Latest news with #RighttoEducationAct
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Over 9,000 RTE seats vacant in Gujarat, 60% in English schools
Ahmedabad: More than 9,000 seats under the Right to Education Act remain vacant across Gujarat's private schools, with English-medium schools accounting for the largest share of vacancies despite these being among the most sought-after options for urban families. After two rounds of admissions under RTE Act, as per state education department records, "9,157 seats are still available across the state, including 5,263 in English-medium schools," which is nearly 60%. These figures may depict a trend where economically disadvantaged families appear hesitant to claim RTE seats in English-medium institutions. This year, 94,798 RTE seats were made available across 9,814 unaided private schools offering instruction in various languages. The first round saw 86,264 students receive allotments, with 80,453 confirming their admissions by the May 8 deadline. A second round allocated 7,006 additional seats, but only 5,240 families completed the confirmation process. The distribution of vacant seats reveals distinct patterns across medium of instruction. While English-medium schools account for 5,263 unfilled positions, Hindi-medium institutions have 1,920 vacant seats, Gujarati schools 1,800, and smaller numbers in Odia (105), Urdu (39), and Marathi (30) medium schools. Under the RTE framework, children from economically weaker sections receive free admission to private primary schools, with the govt reimbursing institutions for fee waivers. The programme aims to provide quality education access to underprivileged students in schools typically beyond their economic reach. Education department officials indicate that a third round of admissions will be conducted to fill remaining vacancies.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Half an hour increase in school timings for high school students
High school class timings in the new academic year will be extended by half an hour on working days except for Fridays. The decision was taken at a meeting of the quality improvement programme (QIP) monitoring committee that was presided over by Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty here on Friday. The meeting was held to decide the academic calendar for the new session that begins on Monday. The half an hour extension is intended to achieve the target of 1,200 instructional hours a year for high school classes as stipulated in the Right to Education Act. There will be 204 working days for high school classes in the year. These include six Saturdays that do not count as sixth working day of a week. A decision on whether the half an hour increase in timings will be implemented in the morning or the afternoon will be taken at the department level. Saturdays will not be working days for lower primary classes (Class I to IV) as 800 hours of instruction is enough for them. For upper primary classes that require 1,000 hours, two Saturdays that do not count as sixth working day in a week will be counted as working days. An order in this regard will be issued soon. Last year, the government had published a 220-day academic calendar that included 25 Saturdays as working days. However, the High Court had quashed the decision and directed the government to examine the issue again. A five-member expert committee had submitted a report to the government in which an increase in school timings by half and hour was one of the most significant recommendations. It had also proposed a five-day school week.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Unaided schools oppose fee reimbursement plan for students admitted under RTE Act
Members of unaided private school management associations in Andhra Pradesh are strongly opposing the government's proposed 'per child expenditure' amount for fee reimbursement. This reimbursement is meant for students admitted under Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. The Act mandates unaided private schools to reserve 25% of their entry-level seats for children belonging to the economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups. To decide the 'per child expenditure' amount, the government recently formed a committee. This committee is chaired by the Principal Secretary of Government School Education and includes the State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha (as member and convener), the Commissioner of School Education, representatives from private and unaided school management associations, and NGOs such as Indus Action, Pratham, and UNICEF. The committee members, who represented AP Private, Unaided Schools Managements Association, AP Private Schools' Association, AP Independent School Managements Association (ISMA) and United Private Education Institutions, raised objections to the proposed classification of schools and demanded that the government fix the reimbursement amount according to the Right to Education Act. They argued that the officials' approach on the issue was unfair and burdensome to the private schools. Accusing the State government of failure in fulfilling its obligation on reimbursement of the fees of these children in the last three years, they said the GOs released during this period were also struck down by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. They said despite tremendous financial pressure, the private school managements allowed the students to continue their education in their respective institutions. Citing pending reimbursement of last three years, they said the government should clarify who will clear the pending payment and demanded that the government adopt a practical and fair stand on the issue and fix the reimbursement amount as per stipulated norms. They said several small institutions were on the verge of closure due to the increasing financial pressure and added that their plight would further deteriorate if the State went ahead with its decision on the fee structure.
