JOIN USThe association of CBSE and ICSE schools in Karnataka have threatened not to provide 25 pc RTE quota in their institutions unless the government reimbursed the fee towards the students admitted under the quota this year.
L R Shivarame Gowda, the president of Karnataka Federation of Independent Schools’ Managements (KFISM), said that they will not reserve 25 pc seats as required under the RTE, if the government did not pay them the dues for last year before the commencement of admissions for the coming academic year. The association includes CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and IB schools. The reimbursement amount is a maximum of Rs 11,848 per year for class I students and Rs 5,924 for a LKG student. The federation also met Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Kimmane Ratnakar in this regard.
“The reimbursement amount was due in September. As many as 75,000 students have been admitted under the quota across the State. In fact, more than a lakh students had to benefit from the reservation provision. But, owing lack of an organised approach on the government’s part, the number of beneficiaries also decreased,” said Gowda. He said the decision was taken on behalf of all unaided schools in the State, as part of the Karnataka Private School management Joint Action Committee (KAPJAC), but the State Board Schools’ Association categorically stated that they were yet to take a stand on the issue.
Shashikumar, organising secretary of Karnataka State Private School Management Federation told Deccan Herald that they were not aware of the proceedings of the KFISM meeting on Friday. “We will be able to take a stand only after a meeting with all the members under KAPJAC,” he said. The KAPJAC includes multiple school management associations including Karnataka Unaided School Managements Association which has more than 1,000 schools under its umbrella.
Mohammed Mohsin, Commissioner of Public Instruction said they were awaiting funds from the Finance Department. “It will be reimbursed within a week,” he said.
The timetable
According to a circular issued by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Karnataka, the admission process will begin on January 6, with the block education officers publishing the number of seats available in each school under the quota. The admission enrolment will begin on March 3.