Govt asks schools to form management panels

The state has asked schools, other than private unaided schools, to form a School Management Committee as per rules given under the Right to Education Act before September 30.

The state has asked schools, other than private unaided schools, to form a School Management Committee (SMC) as per rules given under the Right to Education (RTE) Act before September 30.

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The SMC will have the parents, guardians and teachers working together. According to the government resolution, SMC members will have voting rights and will constitute the general house.

The president of the SMC will be a parent of a student studying in any of the classes between Class 6 to 12.

The SMC will takeover all the roles and functions of PTA. The SMCs will have the responsibility of monitoring schools and utilisation of school funds. However, the RTE has made inclusion of 50 per cent women and parents of children from disadvantaged groups in the SMCs.

“Most schools do not even have a PTA which was made mandatory by a high court order where we have received complaints of rigged elections.The SMC will also be formed in similar way as the school managements have been authorised to form them,” said Jayant Jain, president of Forum for Fairness in Education.

“The schools mostly appoint parents who are spouses of their teachers. The election does not happen in a democratic way and it defeats the purpose at the end,” he said.