Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank told the Lok Sabha on Monday that reservation of seats to Economically Weaker Section(EWS) in schools has to be implemented by states.
The Minister was responding to a question during Question Hour on Right to Education in the House.
He said reservation of seats in schools to EWS is a state subject and has to be implemented by the states. It is under provision of The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) Act, 2009.
The Minister said after the implementation of the RTE Act, during the year 2014-2015, 18 lakh children of 16 states were benefitted. Last year, more than 41 lakh children were enrolled.
In response to a written a question that whether the RTE Act, 2009 mandates all private schools to allocate 25 per cent of the seats to EWS, the Minister said section 12 of the Act mandates all private
aided, Special Category schools and private unaided schools to admit in class I (or below) to the extent of at least 25 per cent of the strength of that class, children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged groups and provide free and compulsory education till its completion.
In a written reply to another question, the Minister said the implementation of Right to Education (RTE) Act in all schools, including those which are affiliated with CBSE, comes under the purview of the State/UT government.
