9 schools showcaused for skipping RTE meet
The meeting, held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri, focused on ensuring 25% enrolment of children from below poverty Line (BPL) families in private schools, as mandated under the RTE Act.
On Wednesday, the district superintendent of education issued official letters to absent schools seeking clarification for their unexplained absence. DSE, Badal Raj, said, "The education department has treated this act as a clear disregard of departmental orders and has instructed all the defaulting schools to submit their explanations by July 19.
Additionally, they have been directed to update their enrolment data on the designated portal without delay.
"
The letter further warned that if the schools fail to respond within the stipulated timeline, the department will be compelled to initiate further action as per rules. It was found that 116 applications selected under the RTE quota had been returned by various private schools.
The schools that received show cause notices include Chotanagpur Public School, Don Bosco English Medium School Hesag, LA Garden Samlong, RB Springdale Public School, RTC Public School Muri, St. Aloysius English Medium School, St. Aurobindo English Medium School, St. Columbus School Murgu, and St. Xavier's School Dhurwa.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘A for Akhilesh', ‘D for Dimple': SP leader booked for politicised alphabets at ‘PDA Pathshala'
An FIR has been lodged against a local Samajwadi Party (SP) leader in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur for allegedly teaching children 'politicised alphabets' during a 'PDA Pathshala'. Akhilesh Yadav slams UP govt over FIR: "Even the British didn't file FIRs for studying... BJP's anti-education face exposed. Now they'll be gone forever. Condemnable."(PTI) Police officials said that a complaint was filed alleging that the children were taught "A for Akhilesh", "B for Babasaheb", "D for Dimple," and 'M for Mulayam Singh Yadav', news agency PTI reported on Sunday. SP City Vyom Bindal said that Main Singh, a resident of Kallarpur Gurjar village, submitted the complaint accusing SP leader Farhad Alam Gada of conducting lessons using 'politicised alphabets' at a so-called 'PDA Pathshala'. The matter surfaced after a video – allegedly filmed at Gada's residence in Ramnagar – emerged on social media and quickly went viral. The children seen in the video were reportedly pupils from a private school and appeared to be dressed in their school uniforms. Akhilesh Yadav reacts Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticised the state government over the FIR. Responding to the incident, the former chief minister wrote on 'X', 'Even the British did not file an FIR for studying. The anti-education face of the BJP has now been exposed to the public. Now the BJP will be gone forever. Condemnable.' Meanwhile, Farhad Gada defended himself by saying that the "PDA Pathshala" was not solely focused on teaching the alphabet but aimed to familiarise children with the "great men of Samajwadi ideology." He also expressed his plan to establish similar schools throughout the district. 2 SP leaders booked over 'PDA Pathshala', protest against school merger In a separate case, an FIR was filed on Friday against Samajwadi Party leader Rachna Singh Gautam for allegedly holding an unauthorised "PDA Pathshala" outside a government primary school in Shahampur Garhi village, Bilhaur block, Kanpur. Police also booked another SP leader and around a dozen others in Bhadohi for allegedly involving schoolchildren in a protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's plan to merge schools with low enrolment, according to officials. The FIR includes charges of misusing government premises, spreading misinformation, and politicising children. Officials said the "PDA Pathshala" in Bilhaur breached multiple rules, including those under the IT Act and the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Gautam had reportedly conducted similar sessions in other villages too. As per the complaint by the Block Education Officer (BEO), Gautam held the "pathshala" without authorisation from local authorities and went ahead despite objections from the school staff. Children were allegedly taught political slogans and references tied to the SP's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) campaign near the school premises. BEO Ravi Kumar Singh confirmed that photos and videos were submitted to the district administration. In the visuals, students can be seen reciting SP-related phrases, while some clips also show allegedly incorrect educational content being taught. Singh added that Gautam herself circulated these on social media.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
2 Samajwadi Party leaders booked over PDA Pathshala, school merger protest
An FIR was registered against Samajwadi Party leader Rachna Singh Gautam on Friday for allegedly conducting an unauthorised 'PDA Pathshala' (classroom) outside a government primary school at Shahampur Garhi village in Bilhaur development block of Kanpur. A PDA Pathshala started by SP in Uttar Pradesh. (SOURCED) Police have also registered a case against a Samajwadi Party leader and a dozen people in Bhadohi for allegedly involving schoolchildren in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to merge schools with low enrolment, officials said. The 'PDA Pathshala' in Bilhaur violated multiple regulations, including provisions under the IT Act and the Right to Education (RTE) Act, officials said. Gautam supposedly held such 'classes' in other villages as well. Gautam organised the 'pathshala' without prior approval from local authorities, and continued with the programme despite objections from the school administration, according to the complaint of the block education