Demand for exclusion of interviews for admission
SHILLONG: President of Anti-Corruption and Human Development Organisation (ACHDO) Ishraful Hoque, in a letter to the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Ram Singh, has complained about the alleged collection of capitation fee for admission in Class VI by different schools in the district besides instituting interview system as screening procedure.
Hoque alleged that some schools have been collecting money as admission fee for admission which violates the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
“Most of the schools are collecting capitation fee, either in the name of admission form or admission fee, or other miscellaneous fees. In short, the students are being charged to get admission by any means,” the ACHDO president said.
With regard to interviews, Hoque said that schools like Rajabala Higher Secondary, Bhaitbari Higher Secondary School, JN Higher Secondary School, Phulbari, Jana Priya Higher Secondary School, Bholarbita, of the plain areas of Garo Hills, had conducted interviews for admission in class VI, in which many students failed to get admission.
“Taking such interviews seems to be violation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. In the RTE Act, 2009, it is clearly mentioned that every child of the age group 6-14 shall have the right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school till completion of elementary education. But, the students, who passed out class V, have been excluded from admission after not being able to go through the interview. Such screening procedure is punishable with fine under the Act,” Hoque said in the letter.
Hoque further informed the DC that the families of the plains are mostly poor and a private institution will not be affordable for the lot. The students might leave school under depression, which should not happen at any cost, he added.
The president pointed out that if the reason behind conducting interviews was the large number of students and lack of infrastructure like staff, school building, tools and others, then such materials should be made available immediately and excluded students should be enrolled sans going through interview.
Hoque, lastly, urged the DC to form a school vigilance committee so that any form of capitation fee cannot be collected and the students will not have to through interviews to get admission.