Mumbai: Child rights body seeks list of schools that lack RTE approval in state

Schools are expected to renew their RTE approval every three years. Representation Pic

Intensifying its stance against schools violating the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR) has written to the deputy director of school education, Mumbai, and state education commissioner demanding a district-wise list of schools run by municipal corporations, zilla parishads and the state government running without RTE recognition. The commission has also asked the education officials to scrutinise the safety audits of these schools, which are mandatory under the Act.

Following a complaint by a city-based NGO, MSCPCR first wrote to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) education officers in May this year, seeking a report on action taken against schools operating without RTE approval and flouting norms. After receiving no response, the commission sent another reminder to the BMC education officer on June 28. Now the commission chairperson Susieben Shah has directed the education officials to enumerate all private schools running without RTE approval in Maharashtra to ensure safety-related checks of students studying in such schools.

The letter, dated August 18, reads, "As many as 218 unaided private primary schools in the jurisdiction of BMC are continuing to be functional without renewal of certificates under the RTE Act. Maharashtra has five divisional deputy director of education offices, around 28 municipalities and 24 zilla parishads. Under these authorities, some schools are operating without RTE approval or RTE approval has expired. It is very important to list them because it also jeopardises the safety of all the students studying in such schools. A list of such schools should be prepared and action should be taken against them and such schools should be inspected according to the criteria."

As per data shared by the BMC under RTI in March to NGO Maharashtra Rajya Vidyarthi, Palak, Shikshak Mahasangh (Maharashtra State Student-Parent Teacher Federation) revealed that 218 private unaided primary schools across the city have failed to get/extend their RTE recognition. Some of the prominent schools include Anandilal Podar high school (Santacruz), Raje Shivaji primary school (Dadar), St Michael high school (Mahim), St Andrew's high school primary section (Bandra), St Aloysius primary school (Santacruz), Alexandra Girls' High School (Fort), Gloria convent high school (Byculla), St Pius X high school (Nahur), Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Vidyalaya (Borivli), Rustomjee Troopers (Dahisar) and VPM's Vidya Mandir primary school (Dahisar).

Under the RTE Act, 2009, no school can operate without a certificate of recognition from the government authority. The BMC is the statutory body issuing the recognition certificate for primary schools. As per the Act, schools are expected to renew their RTE approval every three years, failing which they can be fined R10,000 per day and the management of these schools will also have to pay a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for running the institutes without recognition. As per BMC officials, while some of the 218 schools have failed to renew their recognition since 2016, some have applied after the deadline given to them.

Talking to mid-day, Nitin Dalvi of NGO Maharashtra Rajya Vidyarthi, Palak, Shikshak Mahasangh said, "In addition to financial audits, schools need to preserve the teacher-student ratio, admit 25 per cent of impoverished kids under RTE, provide free uniforms to all students and establish a school management council with parental involvement. Also, the institutes need to provide reports of safety audits conducted from time to time. The certificate of renewal of RTE recognition is only granted when the education inspectors have verified these requirements. The education department has ignored the issue in spite of these irregularities. Who will be responsible if some untoward incident takes place in these schools? It's not just about the RTE renewal, but also about the safety of the students going to these schools." Sandeep Sangave, deputy director of education, Mumbai, was unavailable for comment.

2009
Year RTE Act was enacted