officer (BEO). Children were allegedly taught political slogans and references associated with the SP's PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) campaign in the 'pathshala' held in the vicinity of a government school. BEO Ravi Kumar Singh confirmed that photographs and videos of the event had been submitted to the district administration. In the visuals, students are seen reciting phrases linked to the SP, while some videos also allegedly show incorrect basic educational content being taught. These materials were circulated on social media by Gautam herself, Singh said. The BEO said, 'Running such parallel educational setups without any official recognition or permission is illegal. No arrangement can operate alongside a government institution without due process. What was done here is unauthorised.' Kanpur's additional DCP West Kapil Dev Singh stated that a case had been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the IT Act. 'The matter is under investigation,' he said. The FIR includes charges related to misuse of a government facility, spreading misinformation, and political exploitation of children. In a statement, Gautam alleged that the FIR was politically motivated. 'The government is trying to silence voices who are working for marginalised children. I will continue holding such classes. The closure of schools affects the PDA children the most,' she said. In Bhadohi, district magistrate Shailesh Kumar said 40 students of the primary school in Sikandra village under Aurai block were shifted to a vacant anganwadi centre in nearby Pilkhani village -- around 800 metres away -- with the consent of their parents. He said local Samajwadi Party leader Anjani Saroj, along with her supporters, visited the anganwadi centre on Wednesday and distributed pencils, erasers and other items to the children. Later, she allegedly lured the students with toffees, handed them banners and posters and led them in a protest march back to the Sikandra primary school. The matter was probed by the chief development officer and the sub-divisional magistrate, following which the school's headmaster lodged a complaint with the Chauri police station, the DM said. A case was registered against Saroj and others on Thursday evening, officials said. In view of the alleged negligence in the matter, a departmental inquiry has been ordered against Ramakant Singroul, assistant education officer of Aurai, he added. Station house officer of Chauri, Ramesh Kumar, said a case has been lodged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita based on a complaint by headmaster Sabhajit Yadav. (With agencies)
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Shift in school vacation timings requires Kerala Education Rules' amendment
A shift in the academic year-end school vacations from April-May to June-July will require an amendment to the Kerala Education Rules (KER). According to Chapter 7 (1) of the KER, all schools will close for the summer vacation every year on the last working day of March and reopen on the first working day of June. Any shift in this schedule will have to be notified by the Director of General Education. A lasting change can be effected only through amendment to the KER. RTE Rules Significantly, Section 8 (4)(b) of the Kerala Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011, does say that the government should ensure minimum number of working days and instructional hours in an academic year as specified in the Schedule to the RTE Act by arranging the school vacations in such a manner that their duration does not exceed 45 days at a time. However, the possibility of the government taking any major decision in its last year in office is slim, say teachers' organisations. Education experts have raised the question as to why the summer vacations cannot be held in May-June if not April-May or even trimmed to 45 or even fewer days as in many other States if loss of working days is a concern. Schools in Delhi, for instance, follow the mid-May to June-end vacation schedule. Kendriya Vidyalayas Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas in the State that initially adhered to the May-June schedule followed nationally also shifted to April-May years ago. Parents of KV students in Palakkad had approached the Kerala State Human Rights Commission seeking rescheduling of the vacation as summer peaked in Kerala in the months of April and May. The government itself has issued orders banning classes during the peak of summer in the wake of directives from the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, a teachers' organisation had pointed out. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty did not go into how the academic calendar could be rearranged against the backdrop of public examinations and result publication, Plus One higher secondary admissions, and entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE, and CUET that are held in these months. Adverse monsoon The pro-Communist Party of India (CPI) All Kerala School Teachers' Union (AKSTU) says discussions should be held on the Minister's proposal since Kerala had been experiencing the adverse effects of monsoon rains in the recent past. However, it should be ensured that the prospects of students who head out of the State after Class XII are not affected. A rethink on the public examination schedule would also be required. The Aided Higher Secondary Teachers' Association (AHSTA) says the rising summer temperatures and water scarcity make it impractical to conduct classes in schools during April-May. As the proposed schedule change will also create difficulties for students appearing for national entrance examinations and taking admission to institutions in other States, discussions with teachers and experts should be held on the matter before going forward with it.
