They opined that the move would reduce the seats forunderprivileged students under RTE.
A number of parents and child right activists gathered at the Department of Public Instruction near KR Circle on Wednesday, in protest against the State government’s recent move to change the criteria for granting minority status to schools.
Their contention is that the move would considerably reduce the number of seats for the underprivileged students, under the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act in private schools . Parents were seen with black bands on their mouths as a symbolic gesture of protest. Rajesh Kumar, a parent, said, “The black band is a symbolic gesture to indicate that the government has shut out our rights and is leaving us helpless.”
Rajesh said that he had been running from pillar to post along with other parents, trying to get their children admitted to schools that have claimed minority status.
Criteria changed
A recent move by the government changed the criteria for granting minority status to schools.
According to this new criteria a school needs to have at least 25 percent of its students from minority communities.
The earlier condition to get the minority tag was 75 percent and this was challenged in the court by the Karnataka Unaided Minorities Schools Management Association. It managed to get a stay to this government order.
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