Haryana, Feb 17—The Haryana Education Minister, Mrs Geeta Bhukkal, has warned the private schools in the state to provide free education to the 25 per cent BPL children enrolled in the school, or face stern action.
“Stern action would be taken against private school operators who do not comply with Rule 134A of the Haryana School Education Rules which made it mandatory to provide free education to 25 per cent children belonging to BPL families enrolled in private schools”, she told newsmen after inaugurating a national seminar on the ‘Role of Physical Education and Sports in Society’ at PG College in Panchkula, today.
Asked to comment on the issue of the protest call given by private school associations, Mrs Bhukkal said that under Rule 134-A, recognized private schools had to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for meritorious BPL students to ensure effective implementation of provisions of the Right to Education Act. She called upon newsmen to lend the state government a helping hand in this direction.
The Minister disclosed that the process to identify neighborhood schools in the areas where there were no government schools, had been initiated. The expenses incurred by such identified private schools would be reimbursed by the government. Besides the government, it is also the responsibility of private schools to provide good education to poor students.
Mrs Bhukkal said that apart from free education, copies, text-books and uniforms were being given free of cost to the students in government schools.
Answering another question, she said that the government was promoting physical education in a big way. Efforts are being made to involve youth in more practical activities of physical education. Besides taking a number of initiatives to promote sports, the state government has also started giving scholarships in schools. The Rajiv Gandhi Sports Stadia have been set up in villages to promote sports.
Asked to comment on the issue of appointment of Teachers Selection Board, Mrs Bhukkal said that it had already been set up and the chairman and members would be appointed soon.