Right to Education

national scheme

Karnataka

RTE

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy

As process of admitting students under the scheme, which begins in December has not yet started this year, there is a question-mark over its implementationThere is still much uncertainty around the fate of(RTE) in Karnataka. The decision on whether to implement thein state’s schools, or to implement the newly amended RTE, which is yet to get approval in both the Houses inAssembly, is still pending. This has led to talk thatwill not be implemented in the State from the next academic year.Experts say there is a good chance it won’t be implemented as the process of admitting students under RTE scheme for 2019-20 has not yet begun. Officials say thatis yet to give a go-ahead on that.As per the amendments to RTE rules, which were approved in the recent Cabinet meeting, from the next year, seats at state government and aided schools would be filled first and only if these are not enough, the private unaided schools will be considered.However, to ensure this, the department has decided to make a list of private schools where parents can submit their applications if there are no government or aided school present in the neighbourhood. An official from the department said, “We need to list the private schools first and to see which schools must admit students under RTE. The allocation will be based on reserving 25 per cent for students coming from RTE.”The process for RTE admissions begins at the end of December every year and this year it seems to be delayed. “Every year we used to issue notification by this time, but as there are some amendments, it needs to be cleared by Chief Minister, who is also primary and secondary education minister. Once it is cleared by CM, we will issue the notification,” said officials.As per the recent amendments approved by cabinet only after filling the seats at government and aided schools in the neighbourhood, the application for private unaided school would be considered. Interestingly, the details available from the department shows that there are over 48,000 plus government schools in the state and there is atleast one government school in the neighborhood as described by RTE.“There is no question of filling RTE seats at private schools from next academic year as there are enough government schools in the neighbourhood as described by the act,” the official explained.There is still some confusion in the official circle over implementation of RTE. The reason is that the cabinet has approved the amended clauses, but it is not yet placed in the Assembly for its okay. Without this, the government cannot tweak the rules and implement them. An expert said, “There is absolutely no clarity. The officials are saying that the cabinet has asked them to hold on with this process. Parents are worried because they were expecting their child to put in a private school, but now there is no clarity.”