Pvt school ordered to donate 25 computers for violating RTE

A private school in the city has been ordered to donate 25 computers to five government schools as a penalty for violating the Right To Education (RTE) Act.

Kripa Amar Alva, chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR), ordered the Daffodils English School to donate five computers each to as many government schools after an inquiry found the institution guilty.

"The Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) and the Block Education Officer (BEO) are directed to identify such government schools, which do not have computers in and around the respondent school and ensure its (sic) instalment with all proper accessories within 15 days from the date of receipt of this order," the order said.

This is not the first time that the commission has penalised private schools for various violations in the past six months. At least 10 others were previously ordered to donate three computers each to government schools. The violations include denying RTE admissions, withholding transfer certificates (TCs) and giving corporal punishment, Kripa said, adding that the punishment was handed out to ensure government schools get better infrastructure.

Several parents had complained against the Daffodils school. These included a diktat that students wear only Adidas shoes to school, run five rounds in the playground or stand in the sun for an hour as punishment.

The school was also accused of collecting the fee only in cash. It didn't conduct a single parent-teacher meeting throughout the year and asked the parents of RTE children to pay the fee. Students who failed to pay up got a message inscribed on their hand.

Kripa said in the order: "It was found from the diary produced by the complainant that the school was insisting that students wear only Adidas shoes. Even the school admitted that results were withheld of those who have not paid the fee. The school has committed a grave violation of all the norms of the RTE Act."

But Aparna R, school principal, maintained that the issue was about a single parent whose children were not given the marks card as they didn't pay the fee. "All the allegations are untrue. Our CCTV cameras have a backup of only 28 days. That's why we could not provide documentary evidence to disprove the allegations. I will take up the issue with the management and decide on the future course of action," she said.