Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil Urges Enforcement of EWS Provision under RTE Act for Inclusive Education
In the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Congress MP Rajani Ashokrao Patil raised concerns about the escalating cost of education in metro cities and the deteriorating state of government schools. She emphasized the need to enforce the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) provision under the Right to Education (RTE) Act to ensure education remains accessible and inclusive for all.
Patil highlighted that education, a fundamental right, is becoming increasingly out of reach for many families. Citing recent surveys, she pointed out that parents are spending between Rs 40,000 to Rs 2 lakh annually for lower kindergarten (LKG) and nursery education, with additional costs for after-school tuition putting a financial strain on middle and lower-middle-class families.
She criticized government schools for failing to fulfill their purpose of providing affordable education, noting that many parents are opting for private schools due to inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and insufficient resources. The decline in enrollment in government schools, as shown in recent reports, is a sign of this shift.
Patil stressed that government schools should provide basic facilities, including clean drinking water, functional classrooms, and access to digital tools. However, many of these schools are unable to meet even these basic needs, forcing parents to choose between paying exorbitant fees for private education or settling for underfunded government institutions.
The Congress MP praised the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for introducing the Right to Education Act in 2009, which mandates 25% reservation for children from economically weaker sections (EWS) in private schools. She argued that this provision was designed to offer underprivileged children the opportunity to receive quality education alongside their peers from higher-income families.
However, Patil expressed concern that the implementation of this provision has been weak in several states due to poor monitoring and lack of awareness among parents. She claimed that many schools resist admitting EWS students, and delays in financial reimbursements from the government further hinder the provision’s effectiveness.
She concluded by calling for strengthened enforcement of the EWS provision to ensure more inclusive education and reduce inequality in the education sector.
