Give admission to children from disadvantaged sections in private schools: NCPCR to Kerala

NEW DELHI: Apex child rights body National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has asked the Kerala government to implement the provision of the Right to Education (RTE) Act of providing admission to children from disadvantaged or economically weaker sections in private schools.

In a letter to Kerala's chief secretary on Friday, NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said non-implementation of any provision given under the RTE Act, 2009, by authorities not only amounts to a violation of the act but also fundamental rights of children given by the Constitution of India. "The provision of providing admission to children from disadvantaged and-or economically weaker sections in private schools as per section 12 (1) (c) of the RTE Act, 2009 is yet to be implemented in your State," he said in the letter.

Section 12 (1) (c) of the act mandated the reservation of a minimum of 25 percent of the seats at the entry-level class for children belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS) and disadvantaged groups in private unaided schools. The NCPCR has sought a response from the state government within 30 days.

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Speaking to PTI, he said it has been 12 years since RTE was enforced but Kerala has not yet implemented the provision of providing admission to children from disadvantaged or economically weaker sections in private schools. "They have made two categories that rich students go to private schools and poor children go to government schools. Most capitalist model of education exists in Kerala that is why we have asked to implement that provision," he charged.