Chandigarh derecognises Vivek High School for failing to enroll EWS students | Chandigarh News
The UT Administration Wednesday derecognised Vivek High School, Sector 38, for non-compliance with the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, by failing to enroll students from economic weaker sections (EWS) during the academic year 2023-24.
The school, operated by Bhagwant Singh Charitable Trust, was issued an order by the UT education department.
The order stated, “…Reject the recognition of the school dated March 29, 2023 and any other similar application of the school pending with the department; and withdraw the department recommendation for the school’s CBSE affiliation. To protect the interest of the current students in the school, they will be allowed to complete the session 2023-24 and also sit for board exams. For the academic year 2024-25, the students, with the consent of parents, shall be shifted to the neighborhood government schools in Chandigarh.”
The school management was instructed to return fees and charges collected for the upcoming academic year 2024-25, and the school was prohibited from admitting any students for the said year and beyond.
According to Section 12 (1) (c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009, private unaided recognized schools, except minority schools, are obliged to admit 25 per cent of students from economically weaker section/disadvantage group (EWS /DG) in the neighborhood at the entry-level class.
Sources said that the education department had issued at least two show-cause notices to the school before derecognition. The school responded to the notices, but the department rejected the replies. The detailed order rejecting the recognition was issued by the Director School Education, UT, Harshuinder Pal Singh Brar.
Vivek High School, Sector 38, currently has around 1,875 students with a teaching staff of approximately 170 teachers. Earlier this year, the UT Administration had similarly revoked the recognition of St Kabir Public School, Sector 26, for the same reason, but the school obtained a stay order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In response to the derecognition, HS Mamik, chairman of Vivek High School, said, “The matter relating to the EWS quota to be followed by our school is sub judice. Our plea is pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. I feel it is a contempt on the part of the Department of Education, UT. Today, the press informed us that the Department of Education has issued a notice regarding the derecognition of Vivek High School. Although we have not received a formal notice from the department, we are shocked as the matter is sub judice. The next hearing is scheduled for January 16. Earlier in the case, we were granted recognition until further notice. In our opinion, this constitutes contempt of court. However, after receiving the formal notice from the education department, we will elaborate on our response.”
He added, “See, we are ready to take EWS students in our school and convey it to the education department with the condition that EWS students should come to our school from the toddler class. We conveyed to the department that we can’t admit the students directly in the next classes.”