Impasse ends as govt hikes reimbursement

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 26

The impasse over admission of economically weaker section (EWS) children to private schools has ended with the government increasing the amount of reimbursement to schools to some extent and agreeing to give the benefit directly to students in shape of ‘education voucher.’

Kulbhushan Sharma, president of the Haryana Federation of Private Schools, informed The Tribune after a meeting of the private schools with Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma and others that his members were happy with the outcome and had decided to end their agitation.

The Education Minister also announced after the meeting that the reimbursement of fee given to private schools had been increased by the government.

“Students of Classes II to V in private schools in rural areas will be given Rs 300 per month and those in urban areas would be given Rs 500 per month. Similarly, students of classes VI to VIII in private schools in rural areas will get Rs 500 per month and those in urban areas would be given Rs 700 per month as reimbursement. The amount would be credited directly into bank accounts of these students,” said the minister.

The minister said the recognition period of the private schools which had already been granted temporary recognition would be extended by one year.

Ram Bilas said a coordination committee comprising officers and private school operators had been constituted for the redressal of problems being faced by the private schools.