enough to provide free education to children up to Std VIII.

Activists associated with the Saman Shikshan Mulbhut Adhikar Samiti (SSMAS) said that 167 civic schools do not provide education beyond Std IV. Similarly, students can study only up to Std VIII in 714 BMC schools, they alleged.

Under RTE, free education up to Std VIII in their vicinity is the right of every children. In the absence of classes, students are forced to go to private schools, said SSMAS. Children from several families from Bandra and Ghatkopar Tansa who have been rehabilitated to Mankhurd are still going to their old schools, it said.

SSMAS activist Shyam Sonar has raised concerns over BMC's plan to hand over few schools to private trusts. "The BMC claims that students will get free education, but whether they will hire qualified teachers is a big question."

The organisation has also complained against the BMC to National Commission for Protection of Child Rights. According to SSMAS, students are deprived of education from Std VIII. As a result, many become child labour. They are travelling for school from more than one kilometer distance, it said.

Shubhada Gudekar, Chairperson, BMC education committee, said, "Wherever there are children till grade 7, there we are soon starting grade 8th and wherever there are children till grade 4 there we will soon be starting grade 5 also in BMC schools. We will not let our BMC students to go out of school or private schools."