The disbanbading of education boards run by municipal corporations across the state would be considered if they are found contravening the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act,2009,said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. Addressing the media on the sidelines of the function organised by PMC-run Yashwantrao Chavan School in Yerawada as part of state-level initiative to greet students on the first day of the new academic year,he said,The RTE Act has several provisions,which should be implemented in letter and spirit. We have to find out if education boards run by the civic bodies are running in contravention of the Act. The issue of disbanding the education boards came to the fore following complaints from section of stakeholders about poor implementation of the RTE Act. The Centre had also backed the the decision to dissolve boards flouting norms. The education boards of municipal corporations have been founded as per Bombay Primary Education Act,1947,and have the autonomy to take policy decisions. Speaking to Newsline,Tapas Sutradhar of advocacy group Action For the Rights of the Child said the state government should suggest effective alternatives before disbanding these boards. Though marred by vested political interests,the civic body-run education boards offer a structured mechanism for education. If the government is considering disbanding them,the alternative should be effective, he said. PMC education officer Shivaji Daundkar said,The disbanding of education board is a policy decision which is taken at state-level. We will abide by the decision that government takes, he said.
