NEW DELHI: Over 50,000 children from 1,100 private unaided schools in Delhi, which are affiliated to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), are a concerned lot. Rajesh Kumar, a Class V student, is unsure whether he can carry on with his studies. He took admission under the 25 per cent quota in his school as mandated under Right to Education Act for poor students and gets free education. But his school is affiliated only up to Class V. The Act ensures free and compulsory education up to Class VIII.
Kumar’s parents can’t afford to admit him in an expensive private school affiliated to another board. Admissions in these schools under the 25 per cent quota may not be possible as well as they are filled with students who took from Class I. His parents don’t want to admit him in a government-run school.
Chandrakant Singh, chairman of the coordination committee (RTE wing) of these schools, said granting “broken affiliation” to the 1,100 schools is the only way out to help these students continue with their education. Broken affiliation will enable these schools to run classes in two shifts: Class I to V in the first shift and Class VI to VIII in the second.
The coordination committee has sought immediate intervention of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani. The committee has demanded that in the larger interest of these students, the Department of Education under the Delhi government should extend “broken affiliation” to these schools. Singh said Kejriwal has forwarded their proposal for broken recognition to Education Minister Manish Sisodia.
“RTE came in vogue in 2010-11 and students enrolled then under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota have now reached Class V. Parents are worried whats next, where to get their wards admitted if these 1,100 schools are unable to provide free education up to Class VIII. We have appealed to the Centre and state to look into our demands,” Singh said.
The 1,100 MCD-affiliated schools mostly cater to students from the margins of the society. Fees are almost 50 per cent less than the private schools.