Scheduled to implement the 25 per cent quota for economically disadvantaged students in private schools under Right to Education Act (RTE) from this academic year, the Department of School Education has passed the ball to the Centre. The department has reasoned that it has no funds to reimburse fees for these students to the schools.

According to RTE activists, the government has already diluted the quota by exempting elite schools under CBSE, ICSE, IB curriculum and is now shying away from implementing the quota even in schools affiliated to the state board. State strapped for funds to implement 25% quota
The state government has put the onus on the Centre for the implementation of 25 per cent quota for economically disadvantaged students in private schools under the Right to Education Act (RTE) from this academic year 2012-13, saying that it has no funds to reimburse fees for students.

The government, which has already diluted the RTE quota by exempting elite schools which offer the CBSE, ICSE, IB curriculum and collect huge fees for admissions by citing a “funding crunch”, is now running away from implementing the quota even in schools affiliated to the state board.

The government estimates that nearly `90 crore is needed to admit 25 per cent RTE quota students in Class I in private schools this year, which will increase by `100 crore every year in the next eight years, as the RTE promises free education till Class VIII.

Crucially, the state government spends `3,500 crore every year on the fee reimbursement scheme to enable students from socially and economically weaker sections to pursue higher education and professional courses. Against this backdrop, RTE activists attacked the government’s claim that it cannot bear `90 crore to implement the RTE quota.

The government is concerned that the financial burden will increase to `800 crore per annum in the next eight years. The department of school education has prepared a detailed report on the “financial burden” the state government will face in the implementation of the RTE quota in private schools.
A senior official said: “Though the financial burden appears to be less in the first year of RTE quota implementation, it will increase significantly over the next eight years. The government has to spend nearly `90 crore this year to admit 25 per cent quota students in Class I in private schools this year.

Unless the Centre extends financial help, it is not possible for the state to implement RTE quota.” The department has referred the issue to the state government to take a final decision on the RTE quota. The issue was scheduled to be discussed during a review meeting convened by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday. However, the meeting was called off, as Mr Reddy had rushed to New Delhi following “political developments” at the Centre and in the state.
RTE burden to be `800cr in 8 years `90 crore is needed to admit 25 per cent RTE quota students in Class I in private schools this year, which will increase by `100 crore every year in the next eight years. The state fears the financial burden will increase to `800 crore per annum in the next eight years. The state government spends `3,500 crore every year on the fee reimbursement scheme