1645 poor DK kids to get free education under RTE Act

1645 poor DK kids to get free education under RTE Act

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 16, 2012 : Around 1,645 children from economically backward sections of society in DK will receive free education in Class I from this academic year, according to the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act of 2009.

On May 15, Tuesday, the public instructions department issued a circular directing 143 unaided primary schools in DK to reserve 25 percent seats in Class I for economically backward students, according to Section 12(1)(c) of this act. However, 125 minority unaided schools need not reserve their seats, according to the Supreme Court ruling.

Children from economically backward families in Mangalore Taluk Education Block will get a larger number of seats than such children in other blocks because this block has a larger number of unaided schools.

An estimated 409 poor children will get free education in 33 unaided schools in this block. Since the Sullia block has fewer unaided schools, only 85 children in Sullia can claim these benefits.

Meanwhile, the public instructions department and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) are waiting to revise the minority school list. Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, the minister for primary and secondary education, on Monday said that the government will soon release a circular with guidelines on reviewing the minority school list.

N. Shivaprakash, the SSA deputy project coordinator, said that they are waiting for guidelines to classify unaided schools as minority institutions and will take action on any unaided school that enjoys minority status without sticking to the rules. The department will also direct such schools to reserve 25 percent seats for the poor, he added.