Managements to be part of school committees, parents cry foul

Managements may once again have an upper hand in school activities. As prescribed by the Right to Education (RTE) Act, school management committees (SMCs) were supposed to act as watchdogs for the school management.

But a recently drafted rule states that three to four members from the school management can now be part of the committee. This is a significant shift from the previously drafted regulations, which said that parents/guardians would comprise 75% of these 12-member committees. The rest were to be teachers, or representatives from the community and the local authority.

Experts said this will allow the school management to wield undue influence in the committee. They said it defeats a crucial aim of the SMC — to reduce the management’s pressure tactics by keeping it out of the group.

The RTE came into effect this year. One of its provisions was that each school should create a committee to monitor the activities of the school with representation from parents and local authorities. However, each state government is allowed to draft its own rules regarding the committee.

Several school managements had objected to the previous drafted regulations and demanded management representation in the committee. The state government, which is currently preparing a final draft, has decided to give in to their demands.

“One-fourth of the committee will consist of management representatives. They too need to be part of decision-making,” said Nandakumar, state project officer, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.

However, parents fear that the management will stifle their voices in the SMCs. “The whole point of creating an SMC is lost if the management is allowed to have a say in its decisions. The SMC is supposed to make important decisions with respect to fee structure and infrastructure of the school,” said Medha Tatekar, a parent.

According to Arundati Chauhan, president, Parent-Teacher Association Forum, SMCs were created for parents to have the power to take decisions independent of the management.

She said: “Earlier, every school had its own Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). But its jurisdiction was limited to students’ education and other activities. It was not allowed to take part or comment on the management’s decisions. This latest move has rendered the committee meaningless.”

SMC functions according to RTE draft

>    Looking after school administration & sharing in teachers’ work
>    Preparing school work report three months before academic year-end
>    Ensuring every child in the area attends school to reduce dropouts
>    Following up with school’s progress and students’ education