Since the RTE is applicable for the students till the age of 14, so the district education department is focusing on the school till class 8. There are 700 government-run schools in the district, including primary and middle, in this category 18 schools are government aided. On the other hand, the department has information of around 200 private schools who have to provide free education to the students of weaker section. Under school rules 2003, Section 134 A, all recognized schools have to reserve 25 per cent seats for those students.
Notably, the district education department has acknowledged that they do not have complete record of private schools, especially those operating from unauthorized buildings. Most of them do not apply for recognition for years.
Similarly, those private and aided schools of the district are yet to provide any kind of information. While there had been certain students who have shown zero admissions in the preparatory classes to escape the statutory liabilities under RTE Act. "Six months after new session has commenced, we have not got any kind of report from the private schools which could suggest the admission given to those hailing from poor background. Now time has come to take strict action,” said an official of the education department.
District primary education officer Manju Gupta said: “ One thing is for sure that the deadline will not extend and we shall proceed with the penalties now."