Maha education dept slams Dy Director over year of inaction against pvt schools violating RTE Act

The state education department (primary) has issued a show-cause notice to the deputy director of school education over inaction against schools violating Right To Education (RTE) norms and operating without RTE approval, the response to an RTI query has revealed. The RTI response also revealed that the deputy director blamed the civic education department for not submitting its report. Apparently terming his letter as ‘unnecessary', the directorate of education (primary) has sought an explanation from the deputy director of school education on the matter.

The show cause notice was issued to Sandeep Sangwe, deputy director of education (Mumbai), asking him to explain the delay in submitting the action taken report on complaints filed by Nitin Dalvi and Prasad Tulaskar of the NGO Maharashtra State Student Parents Teacher Federation. They raised concerns about certain private schools operating without RTE approval and violating the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fees) Act 2011.

The concerns were communicated in January 2022 to the State Education Minister and the School Education Department, which requested a report from Sangwe. No action was taken throughout the year. In February 2023, the federation lodged additional complaints in the matter. Dalvi followed up with Sangwe, who, in turn, sent a reminder to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Education Department. When this approach proved ineffective, Sangwe escalated the matter to the Director of Primary Education.

RTI reveals reality

An RTI query filed by Dalvi earlier this month revealed the correspondence between Director of Education (primary) Sharad Gosavi and deputy director, Sangwe. Gosavi issued a show cause notice to Sangwe on October 6, citing a breach of duty and disobedience of government orders. The notice invoked Rule 3 of the Service (Conduct) Rules, 1979, stating that Sangwe must submit a response. Failure to do so, it warned, would result in a proposal for disciplinary action to the Education Commissioner.

Gosavi, in the notice to Sangwe, stated: "The deputy director was urged to instruct the Education Officer of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to take immediate action on the aforementioned matter. Despite months since the order the issue remains pending, it is expected that you personally attend to this important matter promptly and submit a timely report to the government. Sending unnecessary correspondence to your superior office is a waste of time and not appropriate from an administrative standpoint. This suggests a failure in fulfilling your duty. Your irresponsible behavior in this matter is not acceptable, and it seems to be in violation of Rule 3 of the Maharashtra Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1979, as it implies defiance of government orders. It should be noted that a proposal for disciplinary action will be submitted to the Office of the Commissioner Education."

‘Report was a must'

Dalvi contended that while Sangwe may not have the authority to take action against BMC officials, it was his responsibility to review the documents and submit a comprehensive report for appropriate action against non-compliant private schools. "We as part of Maharashtra State Student Parents Teacher Federation emphasise that Raju Tadvi, the BMC education officer (private schools), bears responsibility and liability for the lapse, as his department has time and again disregarded the government order, allowing non-compliant schools to go unpunished. He has even submitted a vague reply to the Child Rights Commission, saying that the process of initiating action is on. We have brought the matter to the notice of the state education department. However, forget action, the education department was unable to even submit their report on the issue," said Dalvi.

He added, "I have already sent the state education department a legal notice, and the process to file a PIL is on. I am planning to meet the Education Commissioner Suraj Mandre and BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on the matter." Both Tadvi and Sangwe could not be contacted.

Oct 6
Day notice to dy director of school education was issued

Jan
Month in 2022 issue was raised

Feb
Month in 2023 new plaints were submitted