Mumbai: Schools remain shut over RTE row on Monday

The Federation of Private Unaided Schools in the state observed peaceful Bandh on Monday. The protest was against the delay in payment of reimbursement fees under Right to Education (RTE) as well as providing supplies like stationary materials promised students entitled to RTE.

4540 private unaided schools across the state and more than 100 in the city remained shut as a part of the state-wide bandh.

The organisation presented their demands to the education officer of the primary section on 24 January who gave an assurance to look into the matter.

Bharat Malik, convenor of the Federation of Schools Association in Maharashtra, said, "The education minister keeps giving false assurances to disburse the amount as soon as possible. Getting RTE reimbursement is a tedious and lengthy process. We also want some changes in the government resolution which says that principals should be held responsible for anything happens to a child in a school bus. In this matter, the school bus contractors should be held and not