Assembly panel raps Gujarat govt for violation of RTE norms

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Gujarat Assembly has criticised the state government for failing to implement various provisions prescribed under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
Among the violations include providing basic infrastructure for state-run schools.
In it's report tabled on the floor of the Gujarat Assembly today, the committee pointed out that even after four years since RTE Act came into effect, the state government could not give a definitive assurance that it will follow all the rules and regulations of the Act.
In it's scrutiny report for state Education Department, which was based on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on local bodies for the year 2012-2013, PAC expressed displeasure on the explanations given by government officials to the PAC.

Referring to the CAG report, the panel noted that out of 300 schools visited by CAG and education department officials, 91 were found to be functioning without benches.
In it's explanation to the PAC, Gujarat Council of

Elementary Education (GCEE) told the panel that such facilities will be made available upon receiving funds from the government, said the report.
"Thus, even after four years since the RTE Act came into effect, we were not given any assurance to implement the rules the regulations prescribed in it," said the PAC.
It further noted that several schools are still running without separate toilets for boys and girls while most are having shortage of teachers.

"Under the RTE Act, there is clear provision for teacher-student ratio. State government should do the needful to fill up the vacant posts of teachers on immediate basis," said the report.
Pointing out to another serious violation of RTE Act, PAC noted that some schools are discriminating between regular students and those who have been given admission under RTE Act quota.
"While analysing the CAG report, it came to our notice that some schools have made a separate sitting arrangement for students who were admitted under RTE Act. These students were also humiliated through such unfair treatment.
"Such practice is totally against the spirit of RTE. Government must step in and take over the control of such schools if needed," said the report.

On the donation system, PAC pointed out that state government's notification regarding admission process is against the RTE Act.
"Under the RTE Act, admissions must be given through a public draw of the applications. But, education department gave another option of 'first come first serve', which is against the RTE Act. The department must stick to the norms of RTE and revoke this notification," stated the report.
The PAC, having 14 members from both ruling BJP and opposition Congress party, is headed by former cabinet minister and senior Congress MLA, Shaktisinh Gohil.
The committee scrutinises the observations made by the CAG on the functioning of various government departments and suggests recommendations to the government.