Team Mangalorean
Mangaluru: As promised during the press meet held at Mangalore Press Club couple days ago, the Association of child rights activists and parents staged a protest at the Office of the Deputy Director of Public Instruction. The protesters accused schools in city of not filing the mandatory declaration of complying with norms of Right to Education (RTE) Act. The association has also alleged schools of accepting donation from parents.
Addressing the gathering during the protest, advocate Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, who is the president of Child Rights Activists and Parents Association, said all the schools in the city were bound to give a declaration stating their commitment to follow the norms laid down under the Right to Education Act. This declaration was mandatory for the private CBSE schools to get no objection certificate from the Department of Public Instruction. An enquiry at the office of Deputy Director of Public Instruction had revealed that many of the schools had not submitted this declaration. The Deputy Director has so far not taken any action against such schools.
Ulepady further said that some of the schools were claiming minority institution status and denying admission to students belonging to the economically weaker sections of society under the Act’s 25 per cent free seat quota. He also said schools were not displaying fee structure outside the premises and they were collecting hefty donations. Many private schools in the district have not submitted the required declarations to obtain a certificate of recognition from the department. ” Let the department of public instruction publish the list of private schools that have obtained the mandatory certificate of recognition as per the Right to education (RTE) Act.
Advocate Ulepady also urged that the authorities should de-recognize schools that have not obtained certificates of recognition. They should also make arrangements to admit children in those schools in the nearest institutions. Students without certificates of recognition have no eligibility to admit students. However many schools, especially private schools in the district have been admitting students without obtaining a certificate of recognition from the department.
Ulepady also relating on the fee structure said that majority of the schools have not followed rules that mandates erection of flex boards. The department should publish a list of schools and details of fees the institution may collect from parents. Arrangements should be made to reimburse excess fees paid by parents in private schools. There are several instances of private schools denying seats to economically weaker sections under the RTE quota.
Ulepady further said, ” We have the details of children who were denied admissions. The department should take action immediately. These days institutions are not student/parent friendly- seems like terrorism is going on. Schools don’t provide proper information. I urge that a help-line is set up at the DDPI office, so that whenever there is a complaint it should be forwarded to the DC and other law-enforcement authorities so that action is taken quick.
A memorandum was submitted to the DDPI, who assured that he will forward the same to DC, so further action is taken on this matter. Prasanna Ravi also spoke during the protest.