In contravention of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, economically disadvantaged pupils in Guwahati are being charged fees to attend private schools, according to the Gauhati High Court. Despite the existence of the RTE Act, the court questioned the State Education Department regarding the actions taken against schools that had charged students for admissions.
During the court proceedings, the Secretary of the Department of Secondary School Education was present, and the court ordered him to guarantee that the RTE Act is strictly implemented. The court condemned South Point School for charging kids admitted under the RTE Act fees, underlining that it is the schools’ responsibility to admit eligible low-income students under the RTE Act.
The next hearing has been scheduled for May 29 and the authorities have been urged to take action if violations of previous directives are discovered. The court has highlighted that strict adherence to the RTE Act’s requirements is necessary to defend the rights of economically disadvantaged pupils and promote equal access to excellent education.
In light of the concern expressed by the Gauhati High Court, there is an immediate need to address the issue of private schools collecting fees to economically disadvantaged pupils in violation of the RTE Act. The court’s directives to the State Education Department and its criticism of South Point School highlight the significance of holding schools accountable and ensuring that all qualified students have access to a free education.
