Opposition demands scrapping of RTE Act in state

The Legislative Assembly witnessed a call by opposition members that the state government abolish Right to Education (RTE) in Karnataka. The members felt it was affecting the enrollment ratio in government schools.

In reply to a question raised by C T Ravi (BJP), Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait admitted that there was a steady decline of students enrolling in government schools.

The minister said the number of students enrolling in government schools between classes 1 to 10 had declined from 48.64 lakh in 2014-15 to 46.50 lakh in 2016-17.

YSV Datta (JD-S) said the main culprit for the drop in enrollment was RTE, where students get enrolled to private schools on an earmarked quota.

"RTE has resulted in portraying government schools in bad light. The government should take steps to abolish RTE," Datta said.

Datta's view was endorsed by Ravi.