Right to Education helplines ringing off the hook

Several students from economically underprivileged backgrounds have been dialling the Right to Education (RTE) Act helpline numbers, wanting to know how they could get into good private schools. According to the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which came into force from April 1, 2010, 25% seats are reserved for underprivileged sections in all private unaided schools.

Several private schools in the city have not implemented the provision and many people have called the helpline numbers with complaints.

The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) created the RTE helpline numbers (044-28278742, 28211391) to help implement the legislation and give needy students access to private schools. Delhi-based NGO Social Jurist has also started national helplines (09868529459, 08826456565) for free legal assistance under the RTE Act to students from poor backgrounds.

"We have received several calls from various parts of the state," said SCERT joint director (schemes) M Palanisamy We are taking steps to address the complaints. We are also conducting various awareness programs for both parents and teachers."

Officials of SCERT said several callers ask for documents required for admission under the RTE Act. Many students and parents also want to know the nodal officers they should contact for admissions and the process of reimbursement of school fees.

"Most people are still unaware of the legislation. Many private schools claim that the RTE quota is not applicable to minority-administered schools," said a senior SCERT official. "We are also getting complaints that some private schools are not allowing admission under the RTE Act. We will take every step to ensure that the RTE Act is a success in the state."

Ashok Aggarwal, advisor of Social Jurist and national president of the parent's association, said the national helpline has received several calls from Tamil Nadu. "We are providing legal help to needy students seeking admission under the legislation," he said. "Some callers have complained of arbitrary hikes in the school fees without any notice."

Students Federation of India (SFI) is planning to organise campaigns across the state to promote awareness on the Act. The federation's state president, K S Kanagaraj, said many private schools are flouting the RTE Act. "We have been conducting various campaigns and seminars demanding effective implementation of the law," he said.

Over 40,000 scholarships provided to minority community

As many as 42,476 scholarships were awarded to students from minority communities during 2011-12 under the merit-cum-means scholarship scheme of the ministry of minority affairs, it was announced on Thursday.

According to the ministry, an amount of Rs.115.72 crores was spent on the purpose during the year.

"Of these 32,723 scholarships went to students belonging to the Muslim community; 5,764 were awarded to Christian students; 3,463 to Sikh students; 516 to Buddhist students and 10 to the students belonging to the Parsi community," the ministry said.

For 2012-13, the budgetary provision for this scheme has been increased to Rs 220 crore and the physical target has also been increased to 80,000 scholarships.

The scheme is meant for the students belonging to the minority communities studying in technical and professional courses.

The scheme also provides for earmarking 30 percent of the target for girls. During 2011-12, the percentage of girl students benefiting from scholarship scheme was 36.82.

This scheme was launched in 2007-08 and cumulatively 162,967 scholarships have been awarded till March 2012.

OBC students sprint ahead in UP Board class X examination

OBC students came up trumps in the UP Board class X exams with two of the three toppers coming from the socially backward category. Securing 96.5% marks, both Pooja Yadav and Anna Yadav come from lower income groups. While Pooja's father is a police constable, Anna's family does small time farming in Baraiyya, Suratganj, 30 kilometres from Barabanki. They believe that the backward students can be at par with general category, if they are provided quality education at grass-roots level.

Voicing strong views against reservation, Anna said, "In the caste-based reservation, talent takes a backseat. I feel there should be equal opportunities for everyone. For empowering backward classes, the government should provide basic facilities in rural areas." Anna hails from a village, where he has no access to electricity. On the contrary, Pooja feels that reservation is the only way to strengthen the backward students. "Reservation should definitely be there, when it comes to pursue higher education. It helps in bridging a gap between the affluent and needy."

Another topper Rishu Verma, who secured 95.6%, also belongs to backward class. Talking to TOI, she said, "Reservation widens the gap between general and backward class. Providing reservation to backward class gives them a leverage to work less, and the general category students had to put in extra effort,"

In Lucknow, three out of top four students belong to backward class. Sachin Maurya, an OBC who scored 92.8% said, "Reservation for all who are from backward class is unjust. It should be given to those who are deprived of basic facilities, so that they can match up with other classes." Sachin's father is a small-time farmer in Ballia, while his mother is a primary teacher. Two years back, he came to Lucknow in search of good education.

Securing 92.3%, Harshit Maurya, said, "To bridge the gap between the general category students and those belonging to other backward classes, reservation is the only way. It at least ensures that people from backward class have a secured place, be it in education or in a job."

Another OBC topper, Shraddha Singh Yadav was of the view that reservation spoils the very meaning of competition. "There is no space for reservation when it comes to showcase talent. I strongly believe that all students should be treated equally without any discrimination between caste, colour, religion," she said.

Central Educational Institutions Act amended by Rajya Sabha

From now on, some of the central institutions will be exempted to implement the other backward castes (OBC) quota, after the Rajya Sabha passed amendments to the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Admissions) Act, 2006.

The amendment is applicable to institutions where implementation of the Act exceeds the 50 per cent reservation limit fixed by the Supreme Court.

As per the amendment, if seats reserved for Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes in a central educational institution exceeds 50 per cent of the annual strength permitted, the institution need not make any reservation for OBCs.

According to the amendment, if such an institution is located in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and Assam's tribal areas, the percentage of seats reserved for SC/ST candidates will not be reduced from the level obtaining on the date immediately preceding the date of the Act's commencement.

In case the institution is in any other area, the percentage of seats reserved for SC/ST candidates will be reduced to 50.

Source: Economic Times