BENGALURU: How much does it cost govt to educate a child? The question is now before Karnataka high court, which has issued an emergent notice to the Union and state govts on a petition seeking a transparent formula to calculate reimbursements to private schools under Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act.
D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of KAMS, said, “Our research indicates that many budget private schools provide quality education at less than 30% of the govt’s per-child cost (Rs 30,000-40,000). ” The association also cautioned govt that inadequate reimbursement for children admitted under the mandatory 25% RTE quota could force budget private schools to absorb the shortfall or indirectly pass the burden on to families paying fees for the remaining 75% of seats. Following the high court’s notice to both govts, KAMS office-bearers described their writ petition as a first-of-its-kind national initiative seeking accountability from the Union and state govts in calculating per-child expenditure. Yet they are routinely branded ‘mafia’ and accused of indulging in ‘daylight robbery’ of (students’) parents. Hence, we are asking the govt, through the court, to publish the actual figures and let the country judge.