Tumbling between schools and government authorities, parents whose children got admission in private schools under RTE (Right to Education) Act are upset and feeling directionless since the schools started demanding fees for the session 2011-12 saying that the government has not reimbursed them.

Schools are helpless too, after the State Government decided ‘not-to-pay’ schools for those children who are admitted under RTE in the year 2011-12 and announced it as a ZERO session as far as RTE related students are concerned. Reason being given that schools have not followed the terms and conditions during the admission process related to RTE.

All this clearly shows the loopholes in the RTE system, which was initiated to give free and compulsory education to children between 6 to 14 years of age and directed all privately owned schools to admit 25% students who belong to poor families under RTE.

After two years when schools didn’t receive money from the Government, they decided to continue with the regular fee structure to students falling under the RTE scheme.

One such case came out at the Ambamata branch of Central Academy School in Udaipur, where financially weak parents alleged that they were asked to pay Rs.25,000 or take the child to some other institute.

Manju Chouhan, Principal of Central Academy, Ambamata said, “First I had not asked to pay Rs. 25,000, but a fee of Rs.9,700. Secondly, I cleared them that the Government is not paying us so how we can bear the expenses. Government Officials have left the final decision on the school as they are not going to pay us for the session 2011-12.”

Satyendra Chouhan, State in-charge RTE said that there is no alternative way that has come out yet, to solve the issue.

When asked about the Zero Session, Chouhan said, “In year 2011-12, we had set norms, which schools had to follow when admitting students under RTE. These norms were not diligently followed, as per our investigation. Hence, the Government decided it to be a Zero Session as far as RTE related admissions were concerned and called off all related payments to schools.”

Lalit Dak, APC, RTE said that they are continuously trying to settle the matter between the administration, schools and parents.

However, Dak was himself confused on what ground they are trying to resolve the issue.

“I have more than a dozen students in my schools that got admission through RTE; if I will not get paid by the Government then I have to bear a loss of nearly Rs. 1.6 lakh,” said the Principal of a reputed school in Udaipur.