IMPHAL, January 29: The Sustainable Development Centre (SDC) of Thamnapokpi Bishnupur district today submitted a memorandum to the State Chief Minister and to the State Education Minister demanding for the proper implementation of the Right to Education act in Government and private schools of the state.
Speaking to media persons at a press conference after submitting the memorandum at the Manipur Press Club, Inaobi Meetei secretary SDC said that it is very unfortunate that RTE is not being implemented properly in the state. The lack of infrastructure in educational institutions, playgrounds, proper fencing of school compounds, lack of separate toilets for boys and girls, lack of teachers are proof about the manner in which the act is being implemented in the state.
Appealing to the state government and the education department to provide adequate Assistant Inspectors (AI) and Deputy Inspectors (DI) to be posted in regular posts, he maintained that lots of schools are being looked after by the in charge in some school which inconvenience the effective management of schools.
He further said that under the RTE act, students of the weaker section of the state should be given free education in the government school from class 1 to 8 while a 25% of students should be given relaxation by the private school. “Private schools of the state are not obeying the act and not giving 25% relaxation to the financially ,” he said.
As for the government school he said that under the act, students have to be provided with text books and uniforms by the government. “But in our state, students are not able to get them in time,” he said while appealing for their provision before the academic session starts.
Inaobi further alleged that some government schools in Bishnupur district are taking admission fee without giving any receipt which is against the RTE act and called upon the concerned authority to look after the matter and give a befitting punishment to whoever was involved.