All private and special category schools are mandated toadmit in Class 1 or below at least 25 per cent students belonging to weakersections and disadvantaged groups, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal’Nishank’ said in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Pokhriyal said the Right of Children to Free and CompulsoryEducation Act came into effect from April 1, 2010 and the Act makes elementaryeducation a fundamental right of all children in the age group of 6-14 years.
“Section 12 of the Act mandates all private aided,Special Category schools and private unaided schools to admit in Class 1 orbelow to the extent of at least 25 per cent of the strength of that class,children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups and provide freeand compulsory education till its completion,” he said during QuestionHour.
The minister said the RTE Act under section 12 (2) alsomakes provision of reimbursement of expenditure to schools providing free andcompulsory elementary education as specified in Section 12(1)(c).
“The school shall be reimbursed expenditure so incurredby it to the extent of per-child expenditure incurred by the state, or theactual amount charged from the child; whichever is less, in such manner as maybe prescribed.
“Provided that where such school is already underobligation to provide free education to a specified number of children onaccount of it having received any land, building, equipment or otherfacilities, either free of cost or at a concessional rate, such schools shallnot be entitled for reimbursement to the extent of such obligation,” hesaid.
Pokhriyal said education is in the Concurrent List andmajority of schools are under administrative control of states and unionterritories, therefore, it is for the State and UT administrations concerned toensure proper implementation of the RTE Act, prescribe neighbourhood norms andmechanism for admissions in schools including per child costs eligible forreimbursement.