Most private schools flout norms on providing education to EWS students

Gurugram: Widely believed to be a major issue now there is an official assent over how most of the private schools in Gurugram are failing in their commitment to provide education to students who are financially weak. An RTI was filed by a city activist Harinder Dhingra on the number of students under EWS category by the 64 private schools that were given subsidised land by Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).

The management of the schools in turn had committed that 10 per cent of students under EWS category will be admitted on the government school fee structure and other 10 per cent on the merit cum means basis.

However, when the official document was sought, most of the schools refused to divulge the detail. Some of the educational institutions that provided information also have not adhered to the norms. Except for the two to three schools most of the school management are not offering two percent of the seats to EWS students.

In the midst of controversy, Ryan International School was also asked for providing the detail. Its management, however, refused to provide information citing that school comes under the minority status. This is not for the first time when private schools have courted controversy on this issue

Under section 134-A, the private schools have to disclose the number of seats available with it so that about the twenty five percent of the seats can then be reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students. Yet, despite various reminders by the education department most of the private schools in the Gurugram flouted the rules set by the Government and did not disclose the information. There have been often been complaints that most of the schools are charging hefty school fees from the parents. The reluctance to not allow economically backward students has resulted in most of the EWS students availing education through non registered schools and thereby not availing the Government benefits.