In a fervent demonstration of opposition, parents and members of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) gathered in Nigdi to protest against the exclusion of private schools from the ambit of the Right to Education (RTE) initiative. Led by AAP’s Chetan Bendre, the protest aimed to highlight the detrimental impact of this exclusion on children’s fundamental right to education.
The rally, commencing from Shubhshree Residency and culminating at the Upper Tehsil Office, witnessed impassioned pleas from parents and AAP members demanding the inclusion of private unaided schools under the RTE umbrella.
Chetan Bendre emphasized the pressing need to extend RTE benefits to private unaided English schools, underlining their substantial contribution to the state’s educational landscape. The protest shed light on the challenges faced by economically and socially disadvantaged students, urging authorities to rectify the exclusion.
A significant grievance raised during the protest was the delay in fee reimbursement for students enrolled under RTE, leading to dissatisfaction among school administrators and accumulating pending reimbursements running into crores.
Meena Javale, the city president of AAP, called upon the state government to address this issue promptly, ensuring timely fee reimbursements and extending the RTE provisions to private unaided schools.
AAP spokesperson Prakash Hagwane, along with party officials including woman president Saroj Kadam and Mohsin Gadkari, expressed solidarity with the protesting parents. They emphasized the crucial need for equitable access to quality education and urged the government to reconsider its decision.
The decision to exclude private unaided schools from RTE faced strong criticism during the protest, with AAP representatives asserting that it would disproportionately affect economically disadvantaged students, limiting their chances for enrollment in reputable educational institutions.
Concerns were also raised about potential loopholes in the management of admissions in private unaided schools, posing a threat to the accessibility of RTE benefits for eligible students.
As the debate intensifies, parents and activists remain resolute in their demand for inclusive education policies that safeguard every child’s right to quality education.
