By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Education Minister Prof. RC Laloo has raised the issue relating to the shortcoming of the provisions laid down in the RTE Rules especially on the composition of the School Managing Committees.
“Such major deficiencies in the RTE Rules would require the intervention of the Union Government. I appeal to the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) to make necessary corrections on the shortcomings in the RTE Rules to enable the State Government to implement the RTE in the right spirit,” Laloo said during the meeting of the State Education Minister’s on the subject of community mobilization and public awareness for Right to Education (RTE) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
As per Section 13 of the RTE Rules, he said seventy five per cent of the strength of the school managing committee shall be constituted from amongst parents and guardians of children studying in the school.
“Such a provision would have an adverse impact on the schools run by the religious minorities especially in a state like Meghalaya where majority of the prominent schools are being run by Christian missionaries,” the Education Minister stated.
Referring to the two resolutions passed by the State Assembly in relation to this same issue which has been submitted to the HRD, he said, “We are yet to receive any response from the Union Ministry on the two resolutions. We are awaiting a positive feedback.”
Meanwhile, Laloo assured Union Government that the State Government would take all possible measures to see that Right to Education Act is successfully implemented in the State.
When contacted, Laloo informed that he would convene a meeting in the State for launching the nationwide community mobilization and public awareness campaign on November 11.
“This campaign would be launched on the same day throughout the country,” he said while adding that this campaign will be the starting point for a year-long campaign for making all schools RTE compliant.