Sambalpur: Dilemma with RTE Act, 8th class poor children forced to drop out of private school due to financial issue

Sambalpur: According to the Right to Education Act or Right to Education (RTE), 25 percent quota is reserved for the children of backward and economically weaker sections in all private schools of the state. School will not charge any fee. After the implementation of this law, happiness was found in the homes of many poor people. The school that they had never dreamed of for finance has become a reality for them which made them very happy.

Although this act is implemented, many private schools do not follow it. In view of this, to make the process shorter and more accountable, the Department of Mass Education has decided to make the admission of poor children in private schools online. In less than 2 years, the Mass Education Department launched the RTE expert portal. Application is being made on the said portal to educate children through RTE scheme. Although the Department of Mass Education is making many arrangements to educate the children of the poor, but now the poor and helpless families are in dilemma with the RTE.

As happy as a poor man was when he enrolled his child in a private school through RTE, after 8 years he is suffering. Everyone wants to send their child to private school, and many do. But since this facility goes to 8th class, the helpless poor are in trouble for their next education. They are not able to afford the cost of private school fees in ninth grade. The government knows this very well.

People are in a dilemma whether to study in a private school or not due to financial constraints. In view of the future of their children, many helpless poor are forced to spend thousands of rupees by toiling day and night, earning money by begging or doing any other work. Many families have to spend a lot of time because of this.

There are many parents in Sambalpur city who sent their children to private schools upto 8th under RTE. But then is unable to pay the fees of that private school and is sent to government school. As a result, their children are suffering a lot. Odia medium comes suddenly and it becomes difficult for everyone to read the text through Odia after leaving English medium. Many are struggling to understand the text properly. Last year, many parents of students studying up to 8th in RTE appealed to the Sambalpur District Collector to help but to no avail.

Education Money is not given for 2 years due to Covid

A lot has happened during Covid including the education system has been affected. The situation has gradually improved, on the one hand, students are studying in many private schools under the RTE scheme of the government. On the other hand, among them, the government should give money to the schools. But for Covid 2019 and 2020 money was not given to the private schools by the government. Some school funds for 2021 have come this year.