Parents interviewed during pre-primary admissions: PIL

Despite enactment of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 which guarantees free and compulsory education, several schools are charging capitation fees for education in pre-primary.

Despite enactment of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 which guarantees free and compulsory education, several schools are charging capitation fees for education in pre-primary.

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They are also interviewing parents and/or children, claims a public interest litigation filed by NGO Forum for Fairness in Education.

The petition alleges that private schools have failed to implement the RTE Act and have flouted its norms and guidelines.

The admission procedure for pre-primary started in October 2010 and was completed by February 15. Almost 80% of the unaided private schools interviewed children and parents, claims the petition.

The NGO claims it has got complaints from parents saying that several schools took their interview and asked questions about their family income, vehicles they owned, income certificates, PAN card details and even the size of their flats.

One of the schools even asked parents to get a character clearance certificate from the local police station. The petition adds that parents are made to sign an affidavit stating that “they (parents) will not take any objection or protest against fee hike at any time by the school management and that the parents will abide by all rules and regulations of the school.”

Although parents have approached officials, the latter have failed to take any action.

However, none of the parents are willing to come on record due to fear that their children may got admission or in case children have been admitted then they (children) may be harassed, said the petition.