Parents throng DEO office, demand justice for wards

VADODARA: Large number of parents on Tuesday approached the office of the Vadodara district education officer (DEO) alleging that inaction of the officials have left their wards in a lurch.
Around 100 parents along with children demanded action against schools which are not ready to admit their wards even as they have been sanctioned admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Last month, after a row over the admissions granted to students under RTE Act, a group of minority schools had approached the Gujarat High Court challenging the order issued by DEO to grant admissions under RTE. The schools had moved the court on the grounds that in 2014, the Supreme Court had ruled that RTE Act is not applicable to aided or unaided minority schools and hence they cannot be obligated to reserve 25% seats for students under RTE. The high court which has heard the matter twice on June 1 and June 11 has fixed the next hearing on June 18.

“We had been issued admit cards before a month. The schools have already re-opened and there is no clarity on what will happen to our kids. All that we hear from government officials is that we have to wait for an order from the High Court,” said Izaz Khan, a parent whose ward was granted admission in Saint Mary, Gorwa.

“What if our kids don’t get admission in this schools? Who will ensure their admissions,” he said, adding that around 400 kids who have been granted admissions under RTE Act have been denied admission by the group of schools.