Daily News-WB refunds school fee under RTE

From- http://www.indiablooms.com
New Delhi/Kolkata, Nov 3 (IBNS): Providing a fillip to the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, the District Project Officer of the Sarva Shiksha Mission (SSM) in West Bengal's Malda district has acted to refund fees collected from children.The officer complied with the directives issued by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).


The directives were issued during a public hearing on RTE Act implementation in Kolkata recently.


The District Project Officer, SSM, Malda has reported actions taken on complete refund of fees collected from children in violation of section 3 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.


Further, the project officer has confirmed that all the school authorities have been directed to immediately refund the fees collected from all such children who could not lodge a complaint.


“It is heartening to note that the SSM has reported actions taken on complete refund of fees collected from children in violation of section 3 of the Right to Education (RTE) Act,’’ said Vinod Kumar Tikoo, Member, NCPCR, who was one of the jury members of the public hearing held in Kolkata.


“In yet another case, an FIR has also been lodged against the secretary of Popra Ishwarlal High School with the charge of extracting money from the newcomers lodged in an Ashram hostel. The school management committee has been kept suspended by placing DDO,” he informed.


According to the compliance report received by the Commission, all the other students who have not complained but had to pay fees after 1.4.2010 will be refunded the amount immediately.


With the interventions of NCPCR, necessary steps have also been taken to stop admission test, which is again in violation of section 13 of the RTE Act.


Incidentally, in a public hearing held by the Central body in Kolkata on RTE violations on Oct 20, the DPO, SSM, Malda was directed by the jury to send a compliance report to NCPCR Oct end in the matter of refund of fees to the complaining students of three schools—Chamagram High School, Shimultala High Madrasah and Birnagar High School.


The Right to Education Act, 2009 makes elementary education a fundamental right under Article 21 (a) of the Constitution. 


Every child in the age group of 6-14 will be provided elementary education in the age-appropriate class in the vicinity of his/her neighborhood.


According to the Act, any cost that prevents a child from accessing school will be borne by the state which shall have the responsibility of enrolling the child as well as ensuring attendance and completion of eight years of elementary schooling.