Minorities concern about RTE will be sincerely considered

Updated on: Monday, February 06, 2012

Seeking to allay apprehensions about RTE provisions infringing on minority institutions, the government said it is committed to address the issues and pass a bill for its amendment in the ensuing session of Parliament.

"We have discussed these issues and let me assure that I will try to clear them with utmost sincerity," HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said at a function organised by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).

In this regard, he said the RTE Amendment Bill has already been introduced in Parliament and "we are committed to pass it and will pass it in the coming budget".

While the Right to Education Act provides for establishing school management committees to prepare school development plan, the Bill states that such committees of minority institutions shall function only in an advisory capacity.

AIMPLB has been strongly criticising the Act alleging that minority institutions, including madrasas, will lose their identity on account of it.

AIMPLB Secretary, Maulana Muhammad Wali Rahmani had earlier told that while on one hand, the Centre is talking of minority education under Article 30 of the Constitution which clearly says minorities can choose education of their choice, but contrary to it the Act defined everything including place of education, age of education, what to read and where to read.

On the demand for recurring grants to the institutes, Sibal said the demand has some problems because then such grants has to be extended to all other institutes.

Sibal expressed "serious concerns" about allegations of Muslim children facing difficulties seeking admission in private schools, saying this is "injustice" and attention has to be paid to address this issue.

The HRD Minister said he can discuss the issue with the schools and seek explanation in this regard.

"We are ready to do this. Students have the right to admission," he said, underlining that 14 crore Muslims cannot be kept away from education.

The government is extending all possible support for promotion of education of the minorities and has awarded 44 lakh pre-matric scholarships to them during 2011-12, Sibal said.

60 industrial training institutes have been set up in minority concentrated areas, he added.

About the concerns of AIMPLB with regards to direct tax codes and its impact on the minority community, Sibal said he will do his best to address the issue.

Minorities concern about RTE will be sincerely considered

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