Syllabus: GS-I, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Social Sector-Education, Issue: The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
Context: Maharashtra exempted private schools from RTE quota admissions
The Right To Education (RTE) Act, 2009:
- mandates that private schools reserve 25% of Class 1 seats for children from weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in the neighborhood.
- Students under this quota are given fee concessions, with the state government meant to reimburse private schools.
- Maharashtra have exempted private schools within a 1 km radius of government or aided schools from the 25% admission requirement under RTE-2009.
- Karnataka (2018) and Kerala (2011) have earlier made similar exemption.
Reasons:Â
- State governments have also often failed to reimburse the fees for students admitted through this quota. ( Mandated under 12(2) of RTE act)
- Allowing children in private school has resulted in drastic drop in enrollment in government school.
- The move has been criticized as it is closing down the window of quality education for disadvantaged section.
