Bhadrak: Even as private schools have mushroomed in Bhadrak district over recent years, children belonging to poorer sections of society are devoid of a right to education.
Most private schools allegedly flout guidelines envisaged in Right to Education Act, 2009 (RTE) and do not keep 25% of seats free for students of the economically-backward classes.
According to reports, none of the schools coming under purview of community education officer Bhadrak have given age-appropriate admission to any student, under the provisions of RTE Act.
Even though they don’t have enough infrastructure, private educational institutions in Bhadrak charge exorbitant fees from students.
Even to the extent, some students are said to be continuing in English medium schools throughout the academic year and appear for matriculation exam through some other Odia medium schools.
The state government schools are not able to impart quality education, keeping pace with time under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and there is no sign of improvement in the situation for several years.
On the other hand, parents are interested to get their children admitted to private schools and the dropout rate of students in government schools of the district is increasing day by day.
Worthy to note, in order to ensure elementary education for backward children of Bhadrak district under RTE Act, the administration had issued circulars to all private schools long back, but in vain.
On being asked, district education officer Sangram Sahu said, “For non-availability of economically backward students, no one has been given free admission against 25% reserved seats. The department will definitely conduct a probe if it receives a specific complaint”.
Every child in the age group of six and fourteen years has a right to free and compulsory education up to elementary level, in a neighbourhood school. It clarifies that ‘free education’ means, ‘no child shall be liable to pay any kind of fees or charges which may prevent him or her from pursuing and completing elementary education’.
PNN