Worried parents check procedures for next year RTE admissions

Many parents are already enquiring about how to get their children admitted under Right to Education (RTE) Act for the next academic year.

This has compelled the RTE Task Force to form a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help parents.

The task force, an initiative by the Karnataka Child Rights Observatory, has been receiving queries from parents seeking information on how they can make use of the 25 per cent quota under the RTE for their children.

“The only thing most parents seem to know about the RTE Act is that there is a 25 per cent reservation. Parents, whose children are already enrolled under RTE in class one this year, are calling us to ask if they have to pay fees for class 2 next year and if they have to go through the entire admission process again,” said task force coordinator Nagasimha G Rao, adding that a task force in Dharwad would be set up soon.

At its third meeting on Sunday, a handbook on the RTE for parents and other stakeholders written by Child Rights Trust director Vasudeva Sharma was released by Katyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee of CIVIC Bangalore.

“Last week, I got a call from a parent whose child is studying class one in a government school. He wanted to know if he can withdraw his child from the government school for a seat in a private school under RTE,” Sharma said. He added that the task force, with 122 members, was also receiving complaints of subtle discrimination against RTE children. “We received complaints that RTE children were frequently sent out of class, that RTE children were not asked any questions in class, that passing comments are made at them and so on,” he said.

Sharma said the departments of Social Welfare, Labour, Women and Child Development and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj have to take an active role in implementation of RTE.

“Departments have to understand RTE rules clearly. Labour rules in the state say a child can work up to 14 years in a regulated environment, while education rules say that a child up to 14 years has to be in school,” pointed out Sharma.

Those facing RTE related problems may call 9880477198 for more details on the Act.

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