Transfer certificate no longer mandatory for admission to schools in Maharashtra

MUMBAI: Stressing that children should not be denied education for non-payment of fees, the state education department has directed all schools, including private ones and those from non-state boards, to admit students moving schools without insisting on the mandatory transfer certificate (TC), reports Sandhya Nair.
During the pandemic, financial constraints and non-payment of fees had led to an exodus from private to aided and government schools.
A circular issued Tuesday says schools should rely on birth certificates for age verification of students in classes 1-8. For students in classes 9-10, schools should try and get details from the previous school (uploaded on the portal 'Saral'). Schools from which information has been sought will have to provide details within seven days.
School education minister Deepak Kesarkar hints at action if schools insist on transfer certificate
School education minister Deepak Kesarkar on Tuesday hinted at taking action against schools that insist on transfer certificate. In a move that has surprised educational institutions, all schools have been directed to admit students moving schools without insisting on the mandatory TC. A government resolution to the effect was issued on Tuesday.
Kesarkar said despite the drop in Covid cases, financial constraints continue to trouble parents who may not be able to pay fees.
The state had issued a GR in June last year, directing government and aided schools not to insist on TC. Tuesday's GR covers non-state boards such as IB, Cambridge, CBSE, ICSE. The GR has come as a surprise as the academic year is nearing an end and students do not move schools now.
School trustees said despite giving 25% to 30% concessions during the two years of the pandemic, parents still have to clear fee dues. "There is no question of admitting a student without a TC as parents will keep moving their children from one school to another without paying fees," said one.
A school principal said the state has set up a committee to look into fee-related grievances. "Parents are approaching the committee with their grievances. Now they will simply move their children from one school to another," the principal said.
While government and aided schools admitted students last year with the mandatory TC, this year schools refused to admit students without TCs. Parents said in some cases, schools hold back TCs even after fees are paid.
"I wanted to change my daughter's school as I did not find the teaching up to the mark. I cleared all the dues yet the school delayed the TC," said a parent who wanted to move from a school in Goregaon. Students have the right to move from one school to another under the Right To Education (RTE) Act.
The Bombay high court in March last year directed private unaided schools to not debar students from online or physical classes for non-payment of the increased component of fees for the academic year 2020-21. The state had in May last year barred private unaided schools from hiking fees.