Chandigarh, April 16: Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda has issued a stern warning to 30 per cent of the state’s private schools that have yet to implement provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, stating that failure to comply may lead to strict action, including cancellation of recognition.
Speaking at a late-night review meeting on Tuesday, Dhanda noted that all recognised private schools are legally required to reserve 25 per cent of their Class I seats for children from economically weaker sections (EWS), in accordance with the RTE Act. “Seventy per cent of private schools have already allotted seats through the Ujjwal Portal,” he said, adding, “The remaining schools must act swiftly or face serious consequences.”
The minister instructed education department officials to ensure full implementation of the mandate and enforce accountability. “Schools ignoring the directive risk derecognition,” Dhanda noted, citing the legal framework supporting the move.
He also referred to Rule 158(6) of the Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, which prohibits schools from forcing students or their guardians to purchase textbooks, uniforms, or stationery from specific vendors. “No child should be bound by such conditions,” Dhanda said.
Providing an update on admissions in government schools, the minister reported that 2,04,163 students had been admitted to Class V as of April 15, compared to 2,07,685 students by April 30 last year. He expressed confidence that this year’s numbers would surpass previous figures by the end of the month.
