Poor kids score poorly in race for admissions

Source: Nishant Chhabra, DNA   |   Last Updated 05:22(27/07/12)

 

Jaipur: Even after the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, access to education has not become any easier for the students from the economically weaker sections (EWS) of the society.

Despite a lot of fuss and noise, the RTE Act, which mandates private schools to reserve 25 per cent of their seats at the entry level for students belonging to disadvantaged sections, is actually not fulfilling its main objective. Instead, a number of students who are poor are still away from getting admission in the schools.

When DNA queried and conducted a reality check in some the prominent schools of the city, a surprising fact came to light that the students admitted in the private schools are not from the economically weaker sections.

Many parents, who have admitted their wards to the schools rather belong to section that is comparatively an upper section than the EWS, while, children who hail from a low background are still not able to make a cut in these schools. The parents who can afford their child to get educated are availing the benefits of the RTE Act posing as from economically weaker section, by providing fake documents.

“Parents have been submitting fake certificates for the admission and the system that has been adopted is unable to provide education to the poor kids. There are lots of changes to be brought in the Act,” said, Dr Ashok Gupta, director, India International School.

The reason behind the lack of the accuracy in the admissions is not one but many. The income slab that is Rs2.5 lakh is very high, while the same income category in other states is Rs 1 lakh or so. Lack of awareness and confidence among the poor people is also one of the reasons that they hesitate to go and admit their wards.

“There are cases in which admissions have been taken on the basis of fake documents. We have also urged schools to ensure that admissions should be given to those who really deserve it. We have been requesting the state government to lower the income group, so that actually poor people can be included in the category,” said, Deepak Kalra, chairperson, State Commission for Protection of Children.