RTE

Sanghvi

Manisha Kulkarni

Lakhsmi Karke

Siddharth Dhene

Dominic Lobo

chairman

Thirty-five students taking education under Right to Education () from National English Primary & High School, Oldwere issued leaving certificate through post after the school announced its closure. Now the parents of the students are in dilemma about how to continue their education in future. Students and parents approached education commissioner today for their right to education.The school in Old Sanghvi was fighting with the state government over non –payment of the RTE funds and had announced its closure many times. But while the school announced its closure, it also sent a letter to the parents informing that parents are free to take the admission anywhere else otherwise the school is also working on some other trust to take over the school., a parent of a student who is studying in class III said, “We got the leaving certificate through post and the school is planning to transfer the administration trust to some other trust and has asked to pay the fees of rs 24, 000 if the transfer of trust works. We have received the admission through RTE and now are worried where my daughter will get admission for class IV.”, another parent whose daughter is studying in class II said, “They have asked for money for next year’s admission if the school is taken over by another management. We have no clue where to go. At this moment, admission for all other schools is already completed. Being RTE parents we cannot even go for any other school whose fees are at higher side. “The parents complained that while they received the leaving certificate, report card and admission process letter for next year through post, the leaving certificate mentions reason for leaving school as school and parents wish.Karke questioned, “The school should have called us, conducted a meeting and informed us beforehand. But such abrupt letter with leaving certificate has left us confused where to go.”While deputy mayor Drtook an initiative to meet commissioner over the issue with parents, Vishal Solanki, Commissioner, Education, Pune said, “We have received complained from the parents. I have asked my office to give me more information regarding same. We will see to it that students will not be suffered in the entire process.”of the school said, “I have been communicating about the closure of the school since December and have not received any response from the education department. It is now the responsibility of state education department to relocate the RTE students.” He added, “I am negotiating with some schools to take over the management. If any minority management takes over the school where RTE act does not apply then I cannot help. Therefore I requested parents to keep the same fee amount ready for the next year’s admission in case any other management takes over.”He confirmed that the school has issued the same letters to all its 280 students.