Page 19 - EducationWorld June 2020

s.12 (1) (c) of the Right of Children three years later, we are being mated 5.7 million children enrolled
to Free & Compulsory Education given the standard answer that in Tamil Nadu’s 35,000 private
(RTE) Act, 2009, all private schools the matter is under consideration independent and budget schools
— except minority promoted schools of the state finance ministry. As overdue for over three months,
exempted by the Supreme Court in per the RTE Act rules framed by their managements, promoters and
2012 — are obliged to admit chil- the state government, 50 percent proprietors have had to dig deep
dren of poor households in their of the reimbursement amount into savings to pay the salaries
neighbourhood free-of-charge in is payable to private schools as of teachers and employees. With
classes I-VIII to the extent of 25 soon as a child is admitted under the Covid-19 pandemic still not
percent of capacity. S.12 (2) of the s.12 (1) (c) with the remaining 50 having peaked and raging across
Act mandates that the cost of their percent paid during the academic Tamil Nadu, and Chennai having
education is reimbursed to the extent year, generally by September. But emerged as a hotspot, the least the
of per child expenditure incurred this rule is observed more in the state government can do is release
by the state government in its own breach. Given the severe cash flow their s.12 (2) dues.
schools. However, almost all state problems that private — especially Indeed it should do more by
governments countrywide have been budget — schools are experienc- making direct benefit transfers
very laggard in reimbursing private ing, the state government should of children’s tuition fees into the
schools the amounts owed to them do immediately clear their s.12 bank accounts of private schools.
under s.12 (2). (2) reimbursement amounts,” There is a clear and present danger
“In April this year, the state says advocate M.J. John Arokia of collapse of Tamil Nadu’s private
government belatedly paid Rs.500 Prabhu, vice president of the schools system which is primarily
crore s.12 (2) reimbursements for Tamil Nadu Private Schools As- responsible for the good reputation
the year 2018-19 which was dis- sociation and legal advisor to the this southern seaboard state enjoys
tributed statewide with the excep- Delhi-based National Independent for high quality
tion of private schools in Chennai Schools Alliance (NISA). education.
who are owed Rs.60 crore. Almost With the tuition fees of an esti- Shivani Chaturvedi (Chennai)

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