Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Abhibhabak Mahasangha (OAM), Wednesday, wrote to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeking 25 per cent reservation for students belonging to poor and disadvantaged sections in private English medium schools, as per the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Basudev Bhatt, chairman of OAM, said, “The School and Mass Education department has issued an order, bearing Letter No 8059, dated 05.06.2020, regarding admission of elementary and secondary students for session 2020-21 from 15th July 2020 in all government, aided and unaided schools in Odisha. This order is only meant for govt/aided and unaided recognised schools, Madrasas and Sanskrit Toles etc under the department during the lockdown period.”
However, another 12 lakh students with one lakh new students are waiting for admissions to private English medium schools, he said.
“After our demand, the S&ME department has modified the previous order and issued another order with SOPs for admission of students in elementary and secondary students only affiliated to BSE and CHSE boards. It was a welcome step to not call parents and students to schools during lockdown,” Bhatt added.
The CBSE, ICSE and other affiliated English medium schools should comply with the Act.
The department should issue a specific order as per RTE Act and ensure the admission of students belonging to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Disadvantaged Groups (DG) in private English medium Schools. These schools should allow reservation of 25 per cent seats for these students under RTE Act, he added.
“Now we request your special intervention and instructions to the department to come up with an order without students and parents in all private English medium schools and issue an SOP. Further, the private schools should not collect fees arbitrarily and unnecessarily in the name of admission and readmission. We believe your kind intervention will solve this problem and we will get justice from you. In the present circumstances, we request your kind intervention and immediate order to stop this violation by private English medium schools in Odisha in the name of admission and readmission. We also request your kind order to implement RTE Act failing which the OAM will go for an agitation from July 1,” Bhatt stated.
PNN