Bangalore schools demand Govt. to define minority under RTE

Updated on: Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Karnataka (recognized) Unaided Schools Management's Association (KUSMA) demanded a deferral of the implementation of the Right to Education Act to the next academic year because the government is yet to define the term 'minority'.

The association, which has over 1,800 member schools,threatened to close down the schools if the government forced them to implement the Act. KUSMA cited the example of a school having bilingual members on its board. The Constitution declares that a minority could be a religious or a linguistic one. This would lead to confusion whether a school is a minority one or not.

Soumya Ramesh, secretary, Gnanaganga Vidyapeeta , an unaided private school, and KUSMA member , said all they want is a clear demarcation of minority and non-minority institutions to ensure proper admissions.

Principal education secretary G Kumar Naik said the government is working on the definition of a minority .

A Mariyappa , secretary , KUSMA , said in Tumkur district , one school comprising members of a sub-division of the Veerashaiva sect has been treated as a minority whereas in Gulbarga , the same sect is a non-minority . In Mangalore district , Tulu Governing Council members have been denied minority status because the government says those talking in Tulu are deemed to be Kannada speakers . "This is utter arbitrariness ,'' he said .

"In the absence of a specific rule , some minority institutions could be deprived of this status and will be inevitably exempted . The very purpose of free and compulsory education to every child is lost. RTE can't be applied till the government outlines the basic rule ," he said . KUSMA believes that half of all private unaided schools in Karnataka could gain 'minority' status if the term is defined fairly.

Bangalore schools demand Govt. to define minority under RTE

More Education news