DK schools guilty of flouting admission rules

DK schools guilty of flouting admission rules

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 28, 2012 : Schools across Dakshina Kannada have been found guilty of gross violation of the government circular issued to ensure fair and transparent admission process and to implement of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

A team comprising members of Campaign against Child Labour, Shikshana Sampanmoola Kendra, and Ahinda visited seven schools in Mangalore to find out if the schools are following the government rules regarding admission. They submitted their report to the DC, in which they stated that a number of schools are violating government admission norms and urged him to ensure uniform and transparent admission processes in schools. They also requested him to ensure that the Right to Education Act is implemented in schools.

Their report submitted to the DC states that several schools do not follow transparent and uniform admission processes. According to government rules, the schools must display number of seats available and the admission schedule, right from the date of issuing applications to receiving completed applications as well as the date of preparing the list of selected candidates on the notice boards. None of the schools have displayed this essential information, they pointed out.

On Dec 8, 2011, the department of public instructions issued a government circular, in which it was stated that schools must begin giving out application forms from April 20 and that the third final list of students admitted must be published on May 16.

The team, however, found that several schools have not followed these rules and that many have begun admitting students in total disregard of the rules. Although the circular clearly states that application forms must be distributed and accepted till April 30, 2012, many schools have already closed the admission process. The managements of some schools were not even aware of any government circular regarding the admission process.

The team also noticed that fewer students were opting to study in Kannada medium schools.

The report also brought it to the notice of the DC that many schools were collecting donations ranging from Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 8,600 from parents although the rules clearly state that details of fees taken from students should be displayed on the notice board.

Speaking on the occasion, Reni D’Souza, a child rights activist, said that the schools have completely neglected rules regarding RTE, according to which schools need to reserve 25 percent seats to children from economically backward families.

The team comprised Umesh Nirmal, the president of FERC; Reni D’Souza, the coordinator of Campaign against Child Labour; Purushottam Poojary, the president of Ahinda; and Kamala Gowda, the president of Mangalore ERC.