Four complaints of discrimination against RTE students in private schools filed in last two years, says Gujarat minister

Dindor’s written reply came in response to a starred question raised by Congress MLA from Jamalpur Khadia Imran Khedawala.

During the Question Hour, Khedawala had sought information on how many complaints of discrimination had been filed against the children enrolled under RTE Act in Ahmedabad city and district, in the last two years, and what action had been taken.

“The district education office has issued show cause notices to these four private schools on the basis of complaints received regarding discrimination against children admitted under RTE Act. An on-site investigation and hearing process has been initiated, the school authorities have been directed to teach children admitted under RTE with general children and no discrimination should be done in any way… the related complaints have been resolved,” Dindor stated.

The minister stated that the concerned schools will be inspected by an Education Inspector from time to time and if the school is found to be guilty in this regard, “disciplinary action will be taken against the concerned schools as per the rules”.

However, on the demand to cancel the NoC, Dindor stated that all these four schools are affiliated to CBSE. “Since the academic session in CBSE-affiliated schools begins in April, a few months earlier than the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) which starts in June, the students lag behind in their curriculum. Since these RTE admitted students mostly come from the Gujarat board, they are made to sit separately in order to cover up their pending curriculum. This came out during the inspection of these schools. It was checked that once the pending syllabus is completed, all the students sit together in the class,” the minister said in the House when Congress MLAs demanded police action against the management and trustees of these schools for violating the RTE Act.

Khedawala, meanwhile, said that the RTE Act was implemented by the Congress-led UPA government to ensure the right to education for all, but in Gujarat, children admitted under RTE are being discriminated against.

“Poor students admitted under RTE Act are being discriminated against and treated badly in private schools. Such students are made to sit separately in the classroom. They are not allowed to use the canteen at the school and the sports equipment. Complaints have been made in this regard to the DEO, but no punitive action has been taken against the school except for giving a notice,” he said in the House.

Khedawala added that poor students are admitted under the provisions of the RTE law, but “they are harassed to such an extent that they have to leave the school. In this way, cases of cancellation of admission are increasing”. Khedawala demanded that the government should take punitive action against such schools.