Nagpur: The free education quota in schools under RTE is applicable only till Class 8, after which students either have to pay or change schools if they can’t afford the tuition. Sources had reported this in 2020 when the first batch of RTE students entered Class 9. A school trustee said this issue has come to the fore for the last couple of years. “Majority of students pay the fee and complete their Class 9 and 10 education.
But yes, there are some who apply for TC and change schools,” said the trustee.
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Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
In Nagpur, CBSE schools are the preferred destination and their fees range from as low as Rs25,000 per year to Rs1.8 lakh a year. However, almost all of the big brand schools are out of RTE ambit since they have minority status. The handful that still are under RTE purview charge an average of Rs50,000 annually.
Schools say already the RTE reimbursements are getting delayed, and if they have to provide free admission for another two years, it won’t be financially feasible. A school trustee said, “For Class 9 and 10, we will have to provide free education to 25% of the total strength.
The fee for these 25% students will ultimately be have to be borne by the remaining 75% and that shall cause another controversy. The govt should have ideally extend the free RTE education right till Class 12.”
Another school principal added that their institutes have expenses like teacher salaries, building maintenance etc to take care of. “Can you imagine working with 25% cut in your salary? Schools are a soft target, hence even if we raise voice for our rights everybody opposes us,” said the principal. Sanjay Tayde-Patil, president of Maharashtra English Schools Trustees, said, “All that the govt has to do is to announce RTE implementation up to Class 12. For this parents have to take the initiative and hit the streets. I promise to support parents in such endeavours.”
