New Delhi: HRD Minister Kapil Sibal on Saturday
met heads of academic boards, government officials and some
school principals to discuss smooth implementation of the RTE
Act and is understood to have stressed on ensuring
"transparency" in the admission process under the Act.
He is believed to have asked the stakeholders to
follow proper procedures for the admission as laid under the
Act in a "fair and transparent" manner.
Sources said during the discussion, Sibal made it
clear that admission based on random selections as laid down
in the guidelines did not necessarily mean schools would have
to conduct lottery system to admit students.
On the implications of 25 per cent reservation for
children of economically weaker section in schools, Sibal
reportedly said schools should not shy away from their duties
towards the society.
Some of the participants contended that the meeting
failed to address several admission related ambiguities that
emerged following the guidelines issued by the ministry last
month.
The guidelines said children or parents should not be
subjected to "testing and interview" and there should be no
profiling based on education qualification of parents.
Besides, the guidelines underlined that admissions
will be based on `random selection` and allowed schools to
frame their own admission policy to categorise students "on
rational, reasonable and just basis".
The clarification came after several unaided and
aided schools sought clarification on procedure to be followed
for admission as section 13(1) of the Right to Education Act
states no school or person shall subject the child or his/her
parents to any "screening procedure".
At today`s meeting attended by more than 60 school
heads from across the country and senior HRD officials, Sibal
said the suggestions put forth would be looked into.
One of the suggestions included setting up of a portal
where people can discuss and debate matters concerning to the
Act.
Sources said some of the participants also suggested
developing mechanisms for better dissemination of the
provisions of the Act while a few others asked for
constituting an apex body to oversee effective implementation
of the Act.
PTI
