Education is not a business, implement Right To Education

Updated on: Monday, April 23, 2012

Shayama Chona was in Nagpur on Sunday to speak at a seminar organized by The Millennium School (TMS). Chona is an independent director of Educomp Solutions, which manages TMS through one of its units. She has four decades of experience in the field of education, 54 awards topped by a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, and is actively involved with the HRD ministry on various issues. She is also on the managing committees of 46 schools, but still manages to keep her head firmly on her shoulders.

Speaking to TOI, Chona came down hard on private unaided schools that are unhappy over the Right To Education law's requirements for 25% seat reservation for poor children. "The Supreme Court too has upheld the provision and now that provision of RTE is beyond debate. When I was principal of Delhi Public School at New Delhi, I always reserved seats for poor students and the integration went off well," said Chona.

Top private schools in Nagpur have also expressed concern over the negative psychological impacts on poor children once they start studying with the city's rich students. Chona says the bogeyman of 'inferiority complex' is just an excuse by private players who want to maintain their exclusivity.

"The RTE has taken care of this concern but unfortunately none of these principals have read the act. RTE says admissions under the 25% quota can only be done in the lowest class available in every school, which will ensure that the kids grow up together and no complex will prevail," said Chona.

She added that every school starts from Std I, and most have their pre-schooling setups as well, giving kids a chance to bond at a very early age. "The government is not asking that poor students be admitted to Std VI or VII straightaway," said Chona.

Another concern of private institutes was the impact on revenue when 25% seats will have poor students especially since the government's compensation is expected to be meagre. Chona said, "The schools can easily ramp up their capacity and cover the costs. If they had 100 seats last year then they should increase capacity by 25% to offset the costs. India's constitution says education is a charitable act and not a business, but some private players think otherwise."

Education is not a business, implement Right To Education

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