Panel to conduct month-long survey of errant schools

A committee under the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSPCR) will conduct a month-long survey of City schools against which there have been complaints of violation of the Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.  

      
The four-member committee, likely to begin its work from October 25, will look to evaluate the schools against a set of parameters such as compliance with the RTE Act and guidelines against corporal punishment, the infrastructure such as toilets, classrooms.

While priority will be given to the complaints that have been lodged with the Commission, grievances of a serious nature lodged with other child rights groups will also be considered. The plan is to complete the survey of at least 30 schools by the end of November. Nagasimha G Rao, Director, Child Rights Trust and coordinator of the committee, said they were awaiting an official nod from KSCPCR to begin work.


From NGOs

The other members of the committee are from non-governmental organisations such as Bachpan Bachao Andolan and Sparsha.

“We will conduct a meeting on October 22 to get a clear picture of the plan. The recomendations from the survey will be forwarded by the commission to the Education department,” said Umesh Aradhya, Chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, said.