Schools on government land can't claim reimbursements under RTE Act

Schools on government land will not get reimbursement under the Right to Education act, a new state government resolution has said. The resolution, issued on November 1, has also directed education inspectors to check attendance records of students who were given admission under the 25 per cent quota of the RTE Act before disbursing reimbursements to the schools.

The education official also claimed the provision of not reimbursing schools that are built on government land has always been in place, although its mention has been formalised thanks to the government resolution. Moreover, different directives have been given to the education department after a meeting held in September of higher officials from education and sports departments.

This apart, education officers have also been asked to visit schools to check if audit reports have mentioned the school fees, to hold meetings with parents and ask them about the fees charged by the schools, and to check for schools that were given government land on a lease for minimal charges. Moreover, the schools themselves will also have to mention fees charged for classes I to VIII on the SARAL government portal.

"The rule of not reimbursing schools that got land from the government was always there in the RTE norms. But it wasn't present in any government resolution form, which has now been rectified by the government. The directions state that schools present on government land and give admissions to students under the RTE's 25 per cent quota have to do so for free without charging them any fees, and nor can they claim reimbursements for this from the government," a high-ranking official from the BMC's education department said.