Where are our reimbursements for admissions under RTE: Private schools

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The managements and associations of private unaided schools are upset as the government has delayed reimbursing them for admitting children from economically weaker sections under the Right To Education (RTE) Act. Many say funds sanctioned for the same this year are not enough.

According to the state government's directions, school administrators were supposed to fill up district-wise, schools-wise and student-wise information on the state's RTE portal by January 10. However, the majority of schools have missed the deadline. They alleged that the exercise is exhaustive and the time provided was too short.

Schools and their associations have stated that the reimbursements have been requested on an annual basis and they should receive the same every year. They allege that the data they upload on the portal is only being used for procedural purposes and does result in reimbursements.

Mahendra Ganpule, the state spokesperson of the School Principals' Association, told mid-day, "Most schools in the state have not filled up their information on the portal though they have submitted the declaration. Many are upset with the delayed reimbursements. Schools will be giving applications to the director of Maharashtra Prathmik Shikshan Parishad and the state education department directly as the latter's deadline has been crossed and there has been no update on whether they have extended it. I will appeal to all schools to abide by the policy decision and complete the formalities. It is a procedure and all need to follow it."

A budgetary allocation of Rs 200 crore has been made this year to reimburse schools for admissions under the RTE Act and R84 crore has already been disbursed, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar stated during the winter session. Private unaided schools all over Maharashtra are upset about this, claiming that the actual amount to be reimbursed to schools statewide is far larger and that the government is purposefully suppressing the facts.

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Under RTE admissions, 25 per cent of seats in private schools are reserved for children from economically weaker sections and the government reimburses schools for paying their fees later. Maharashtra English School Trustees Association President Sanjay Tayade-Patil alleged, "This is all an eyewash. Money for reimbursement is diverted to other projects. In the academic year 2017, the state government reimbursed half of the dues towards RTE admissions, after which it kept accumulating year after year. The Centre sent the funds, but it is diverted to projects like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. It is appalling that instead of making full payments to schools following RTE quota rules, they divert the funds to other educational projects."

Sushil Shejule, coordinator of Marathi Shala Sansthachalak Sangh, said, "It is expected that the details regarding the RTE admission process will be released by the government soon. There is an urgent need to investigate whether quality education is being imparted to kids, whether there are trained teachers and if there is any impact on the number of admissions in other aided schools. It is expected that consideration will be given and decisions will be made"

As per these associations, many schools are writing to the state education department stating that if their money is not reimbursed, they will not be in the position to implement free admissions under the Act. Kailash Pagare, state project director of Maharashtra Prathmik Shikshan Parishad, said, "If a school demands to be paid a certain amount of money as reimbursement, due to issues with the budget and consent, we can only pay half or less than half, because of the reimbursement amount coming from the Union government is less. As per the Union government's protocol, it was decided they would keep reducing the reimbursement amount paid in the previous years by five per cent every year."

He added, "Ultimately, they will stop funding and the state government will have to take the burden. Filling in students' information on the RTE portal will determine the total amount to be paid, and depending on this information, the Centre disburses funds. However, due to arrears and backlogs, schools cannot fill out the form. Last year, they sanctioned Rs 85 crore. Due to the small amount of forms uploaded on the portal, the amount sanctioned this year was only R42 crore. In fact, the total demand towards reimbursement from schools across Maharashtra is close to Rs 650 crore."

Rs 84cr
Amount reimbursed to state schools