Chandigarh, April 24: The UT education department has reaffirmed that private non-minority schools allotted land at subsidised rates will receive reimbursement for only 10% of the seats reserved for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students, despite the Right to Education (RTE) Act mandating 25% reservation.
This position was formalised in a speaking order issued Wednesday by the Director of School Education, following the UT administration’s commitment in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to resolve the reimbursement issue by April.
The directive has been circulated to all such schools in Chandigarh.
Officials said the reimbursement ceiling stems from a 1996 land allotment scheme, under which educational institutions were required to admit 5% EWS students without charging any fees as part of their social responsibility.
The quota was raised to 15% in 2005 and remains applicable to all schools that received land either before or after the policy came into effect.
“Given this background, reimbursement under the RTE Act will be limited to the remaining 10% of the 25% EWS quota,” the education department said.
The schools are required to bear the cost of 15% EWS admissions up to Class 9, after which students may be charged the equivalent of government school fees.
For the 2024–25 session, the monthly reimbursement rate has been set at 75% of last year’s figure—₹2,740 per student—until a new rate is finalised by July. The balance will be paid later.
The issue gained prominence after Vivek High School (Sector 38) and St Kabir Public School (Sector 26) approached the high court seeking pending dues. Vivek High claimed ₹31.5 lakh for 22 students, while St Kabir sought ₹10.7 lakh for 14.
The department has sanctioned ₹2.3 lakh as interim payment to Vivek High, but rejected St Kabir’s claim, citing that the school did not meet the 15% quota required under the allotment policy.
“The land allotment scheme of 1996 does not apply to us. We received land in 1989. The government is passing its responsibility onto us, and the reimbursement rate is inadequate,” said HS Mamik, chairperson of Vivek High and president of the Independent Schools’ Association. “We are preparing a legal response.”
The matter is slated for further hearing in the high court on May 2.
Key Disputes Raised by Schools vs Department Response:
Reimbursement Scope
Schools: Reimbursement should cover 25% of seats on a quarterly basis.
Department: Will reimburse 10% annually due to pre-existing land allotment obligations.
Child Mapping Data
Schools: No updated data since 2020.
Department: 42,887 EWS students aged 6–14 identified for 2025–26.
Authenticity of EWS Admissions
Schools: Questioned lack of scrutiny.
Department: All documents are subject to verification, and admissions can be revoked.
Indemnity Bonds for Claims
Schools: No clear provision for submission.
Department: Agreed to review the process within four months.
Neighbourhood Admission Priority
Schools: Demand that government school EWS seats be filled first.
Department: Said private schools have no right to insist on the order of seat allocation.
