Haryana govt omits rule 134A providing 10% quota to EWS students in private schools

NEW DELHI: The Haryana government has decided to drop the school education rule providing a 10% quota to students belonging to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in private schools in order to implement the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The state school education department has omitted rule 134A from Haryana School Education Rules, 2003.

The education department has taken the decision since the rule was at variance with the RTE of the Central government. Moreover, some private schools had been protesting against the rule alleging that the parents were submitting fake income certificates to avail the benefit, as per some reports.

Also Read | Telangana reduces school timings for primary, high schools in view of heat wave

The state school education department issued a notice on March 28 saying “the Governor of Haryana hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003,”. According to the amendments, these rules will now be called as Haryana School Education (Amendment) Rules, 2022 and rule 134A shall be omitted, read the notification.

According to the state school education rules, 2003, the rule 134A states, “The recognized private schools shall reserve 25% seats for meritorious poor students. The school shall charge fee from these students at the rate as charged in Government schools. The deficit of difference of fee shall be charged from the other students of the school.

Also Read | Pariksha Pe Charcha 2022 tomorrow; #PPCWithPMModi trends on Twitter

In September 2021, the Haryana government announced that children belonging to poor families verified under 'Parivar Pehchan Patra' will now be imparted free education at government-run Model Sanskriti schools in the state.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has barred private schools from increasing fee. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday directed all private schools against increasing fees or compelling children to buy books, uniforms or stationery items from select shops. Mann said parents want to provide education to their children but it has become costly, making it unaffordable.