The Maharashtra government issued a resolution on February 25th, 2024 exempting unaided private schools from providing admissions under the 25% Right to Education (RTE) quota for the academic year 2024-25.
Background
- RTE Act 2009 mandates 25% reservation in entry-level classes in private unaided schools for disadvantaged groups
- Schools claim compensation for this from the state to cover tuition fees, books etc.
- In Maharashtra, the RTE quota system has been riddled with issues like high pendency of unpaid dues to schools etc.
Key Details of Current Exemption
- Applicable only for admissions in coming academic session 2024-25
- Based on various factors including heavy unpaid reimbursement dues of schools
- Other key reasons cited are practical difficulties in implementation
Perspectives
The move has garnered mixed reactions from various stakeholders:
Arguments in Favor
- Provide interim relief for budget private schools facing sustainability issues due to huge unpaid dues
- Remove process compliance burden; allow schools to focus on core education quality improvements
- Streamline messy admissions process; address logistical difficulties in quota seat allocation
Counter Arguments
- Against principles of social justice: Denial of education access to disadvantaged groups
- Lack of concern: For interests of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students
- Asymptomatic solution : Does not address core systemic/ infrastructural gaps
Key Factors Impacting Effective RTE Quota Implementation
The RTE quota policy has been impacted by various operational limitations:
- High government reimbursement pendency – Over ₹1700 crores owed just for 2 years
- Heavy reliance on low cost private schools to fulfill access mandates
- Inadequate capacity expansion of public system to meet obligations
- Absence of robust verification processes for applicant eligibility
Above factors have fuelled private investments in education but compromised quality.
Recent Government Initiatives
Some steps initiated by the state government regarding RTE recently are:
- Mandating EWS verification through government portal Shala Darpan
- Exploring shift to Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of tuition fees to schools
- Approving ₹181 crores in December 2023 to clear dues pending since 2019
However policy experts have critiqued these measures as insufficient for effectively addressing structural and fiscal limitations.
Case Study Examples
Delhi introduced centralized EWS admissions to tackle challenges around quotas which involved:
- Online common application form for applicants
- Centralized merit-based allocations across schools
- Enabling document verifications and enhance transparency
Whereas the Karnataka RTE Reimbursement Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system focuses on:
- Process automation for verification, sanction and release of funds
- Direct transfer of tuition expenses to bank accounts of private schools
- Dashboards for tracking applications and payment status
Key Statistics on RTE Quota Admissions – Maharashtra
- The total number of private unaided schools is over 28,500.
- As per reports, around 3.2 lakh students were admitted under the RTE quota in 2023-24.
- The share of minority institutions is about 35%.
- The projected government reimbursement dues amount to over ₹2000 crores.
- The average annual admissible reimbursement per student under the RTE quota is ₹17,000.
Recent Developments
- National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to the Maharashtra government asking them to revoke the exemption order within 15 days as it violates rights of EWS/DG students.
- In response, the state administration has indicated it is currently not in a position financially to bear full reimbursement costs owed to private schools under RTE.
- However they assured that efforts are being made to clear dues expediently and resume admissions under quota next year.
- The Centre has conveyed that it is willing to provide assistance under Samagra Shiksha scheme to aid the state in bridging the resource gap.
- RTE activist groups like Sudarshana Raje committee have slammed the resolution alleging it promotes privatization and commercialization of education in the state.
- They called for more transparency and monitoring of school fee structures and utilization of reimbursements granted under Right to Education.
Achieving the Right to Education goals warrant sincere commitment and action on various fronts by all stakeholders.
- While private sector participation is integral for bridging access gaps, over-dependence on them compromises quality, inclusion and accountability.
- Beyond symptomatic fixes, the state needs robust public infrastructure expansion and administration reforms to equitably uphold education as an inalienable fundamental right.
- The true test lies in the political will for progressive decisions favoring sustainable change.