The Odisha School and Mass Education department has directed the Director of Elementary Education to probe and take action against some private schools denying admissions to students belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS).
RTE Paradarshi portal was launched to facilitate admissions of students belonging to economically weaker sections (EWS) and SC&ST categories in private schools as provided under RTE Act in a transparent manner in online mode.
However, it is being alleged that some private schools are denying admissions to EWS and other disadvantaged group students against 25 per cent reserved seats under RTE Act, 2009.
Taking the allegations seriously, the Under Secretary of Education department has written to the Director of Elementary Education asking it to investigate the matter and take stringent action against the defaulting educational institutions. The Director has been asked to furnish a compliance report to the department within a fortnight.
According to sources, schools have got themselves registered with the portal to facilitate the admission process of EWS students. But most of the schools have failed to adhere to the terms and conditions. Even some schools have not registered their names with the portal.
Upon being asked, School and Mass Communication Minister Sameer Ranjan Dash said “Notice will be sent to schools which have not registered their names with the RTE Paradarshi portal. Else, Recognition (CoR) of those educational institutions will be cancelled. And parents will be told not to enroll their wards in those schools. Several similar complaints have been filed in Bhubaneswar earlier and they were resolved.”