Odisha: Private schools in Bhubaneswar accused of RTE violations, parents seek resolution

Allegations of breaching the Right to Education (RTE) Act have surfaced against several private schools in Bhubaneswar, as parents of students selected for admission under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota have raised their concerns regarding the same.

Members of the Odisha Parents Federation have come forward in the confident belief that ten prominent schools in the city are preventing/ hindering admission to students who secured positions under the quota “EWS” through the initiatives of the School and Mass Education department. These students had applied for admission through the RTE Paradarshi portal and were designated schools in the initial phase of admissions through a lottery system on March 22, 2024. The admission process commenced on March 27 and was slated to continue until April 6, 2024.

In a formal communication that was written to the block education officer (BEO) of Bhubaneswar, the aggrieved parents described that the director of elementary education had meticulously curated a list of students for Class I admissions via lottery and dispatched it to the BEO for distribution to all concerned schools. However, at least ten of the schools have allegedly declined admissions, stating non-receipt of the BEO’s directive. Some schools have even argued that they lack vacancies for Class I admissions in the current academic session. Remarkably, out of the 28,343 applicants, 17,235 students from EWS backgrounds were allocated seats in the initial phase of admissions across 3,331 private schools. All of this boasts a sanctioned quota of 30,429 RTE seats.

Under the stipulations of section 12 (1)(c) of the RTE Act, private educational institutions are obligated to reserve a total of 25 percent of seats for children belonging from economically weaker backgrounds within the vicinity (within a 5 km radius of the school). This allocation is subdivided into 10 percent for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students, another 10 percent for children from below-poverty line (BPL) families, and the remaining five percent for homeless children.

With the deadline for admissions starting on April 6, parents have raised their concerns regarding the schools’ reluctance to provide admissions. They fear that they will cause unnecessary delays and disrupt the academic pursuits of the affected students. Prasanna Bisoi who is the head of the federation has disclosed that some schools are refusing admissions because of pending fees owed by the state government for EWS quota admissions over the past few years. The federation has escalated this matter to the CMO and the director of elementary education to seek for resolution.

The RTE Act was added to ensure that quality education is equally accessible for all children no matter what their socio-economic background. By reserving a quarter of their seats for students from economically weaker sections, private schools are expected to contribute to this noble cause under the RTE Act. However, the revelations that have surfaced in Bhubaneswar underscore a glaring gap between RTE Act intent and ground-level implementation by private schools.

The reluctance of certain schools to admit EWS students, allegedly due to financial grievances with the state government, is deeply concerning. Education is a fundamental right and no child should be denied access to it due to financial disputes.

Moreover, the timing of these admissions is crucial. Any delay related to the admission process will not only disrupt the academic calendar but be a concern and uncertainty moment faced by both students and their respective families. Every day spent waiting for admission is a missed opportunity for these children to receive the basic education they are entitled to.

As the admission deadline for the current academic session is on the edge, it is imperative for all stakeholders, including the government, private schools, and parents, to work together to ensure that every eligible student is enrolled without any further delay in this matter. This may require swift intervention from education authorities and a commitment from schools to uphold their obligations under the RTE Act.

What is RTE?

The Right to Education (RTE) is an Indian Act that states that every child between the ages of 6 to 14 years has the right to go to school for free. This law aims to make sure that all children, no matter how rich or poor, can get a good education. The law private schools have to reserve some seats for kids who can’t afford to pay fees. RTE makes sure schools have good facilities and teachers, and it stops them from discriminating against any child. The goal of RTE is to give every child in India the chance to learn and succeed in life.