Not paid, private schools say no to EWS admissions

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, April 9

Private school operators have decided that no student from economically weaker section will be admitted under Rule 134 A of the Haryana School Education Rules from this session as the state government hasn’t reimbursed them for previous years.

At a press conference held on Tuesday in Chandigarh, Kulbhushan Sharma, state president of the Federation of Private Schools’ Association and national president of the National Independent School Alliance (NISA), said, “Private school operators want to teach the poor, but the policy and rules of the Khattar government are against them.”

He said, “Since the BJP government is formed, the reimbursement decided for the poor children has not been given to them. It means that the government is plotting to deprive the poor of education and make private schools infamous.”

“For the past six years, private schools are admitting poor children under Rule 134 A free of cost. No reimbursement has been made so far,” he said.

Private schools have claimed that they have not been granted reimbursement of Rs 500 crore by the Khattar government.

Over one lakh children are receiving free education under Rule 134 A in private schools operating across the state. The state doesn’t provide for 25 per cent economically weaker section (EWS) quota at the entry level in schools as per the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act. It only provides for 10 per cent quota for all classes under the Haryana School Education Rules.

One lakh children enrolled

• Over one lakh children are receiving free education under Rule 134 A in private schools operating across the state
• It was claimed that Rs 500 crore of reimbursement to schools have not been granted by Khattar Government