Mayo College opens doors for poor children

The prestigious Mayo College, Ajmer will now admit 25 per cent students of weaker sections from its vicinity under the RTE Act and will provide free eduction to them.

The institution along with un-aided private schools and others of Rajasthan had challenged the constitutional validity of the Act in the High Court.

However, with the Supreme Court verdict on April 12 upholding the validity of the Act, the Mayo College today submitted before the high court that the institution is bound by the apex court judgement.

The education institution, also known as the Eton of the East, will open doors for poor students from the current session.

Earlier, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had issued a notice dated November 21, 2011 to Mayo administration to scrap the admission procedure after it was reported that had conducted entrance test and screening as also interviews of parents on December 21 and 22 last year in violation of RTE Act.

Besides, the local administration had also served a notice on the school to comply with the mandatory provision under Right to Education Act.

The Act mandates that poor, weaker section and disabled students should be given free education in their neighbourhood by all private schools. However, the minority run institutes are exempted.

It was contended by the College at one point that the boarding and residential schools are not bound to follow the mandate of Act and it was free to interview parents and students.

The school administration had also contended that Navoday schools and military schools all admit students by way of screening test.