It has been reported that 4400 schools in Maharashtra are to witness Maharashtra Bandh in the state on February 25, which is called by Federation of Schools Association of Maharashtra (FSAM), due to Government administration’s failed response over the implementation of the RTE Act on January 24.
According to the members of the FSAM, they argued that the Government Resolution (GR) drafted by the State Government on November 1, 2018, stated that the Government will only reimburse ₹17,000 per year per child which is less than the tuition fees of every student, also every school charges different amounts of tuition fees, none could match this number, which shall be considered as unfair.
“Each school has a different fee structure depending on the facilities it provides. Moreover, the GR states that the government will only reimburse the tuition fees, and no other costs, like electricity, land etc,” said Rajendra Singh, representative of Independent English Schools Association.
Singh informed that the schools were asked for the certificates and documents of the students that were enrolled under the Act since students were shortlisted for admission after proper government verification. This led to identifying the lack of machinery to record the enrolments and the implementation of RTE, FSAM members asked the government to visit the schools and record the attendance.
The few other demands made by the FSAM included protection to be provided for the school staff, stating regulations in the GR making the bus driver/conductor held responsible, for any accident or dangerous incidents during traveling of school buses, instead of the school authorities. Additionally, demanded permission for passing the Class 8 and 9 students online, called ‘Darja Wadh’, and provide free books, bag, uniform, and stationery to the students under the RTE Act, and reimbursing the fees fairly according to the Executive Parents Teachers Association approved fees for different schools in the state.