New Delhi, Apr 12 (IANS): The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Thursday welcomed the apex court order upholding a 25 percent quota for poor children in unaided private schools, saying it will help in bridging disparities.

"It is a historic judgment. I think it is good for all children, rich or poor. I think it is good for the poor as disparities between them and other children will be bridged and there will be greater sharing of culture, values and constitutional values of equality and justice in schools," said NCPCR chairperson Shanta Sinha in the wake of the apex court upholding the constitutional validity of the right to education (RTE) act.

"For the rich it is good, for they can know about the lives of all other children and learn so much from cultural diversity. It is a very welcome step," Sinha said.

Sinha hoped that all private, unaided and aided schools will welcome it and see it as a great opportunity to partake in implementation of the RTE.

The Supreme Court Thursday upheld the constitutional validity of the right to education (RTE) act that mandates unaided private schools to keep 25 percent seats for students from economically and socially weaker sections of society.

However, the court made it clear that this quota would not be applicable to unaided minority institutions.