State brings schools under info law

MUMBAI: Parents, rejoice. All private schools have been brought under the Right to Information Act 2005.

The school education department has issued a directive to all private aided and unaided schools to provide information on any queries about fees, admissions, infrastructure, or syllabus.

Earlier, the department was responsible for answering queries regarding schools.

“With the directive, a parent or student can now directly approach the school for information,” Smita Kakan, deputy director in the school education department, said. “For this, principals have been designated public information officers.” If schools refuse they will be fined Rs250 a day under the act.

Parents are happy with the move. Jayant Jain, said, “Schools reject admissions without giving reasons. Now they will be forced to maintain transparency in the process.”

But schools are apprehensive. Bharati Shankeran, principal of SIES school, said, “We already provide the required information through Parents Teachers Association meetings and other such activities. Making private schools liable under the RTI Act was not needed.”