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
MK Stalin seeks 50% share in tax revenue, release of education funds and more from Centre – Full list of demands here
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin urged for a 50 per cent share of central tax revenue for states at the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Stalin claimed that the southern state received nearly 33 per cent of tax revenue, while 41 per cent was promised. In a post on X, the Tamil Nadu CM wrote, 'At the #NITIAayog meeting, I demanded a rightful 50 per cent share for States in central taxes. We currently receive only 33.16 per cent against the promised 41.' Stalin asked the central government to disburse ₹ 2,200 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) for Tamil Nadu. Stalin claimed that this amount was denied to the state for not signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Education Ministry over the "PM Shri" scheme, which aimed to improve education and school infrastructure. 'Particularly, nearly ₹ 2,200 crore of Union funds have been denied to Tamil Nadu in the year 2024-2025. This affects the education of children studying in government schools and children studying under Right to Education Act ( RTE). Therefore, I urge you to release this fund without delay and without insisting on unilateral conditions,' Stalin said while addressing the NITI Aayog meet. "It is not ideal for the cooperative federal structure that states should be given funds after a legal battle. This will affect the development of the state and nation, as well," he added. Previously, the Tamil Nadu CM accused the Centre of halting education funds to the state due to petty politics and claimed that his government will move the Supreme Court, PTI reported. He also mentioned the need for a dedicated urban transformation mission in Tamil Nadu under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and urban Transformation 2.0 (AMRUT 2.0), which aims to provide universal coverage of water supply in all households. Stalin requested the creation of a river clean-up project for the Cauvery, Vaigai, and Thamirabarani. "I also urged a Clean Ganga-style project for Cauvery, Vaigai, and Thamirabarani, with names in English for national coherence and regional pride," the Tamil Nadu CM wrote. Stalin submitted a memorandum to PM Narendra Modi highlighting key demands for development of Tamil Nadu. Some of his demands included approval for Coimbatore & Madurai metro, upgrade NH32 from Chengalpattu to Tindivanam, expansion of Coimbatore & Madurai Airports, establishment of AIIMS in Coimbatore, change in nomenclature of certain communities in SC/ST List ('N'/'A' to 'R') and more. The Tamil CM also highlighted the state's vision for development at the NITI Aayog meeting. "The moto of our Dravidian Model government is 'Everything for Everyone'," he said. Tamil Nadu aims to reach its target of a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030.
India Today
24-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
MK Stalin seeks Rs 2,200 crore as education funds, raised share in central taxes
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, who boycotted the last three Niti Aayog Governing Council meetings, attended the 2025 edition in Delhi on Saturday and urged the Centre to disburse its share of Rs 2,200 crore worth of funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). He also demanded that Tamil Nadu's share in central taxes be raised to 50 per cent in alignment with the Prime Minister's vision of increasing the speed of development in to a few states not signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education on the PM Shri scheme, the SSA funding has been denied. Specifically, for the year 2024-2025, nearly Rs 2,200 crore in Union funding has been withheld from Tamil Nadu," Stalin said during the 10th Niti Aayog meet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra said the denial of funds affects the education of children studying in government schools and children studying under Right to Education Act (RTE) and urged the Centre to release the funds without delay and without insisting on "unilateral conditions". Earlier, PM Modi asked states to work towards "future-ready" cities and develop at least one tourist destination at par with global standards. The Prime Minister urged the chief ministers to increase the speed of development in order to achieve the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat' or developed India by to the PM's development pitch for states, Stalin said that the Centre should enhance its share in central taxes to 50 per cent, saying it was necessary for a dedicated urban transformation mission in the Nadu currently receives 33.16 per cent share in central taxes against a promised 41 per cent, Stalin recently said in a social media post."Our long-term vision is to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth founded on equality and social justice. The Dravidian Model is our chosen path to ensure everything for everyone," Stalin maintained, adding that his government envisages achieving a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030 and USD 4.5 trillion by 2047 to sit well with PM Modi's "developed India" the gathering, comprising Union Ministers, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman and Chief Ministers of other states, MK Stalin said that Tamil Nadu has consistently maintained an 8 per cent GDP growth in recent years, reaching 9.69 per cent growth last year."Tamil Nadu has become industrialised throughout. From automobiles to green hydrogen, we have seen strong growth in all emerging sectors," the DMK chief listed out key welfare measures his government employed since PTI inputsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
