The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has issued a notice to Haryana Government to probe the alleged violation of Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act by several private schools in Gurgaon that “conducted” screening tests and “denied” admissions to many.
Acting on a complaint filed by V R One - a civil rights group working on child education - the NCPCR asked the director, Basic Education Department, Haryana to investigate the complaints of “denial of admission” to children by several schools of Gurgaon who allegedly conducted screening tests and profiled children on the basis of education and profession of their parents.
The complainant, president of V R One, Sumit Vohra, alleged that the Scottish High International School, KR Mangalam School, Salwan Montessori, Suncity School and Blue Bells Public School of Gurgaon have denied admission to the children by conducting screening tests and profiling of parents.
The allegations were denied by the heads of these schools.
Assistant vice-president, operations, Scottish High International School, Sharmila Das said, “The allegations are totally baseless. We didn’t conduct any screening test or profiling of parents for admissions.”
Das said, “We have a clear first-come-first-served admission policy. And subject to seat availability is also the clause in admissions here.”
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the Member Secretary, NCPCR, Lov Kumar issued the notice, a copy of which is with The Pioneer, to the Haryana Government to get the matter investigated and report to the Commission within 15 days. However, the Government appeared nonchalant about responding to the NCPCR notice.
When contacted, the director, Basic Education, Haryana, Abhay Singh Yadav, feigned ignorance about the issue.
He said, “As of now, I don’t have any information about the notice issued by the NCPRC.”
Recently, Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal had claimed that the implementation of RTE Act was a success in all private schools of State in letter and spirit.
An official in NCPRC said, “We are waiting for a reply from the Haryana Government. We will issue them a reminder notice in the next two days to know the status of the investigation.”
NCPCR, under Section 13 of CPCR Act, is to inquire into complaints and take suo motu cognisance in relation to deprivation and violation of child rights.
Quoting Section 13 of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, the NCPRC said no school or person shall, while admitting a child, collect any capitation fee and subject the child or his or her parents to any screening procedure.
“Any person or school, if in contravention of the provisions of sub-section (1), subjects a child to screening procedure, shall be punishable with fine, which may extend to `25,000 for the first contravention and `50,000 for each subsequent contraventions,” the NCPRC said quoting the clauses of the Act.
Referring to the admission form of Scottish School, Vohra said, “It is clear from the admission form that school authority is involved in profiling of children on the basis of the educational and professional backgrounds of parents, which is restricted under RTE Act, 2009.”
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