Bengaluru: A survey by the Right to Education (RTE) task force has revealed that private unaided school managements were demanding 'extra fee' from parents, whose children got admitted under the 25 per cent free seat quota as per the RTE Act.
As many as 92 per cent of the parents surveyed have revealed that they had paid extra fee to the schools, even though it is prohibited.
Out of this 92 percent, 61 per cent respondents revealed that they paid extra fee under the pressure from the school managements, while 31 per cent stated that they had to pay extra fee for text books. The rest of the parents informed that school management collected extra fee under the pretext of school maintenance.
Only 40 per cent of the parents said they were provided receipts to the extra fee paid.
Few raise the issue
According to the survey findings, out of 100 parents only 24 have lodged complaint with the authorities concerned over this problem. Ten parents informed that they have lodged a complaint with the BEO, while 14 said they have lodged complaint with BEO and other agencies like Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
Interestingly, just 5 parents claimed they have received feedback from the education department.
Sample size
For the purpose of survey 100 parents whose children were selected to private un-aided schools under RTE quota were interviewed. The total extra fee paid by the parents surveyed came to Rs 9,32,835.
