Chandigarh data erroneous: Centre

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 8

The Centre has found the UT report on private-unaided schools under an obligation to admit EWS students and schools reimbursed “erroneous”.

Following the confusion, the Centre has asked the UT Education Department to update them about the correct status of reimbursement and schools admitting EWS students.

In the minutes of project approval board (PAB) meeting dated June 16, the Ministry of Education stated: “The Administration has reported that there are 54 private-unaided schools under an obligation to provide free education to EWS children on account of having received concessions from the government.”

“Further, it has also been reported that only 54 private-unaided schools are admitting children under Section 12(1) (C) and these schools are also being reimbursed by the UT.”

The MHRD pointed out that there seems to be some error either in reporting the number of schools under an obligation to admit EWS students or regarding the reimbursement being made. Both aspects need to be looked into and correct status needs to be intimated to the MHRD. The ministry pointed out that the 54 same schools cannot be reimbursed if they are under an obligation to provide free education on account of concession from the government.

In Chandigarh, schools are bound to reserve 10 per cent seats for the weaker section under the land allotment scheme and do not get paid for it.

To qualify for reimbursement for admitting EWS children in schools, the RTE Act holds that the unaided schools should reserve a minimum of 25 per cent of total class strength for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups. Schools shall not be entitled to reimbursement to the extent of the obligation under the concessional land rule of the state, according to the Act. Hence, the city schools are paid only for the remaining 15 per cent. Many schools do not fill all 25 per cent seats and hence, do not qualify for reimbursement.

There are 77 private schools in the city of which 22 schools are minority institutions that are not under an obligation to admit EWS/DG students. Over 50 schools claim reimbursement every year, but not all are found eligible for it.

Only 29 schools each qualified for reimbursement in 2015-16 and 2016-17, while 30 schools qualified for the 2017-18 session. Over 49 schools in 2016-17 and 48 schools in the subsequent session submitted information regarding reimbursement.