‘No reserved admission provision for underprivileged in Pvt schools’

Jammu, Mar 25: The government Tuesday said that there was no provision of reservation for Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) children for admission in Private Schools in accordance with the Education Act 2002.
However, the government clarified that under section 12 of Right to Education (RTE) 2009, private unaided institutions and special category schools are liable to offer free and compulsory education to at least 25 percent children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections.
Education Minister Sakeena Itoo in a reply to queries of the respondents in Legislative Assembly said, “There is no provision for reservation to Below Poverty Line (BPL) and AAY children for admission in private schools as per Education Act 2002 and rules thereof vide SRO 123 of 2010 amended from time to time up to class 12th.”
The minister further said that the government was providing free education up to elementary level to all the children including those from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). “Free test books, uniforms and mid-day meals are being provided up to Class 8th.”
“However, section 12 of Right to Education (RTE) 2009 provides that Private unaided institution and Special category schools shall provide free and compulsory education to at least 25 percent children belonging to disadvantaged groups and weaker sections,” the minister said.
About the Mid-Day Meal scheme, the minister said that the cook-cum-helpers are engaged on honorarium basis as per the prescribed guidelines of the Centrally Sponsored Mid-Day Meal scheme of Ministry of Education for Government of India (GoI) with sharing pattern of 90:10 (CS:SS).
“Since the engagement of Cook-cum-Helper is of temporary nature and there is no policy and welfare of for their regularization,” the minister said. (KNO)