Karnataka government notifies RTE rules

BANGALORE: The state government on Saturday notified rules pertaining to the implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Schools have been asked to maintain separate bank accounts for the reimbursed amounts, which will be subject to government audit. The state government will notify per-child expenditure before the beginning of the academic year, which shall be reimbursed to enable admission of eligible children to private unaided schools. The Commissioner of Public Instruction will ensure that a child from a weaker section is not segregated or discriminated against in the classroom or outside. DDPIs and local bodies shall ensure that no child is subjected discrimination of any kind. A child can get admission within three months of the beginning of the academic year. The rules provide for forming a State Advisory Council for protection of child rights, along with the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. “The Council will be formed soon. We will teach officers about modalities of the rules,” Principal Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education G Kumar Naik, .  The Department of State Education Research and Training (DSERT) has been made the “academic authority”, while the School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), Deputy Directors of Public Instruction (DDPI) and Block Education Officers (BEOs) have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that rules are adhered to. DSERT will formulate a flexible curriculum for children with special needs, preparing class-wise and age appropriate syllabus, including vocational exposure and periodic revision of teacher training programmes.  BEO can seek explanation on violations in 15 days.