Reservation of 25 Percent Seats for Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Groups in Private Schools: Problems Faced by Schools Management

Abstract

Clause 12 (1) (c) of the act shifted Right to Education from a directive principle of state policy to a fundamental right “12 (1) (c) clause of Right to Education Act, 2009 states a school belongs to specified category and an unaided school not receiving any kind of aid or grants to meet its expenses from the appropriate government or the local authority shall admit in class I, to the extent of at least 25% of the strength of that class, children belonging to weaker section and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood and provide free and compulsory elementary education till its completion”. All private unaided recognized schools, except for minority institutions, have to keep 25% of their total seats reserved for Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Group category under the Right to Education (RTE) so it is necessary to study the problems faced by school authorities for better and effective implementation of this clause.

e present research aims to study problems faced by school authorities (management, principal, coordinators and administrators). This research is qualitative in nature. Data was collected through survey method. In the present study, three private schools got DDA (Delhi Development Authority) Land were randomly chosen from the list of schools. 2 Managers (2 schools), 1 chairman (1 school) and Principals of 3 schools were consulted. 3 coordinators of each school and 2 administrators engaged with the policy were also selected as sample. Semi-structured interview schedule for School authorities (management, principal, coordinators and administrators) was conducted to critically study various aspects. Data was analyzed qualitatively using narrative analysis. The study concluded that 25% reservation for Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Group is a positive move but the question arises whether genuine people are coming or not? Income limit should be raised as presently it is one lakh per annum because no one is coming to schools from that strata. Effective implementation of clause 12 (1) (c) for all children would lead to better educational experience as well as social inclusion.