Lok Sabha Question No. 2257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Admission of Disadvantage Group Children in Private Schools
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Dr. Amar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2257 ANSWERED ON 5 th  AUGUST, 2024

## Admission of Disadvantage Group Children in Private Schools

2257. Dr. Amar Singh:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the composition of children from disadvantaged groups admitted in private schools under RTE 12(1)(c) in each category;
- (b) the number of students from disadvantaged groups admitted under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act who have dropped out from schools during the last five years; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to increase the enrollment rate and retention rate of children from disadvantaged groups?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

- (a)  The  Right  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009  effective  from  1st April, 2010  is applicable  to  all  States  and  UTs  and  mandates  the  appropriate Government to provide free and compulsory elementary education to every child of the age  6  to  14  years  in  a  neighborhood  school.  Section  12(1)(c)  of  the  RTE  Act,  2009 provides  for  admission  of  children  belonging  to  weaker  sections  and  disadvantaged groups in the schools specified in sub-clauses (iii) and (iv) of clause (n) of section 2 in Class  I  (or  below)  to  the  extent  of  at  least  25  percent  of  the  strength  of  that  class. Section 2(d) of the Act defines 'child belonging to disadvantaged group' as a child with disability or a child belonging to the Scheduled Caste, the Scheduled Tribe, the socially and  educationally  backward  class  or  such  other  group  having  disadvantage  owing  to social, cultural, economical, geographical, linguistic, gender or such other factor, as may be specified by the appropriate Government, by notification. State Governments and UT Governments are the appropriate Governments, in relation to a school established within the territory of a State and UT with legislature as per Section 2(a) of the RTE Act, 2009.

(b) The percentage of dropped out in last 5 years at elementary level including the students  from  disadvantaged  groups  admitted  under  Section  12(1)(c)  of  the  RTE  Act who have dropped out from the schools, is provided in the table given below :

| Year    |   Average Drop Out Rate |
|---------|-------------------------|
| 2017-18 |                     4   |
| 2018-19 |                     4.5 |
| 2019-20 |                     1.9 |
| 2020-21 |                     1.3 |
| 2021-22 |                     2   |

Source : UDISE&UDISE+

(c)  The  Department  of  School  Education  and  Literacy  with  effect  from  2018-19  is implementing an Integrated Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  for  School EducationSamagra  Shiksha.  The  scheme  has  now  been  aligned  with  the  recommendations  of NEP 2020 to ensure that all children have access to quality education with an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which should take care of their diverse background,  multilingual  needs,  different  academic  abilities  and  make  them  active participants in the learning process.

Under  the  scheme,  financial  assistance  is  provided  to  States  and  UTs  for undertaking various activities for reducing dropout rate, including opening/strengthening of new schools upto senior secondary level, construction of school buildings & additional classrooms, setting up, up-gradation and running of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, setting up of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Avasiya Vidyalayas, free uniforms, free text books,  transport  allowance  and  undertaking  enrolment  &  retention  drives.  Further, special training for age appropriate admission of out of school children and residential as well as non-residential training for older children, seasonal hostels / residential camps, special training centres at worksites, transport/ escort facility are also supported to bring out  of  school  children  to  the  formal  schooling  system.  Further,  under  the  student oriented component for the children with special needs, financial assistance is provided for  identification  and  assessment  of  children  with  special  needs,  aids  and  appliances, braille kits and books, appropriate teaching learning material and stipend to girl students with disability etc.

Further, financial assistance upto ₹ 2000 per annum is being provided for Out of School  Children  of  age  group  of 16-19  years, belonging  to  socio  economically disadvantaged groups, for completing their education through NIOS/SIOS, for accessing

course materials and certification. The  Right  of  Children  to  Free  and  Compulsory  Education  (RTE)  Act,  2009, mandates  the  appropriate  Government  to  provide  free  and  compulsory  elementary education  to  every  child  of  the  age  6  to  14  years  in  a  neighbourhood  school.  Also, Section 10 of the RTE Act states that it is the duty of every parent or guardian to admit or cause to be admitted his or her child or ward, as the case may be, for elementary education in the neighbourhood school. Under  'Pradhan  Mantri  Poshan  Shakti  Nirman'  (PM  POSHAN)  one  hot  cooked meal  in  Government  and  Government  aided  schools  is  provided  to  students  at  the elementary level of education, including Balvatika.

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