PMC education board recommends four schools for derecognition

Baban Dahiphale, administrative (education) officer of PMC, said that the four schools were Millenium School, Karve Nagar, DES’s New English Medium School at Tilak Road, Kothrud’s Bal Shikshan Mandir and SPM English School in SP college campus. “Despite repeated visits, reminders and notices, these schools failed to give admissions according to the RTE Act to students in Class I. After they missed a final deadline set by a three-member flying squad of education officials, we sent the recommendation for their derecognition to the zilla parishad primary education officer who has that authority under the Act,” he said.

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The deputy administrative officer of PMC who had visited the schools said that they all had a common problem. “Most of the schools have given admissions under the RTE Act, but only at the primary level. They argue that it is their entry point. But the allotments for those schools are for the vacant seats in Class I. If the schools didn’t give RTE admissions in 2012-2013 at the pre-primary level, the Class I seats are considered vacant. Also, the recent High Court judgement has clarified that admission of minimum 25 percent at both entry level, in Class I and/or pre-school, is permissible,” said Dhananjay Pardeshi, deputy education officer.

However, the schools cite the court case and refuse admissions in Class I.

Principal Madhavi Badgavkar of SPM English School said, “We have always respected the RTE and this year too, we carried out 19 admissions for the pre-primary section which is our entry point. Besides that, we were given names of 25 students for admission in Class I, making it a dual entry point. Our understanding of the RTE Act is that we have to reserve 25 percent seats at our entry point and hence to clear the confusion, we went to the High Court.” On being told that the HC has now permitted a dual entry point, she said that she was yet to see the written verdict. “The interpretation of the verdict can be different. We will take a legal opinion after seeing the written verdict and only then decide,” she said.

Millenium School staffers said that principal Radhika Vaidya wouldn’t be able to comment on the issue. However, Vikram Deshmukh, education and legal consultant for the school, said, “We have always complied with all the provisions of the RTE with regards to reservation of 25% seats. Even the officials of the education department state that we have admitted students in our entry level class i.e. at the pre-primary level. However, we are protesting against the misinterpretation of the 25 percent reservation of seats at entry point by the local education officials and we have even written to the education commissioner on the issue,” he said.

The letter pointed out that the HC order had stated that the question of a dual entry point arose only when the intake capacity of pre-primary was lesser than that of Class I, in which case the remainder of admissions would be in Class I. “As per RTE, schools which are conducting fresh admissions in preprimary and class I will have to conform to the 25% reservation at all levels,” said the letter.

Principal Smita Kulkarni from DES New English Medium School refused to speak over the phone and suggested that the seniors at the Deccan Education Society be contacted.

The staffers at Bal Shikshan Mandir said that principal Geetanjali Bodhankar wasn’t available to talk.