Punjab Govt, Pvt Schools Come Under Fire For Ignoring RTE Act

The Punjab government and private unaided recognised schools drew flak from social activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Tuesday for their "lack of interest" in admitting children from economically weaker sections, as mandated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, despite a directive from the high court.

- Muskan

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government and private unaided recognised schools drew flak from social activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Tuesday for their "lack of interest" in admitting children from economically weaker sections, as mandated by the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, despite a directive from the high court.

Addressing a press conference here, several social activists and representatives of the 'Action Committee for RTE Act-2009 in Punjab' said that the state government and its officials were not serious about implementing the provisions of the RTE Act. They pointed out that no EWS admissions had been carried out in most districts, even two months after the court order. "When parents of children from EWS families, social activists and various organisations approach private schools, the school authorities claim they have not received any instructions and feign ignorance about the procedure. There is also no clarity on whether it is the responsibility of the schools or the district authorities to admit the children. The situation is totally confusion," said social activist Onkar Nath, a retired bureaucrat.

Nath, who was among the petitioners in the case, stated