The Communist Party of India-(Marxist)’s student wing, Students’ Federation of India (SFI), staged a protest on Tuesday, July 9, outside the Directorate of Public Instruction in Chennai, demanding immediate action to resolve the issue of blocked admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The demonstration was met with a strong police response, and several activists attempting to enter the DPI compound were detained.
Addressing the media during the protest, G Aravindaswami, State President of SFI, accused both the Union and Tamil Nadu governments of failing to uphold the constitutional obligation of providing education to children from marginalised communities.
“Both the Union and state governments are acting in complete disregard of the RTE Act, siding with private school interests,” Aravindaswami said. “The Union government has withheld funds and is pushing for the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP). Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government has blocked admissions under the pretext of lack of funds.”
The RTE Act, 2009, mandates that private unaided schools reserve 25% of seats for children from economically weaker sections. This mandate is backed by a 60:40 fund-sharing model between the Union and state governments. However, implementation has come to a standstill in Tamil Nadu after the Union government reportedly stopped releasing Rs 2,151.59 crore in funds under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, which includes allocations for RTE admissions. This move follows Tamil Nadu’s refusal to implement the National Education Policy expressing concerns over Hindi imposition and centralisation of education policy.
As TNM previously reported, the Tamil Nadu government shut down the RTE admissions portal for the current academic year. This, despite the Madras High Court’s June 10 order directing the state to open admissions, calling it a “non-derogable obligation” under the RTE Act. The Court also directed the Union government to release pending funds. The academic year began on June 2, but the RTE portal remains closed.
SFI has demanded that the Tamil Nadu government find alternative funding sources and ensure that private schools continue to admit students under RTE. “The state government cannot simply shrug off responsibility. If the Union government has not released funds, the state must make its own arrangements. Instead, it has remained silent in support of private school owners,” Aravindaswami said.
He also pointed out that despite the government’s announcement of introducing English medium instruction in public schools, many rural and semi-urban areas lack basic infrastructure and adequate teaching staff, forcing parents to turn to private schools that are now allegedly overcharging them.