New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed the central government to consider extending provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) up to Class 12, taking note of the fact that thousands of children belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) studying in private schools face the risk of eviction.
These children are those who secured admission in private schools under the EWS category meant for students from underprivileged backgrounds.
Section 12 (1) (c) of the RTE allows children to get free education up to the end of the elementary level, Class 8, in private schools. Students who secured admission under this category in 2011 have, however, crossed the Class 8 threshold and now face two options — either pay the full fees or leave the school.
Some Delhi schools have already begun sending notices to children asking them to pay the full fee from the coming session; some others have already let go of students.
Also read: Pay up or leave — what Delhi private schools are telling poor students as RTE window ends
Centre directed to file an affidavit in 2 weeks
Taking cognizance of this, the high court has directed the central government to extend the RTE provision till Class 12 and file an affidavit in the court within two weeks.
The court order came in the wake of media reports and on the basis of the PIL filed by lawyer and activist Ashok Aggarwal, who highlighted the plight of thousands of children studying in Delhi schools.
Sources in the Ministry of Human Resource Development said the government had already been looking into the issue even before the court order. A source had last week confirmed to ThePrint that the government was working to find a possible solution to the problem.
While Delhi is facing the problem now, other states, which had adopted the RTE provision later, in the 2013-14 academic session, have already raised concerns with the ministry.
Also read: Delhi govt schools beat private schools in class 12 results. Reason: 50% flunk class 9