The District Education Officer (DEO) in Ahmedabad has launched a strict drive against private schools suspected of concealing their operational details. The office has issued a directive mandating all privately-run institutions operating in two shifts to submit their official approval documents and comprehensive data on their shift-wise functioning.
Deadline Set for Document Submission
Schools have been instructed to present the required paperwork in person at the DEO's office by June 17. The circular warns that failure to comply will lead to appropriate action as per the rules. This move comes in the wake of persistent complaints that several private schools across Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat have been running dual shifts but declaring only one.
Manipulation of RTE Seat Allocation Exposed
The core of the issue lies in the reporting of student strength under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. According to the Act, self-financed schools must reserve 25 per cent of their total seats for students from economically weaker and middle-income families. Annually, district authorities collect data on Class 1 student numbers from schools to calculate the exact number of seats eligible under the RTE scheme.
Investigations revealed that some schools were deliberately suppressing information about their second shift. By reporting only the morning shift's strength, these institutions artificially lowered their total student count, thereby reducing the number of RTE seats they were obligated to provide. This malpractice allowed them to avoid their social responsibility.
New Directive Demands Comprehensive Transparency
Following reports that even reputed schools were involved in such irregularities, the DEO's office decided to act. The new circular demands that schools provide a complete breakdown, including:
- Shift-wise and class-wise student data.
- The number of divisions functioning in the morning shift.
- The corresponding RTE seat allocation for each shift.
Officials have indicated that this increased transparency could lead to another significant change. In the coming days, parents applying under the RTE scheme may be given the option to choose their preferred shift for their child's admission. This step is aimed at ensuring greater fairness in the process.
Aim to Curb Parental Grievances
The crackdown directly addresses complaints from parents. Due to the non-disclosure of second-shift details, many students from disadvantaged backgrounds were allegedly allotted seats only in the afternoon shift, which is often less preferred. The authorities aim to prevent this discrimination and ensure strict compliance with RTE norms by all private schools. The ultimate goal is to create a more equitable and transparent admission system for every child.
