The Times of India           28.10.2010

GURGAON: Most of the private schools in the city have been found to be flouting HUDA guidelines which mandate them to reserve 10 per cent of seats for the students from economically weaker section.

This news comes despite the fact that before allotting the subsidised land for schools buildings, HUDA categorically asks the applicants to reserve the seats for the economically weaker section category. According to a report filed by city based NGO Adhikar to the authority, as many as 40 popular schools in the city are constantly denying poor children of their right. The list includes names like the Delhi Public School in sector 45, DAV School in sector 14 and Blue Bells School in sector 4.

We have written to the administration regarding schools which dont fulfill the mandatory conditions that are mentioned in the contracts they signed with HUDA at the time of allotment, said Shadab Raza of Adhikar. He accused that many of these schools were also not implementing Right to Education.

Thats not it. Many of the schools which are implementing the HUDA guidelines have found a new way to segregate the poor children. Mainly, these schools are either not giving admission to the poor students, or are holding separate classes after the normal school hours, said Raza.

Such segregation defeats the whole purpose of reserving seats. We also doubt the quality of education and other facilities in these after-hour classes, he added.

Many schools have found a way around the regulations. We have noticed cases where the schools exempt some students from paying the tuition fee but impose other superfluous expenses like computer education fee, transportation fee etc, said Rakesh Yadav, another representative of the NGO.

When asked, HUDA administrator Nitin Yadav said a probe has been ordered under the authoritys estate officer and a report is expected within a week from now. We pushed for the same issue at the beginning of the admission season and issued notices to schools reminding them of the regulations, he said.

The NGOs findings also raise question on HUDAs sincerity in implementing such guidelines as the authority fails to appoint its representatives in school management committees. According to the guidelines, every schools management committee must have at least one HUDA representative.

Management of schools also pass the blame on HUDA for failing to appoint its representatives on their management committees. Aditi Mishra, principle of the Delhi Public School in sector 45 said that the administration has not yet sent a representative to the school for the purposes of membership on the schools management committee. We will have a HUDA representative as a member of the committee once they send someone over, she said.

Mishra said that her school holds separate classes for poor students separately from 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Representatives of DAV School and Blue Bells School were not available for comment.