Page 18 - EducationWorld March 2023

Education News

dren’s superior private school education. THEY SAID IT
“Private schools are struggling to run due to the back-
log of government not having paid its dues for two years.
The state government has increased electricity charges, “What does the scientific community expect
property tax, deposit and inspection fee for schools. But to see in a Union Budget? The current level of
our dues remain unpaid. Therefore, the government expenditure in S&T is hopelessly inadequate
should give time for schools to pay taxes and electricity if India is to compete at the international level
bills,” says M. Arumugam, director of FePSA. in knowledge generation. So, the scientific
Tamil Nadu’s nearly 35,000 private independent and community expects to see a significant
budget private schools have enrolled over 74,000 s.12 (1) increase in the outlay for research.”
(c) children from economically underprivileged sections Dhrubajyoti Mukherjee, president, The Breakthrough
in the academic year 2022-23. Moreover in the past year, Science Society (The New Indian Express, February
the School Education Department had lowered the RTE 3)
reimbursement fees pushing private schools into a deep-
er financial crisis. The annual per-child reimbursement “Universities are not just spaces for learning
for RTE students for LKG-class V has been revised to
Rs.12,076 (from Rs.12,458). For classes VI, VII and VIII, but also for discussion, debate & dissent.
the revised amount is Rs.15,711 (from Rs.17,077, Rs.17,106 The cowardly attack on Tamil students by
and Rs.17,027 respectively). ABVP and vandalising portraits of leaders
Economically poor and underprivileged parents are like Periyar, Karl Marx at JNU, is highly
“eager to get their wards admitted into private schools condemnable...”
under the RTE Act. Private schools cannot deny admis- M.K. Stalin, Tamil Nadu chief minister (Twitter,
sion to them. If students don’t get admission in private February 20)
schools, they will natu-
rally go to government “Our education system should be practical,
schools. That seems to be industry oriented... the Budget has laid
the government’s intent,”
says S. Arumainathan, the foundation for it. Over the years, our
president of the Tamil education sector has been a victim of
Nadu Parents Welfare As- rigidity. We have tried to change this. We
sociation. reoriented education and skilling according
Chennai-based edu- to the aptitude of youth and the demands of
cationist Dr. Somasun- coming times.”
daram concurs: “The Prime minister Narendra Modi addressing a post-
government should re- Dr. Somasundaram budget webinar ‘Harnessing Youth Power — Skilling
imburse the dues with- and Education’ (The Hindu, February 25)
out delay. Also, it should monitor if any private school
is pressuring parents to pay fees for students admitted “We were not a considerable force either
under s.12 (1) (c). With reimbursement delayed, there are economically or militarily throughout the
instances where parents have been asked to settle govern- 1950s and early 60s but people listened
ment dues,” says Somasundaram. to us. We were involved in a whole lot of
Although better than most government schools, the
financial condition of some of the state’s private schools issues, mediating crises far far away from us
is bad and worsening because the state government hasn’t because we had that kind of moral stature,
reimbursed fees of RTE children for two years. the reputation for sticking to principles,
This despite the RTE Act Rules framed by the state Today’s India is sadly a very, very far cry
government clearly stating that 50 percent of poor chil- from that. Not only are we not punching
dren’s fees amount is payable to private schools as soon above our weight, we are actually punching
as a child is admitted under s.12 (1) (c). The remainder 50 far below the weights that we like to boast
percent is to be paid during the academic year, generally about having acquired in the last decade or
by end-September. two.’’
The ruling DMK government which is busy stitching
alliances for General Election 2024, seems unaware of Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP, criticizing the BJP
government’s refusal to condemn Russia’s invasion
this obligation. of Ukraine (Telegraph, February 28)
Shivani Chaturvedi (Chennai)

20 EDUCATIONWORLD MARCH 2023