Question : Reimbursements under RTE Act

(a) the details of amount claimed by the private schools to provide education to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students under the Right to Education Act, 2009 (RTE) along with the amount reimbursed as the cost of education by the Government during the last three years, State/UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government is aware of resentment in non-Government aided schools owing to delay in reimbursement of the said funds and if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)


(a) to (c): Section 12(1)(c) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009 provides for admission of children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantageous groups in the neighbourhood private unaided schools in Class I to the extent of at least 25 percent of the strength of that class. Section 12(2) further mandates that such schools shall be reimbursed expenditure incurred by them as per the prescribed norms. Sixteen States have reported admission of 18.10 lakh children in 91140 private schools under section 12(1)(c) in the year 2014-15.

The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is a flagship programme of the Central Government through which State Governments/UTs are financially assisted for universalization of elementary education. The SSA Framework has been amended with effect from 1st April, 2014 to assist the States/UTs towards reimbursement of costs incurred with respect to admissions under Section 12(1)(c) of the Act. The reimbursement is based on per child cost norms notified by the State/UT concerned for classes I to VIII. States/UTs have brought proposals for reimbursement under the SSA norms only from 2015-16. For reimbursement claims, private unaided schools complying with Section 12(1)(c) submit their claim of reimbursement to respective State Governments/UTs through the district office. Thereafter, the State Governments/UTs reimburse the expenditure incurred by private unaided schools. Thereafter, the State/UT brings forth the proposal to the Central Government for reimbursement against the expenditure incurred under the applicable SSA norms.

The fund approved for reimbursement to the States/UTs is a part of the overall allocations under SSA for a given year which is shared between Centre and States/UTs as per the applicable sharing pattern.

In the year 2015-16, under the SSA an amount of ? 25065.571 lakh has been approved for 5.05 lakh children of seven States which have submitted duly completed proposals, against the expenditure incurred by them for fee reimbursement to private schools for admitting children under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act during the year 2014-15. There are no pending proposals for fee reimbursement as stipulated under Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act, 2009 with the Central Government. State-wise details of amount proposed/claimed by these seven States and approved by the Ministry under Annual Work Plan and Budget in 2015-16 is at Annexure.


**********