RTE: Girls to get preference over boys in Maharashtra

Last week, the Maharashtra state government announced that the Right to Education (RTE) Act will beimplemented in the state from the new academic year which will begin in June this year. The implementation will see 25 percent seats being reserved for students for Economically and Socially backward sections in non-aided schools.Now according to a Times of India report, it seems that in the 25 percent reserved seats,  more girl students will be given admission over boys. The report quotes an official from the cabinet meeting who said that the decision had been approved by the cabinet.So how will the quota system for girls work? TOI reports that:

If there are 25 seats available under the RTE Act and an equal number (20) of applicants among boys and girls then, under the approved system, 20 seats will be given to girl applicants. For the remaining five seats, there will be a lottery among the applications received from boys.

"If the number of applications from girls is more than the seats available, the lottery will be held among the girls. The boys will have no scope then," the official told TOI.The government also set an annual income limit of Rs one lakh for parents to be eligible under the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota.[caption id="attachment_319675" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="There will also be reservation of seats for students from backward castes. AFP"][/caption]Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had announced last week, that out of the 25 percent seats, 50 percent will be reserved for SC, ST and OBCs while the remaining 50 percent will be for the economically weaker sections of the society.RTE will be implemented from Standard I this year. There are nearly 11,728 unaided schools out of which schools run by minority instutions are 1,984. The non-aided minority-run schools are excluded from the Act.The RTE act is aimed at ensuring that students from poor backgrounds can get a quality education that many privileged upper and middle-class children in India enjoy. While the quota system will provide benefits to some students,what is overlooked is that the government primary education system is in a poor state. Poor infrastructure, low-teaching quality have ensured that government schools in India are lagging behind.RTE can give relief to only a section of students. A review of how the public school system works is also required if the government is serious about ensuring that quality education is within reach of all.with inputs from PTI