The Delhi government, for the first time, has threatened to take over a private school due to complaints of violating educational provisions, such as conducting fake admissions under the economically weaker section (EWS) quota and repeated fee hikes under the same.
Which schools?
Maxfort School's branches at Rohini and Pitampura were given "take over" notices by the AAP government after they violated certain provisions of the Delhi School Education (DSE) Act, 1973, and the Right to Education Act (RTE), 2009, said Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia,according to an HT report.
"We have initiated the process of taking over the two branches of Maxfort School as an action against the recalcitrant private school. Action was initiated following complaints from parents and teachers," said Sisodia.
Views of Parents:
The prospective taking over of the school management by the Delhi government in around two week's time is being cheered by parents, who had filed complaints with Sisodia last year regarding the school's fake EWS admissions, tax evasion and harassment by tampering with the official records.
"This is a good start and raises the hopes of thousand of parents. We are confident that if the government takes over, the school will run better," said Satish Arora, whose son studies in Class 4 at Maxfort's Rohini branch.
Findings of the inquiry:
Sisoda had set up an inquiry into these allegations under the directorate of education (DoE) and district magistrate (north-west) and found that the schools, which house around 3000 students, are flouting quite a few rules and thus, violating the RTE:
The schools were taking in far fewer admissions under the EWS/disadvantaged group than the directed 25 percent of total strengthPersonal files and service books of teachers were not maintained
The schools did not hand over the details of attendance registers and the salary statements of the staff
The schools unlawfully collected a capitation fee-an additional fee which is not calculated under the tuition fees
Section 24 of the DSE act rules at least one mandatory annual inspection for every school, which was violated by Maxfort's management
Counter move by the school management:
The Maxfort School management, comprising the Chadha Educational Society and S Jagat Singh Chadha Charitable Trust called the move illegal and promised to challenge it in court.
"This is highly unfortunate and illegal. When the DoE already conducted an inquiry and stated the fee hike was justifiable and stated in court, how can the government now take action?" said a member of the school management committee.
The AAP government, since coming to power in February 2015, has been focusing on the education sector and is trying to bring about reforms in the workings of the city schools. It has come under the eye of critics for allegedly infringing the autonomy of private institutions.
Source :INDIATODAY
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