CHENNAI: Implementation of the Right to Education Act (RTE) was poor in Tamil Nadu in the 2013-14 academic year according to the CAG report which singles out the district nodal officers for inadequate monitoring.
The report states that 59 schools in four test districts of Chennai, Coimbatore, Pudukottai and Tiruvallur were found to be collecting fees to the tune of Rs 30.76 lakh from 541 children admitted under RTE contrary to the provisions of the act. Uniforms and text books, which students admitted under RTE are entitled to free of cost, were given only after payment of money by the parents, the report states.
In addition, the scrutiny of records by the CAG found that 70 of these 110 schools admitted 321 children without obtaining income/community certificates from competent authorities, as proof of them belonging to disadvantaged groups to qualify for admissions under RTE. A number of schools also did not insist on students producing documentary proof either for age or residence, the report notes.
The district level nodal officers failed to conduct meetings and inspections to ensure proper implementation of the act, the report stated. In official replies, the education officials have said that these issues would be rectified and grievance redressal mechanisms would be brought into place.