Pics: Joshwa D'souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)

Mangaluru, May 6: A consultation meeting regarding problems from KG to PG by Shikshana Rakshana Vedike was held at hotel Woodlands on Thursday May 5.

Speaking on the occasion, activist and the convenor of the Vedike Lolaksha said, "The society that we belong to is the one who has denied education to the majority. When the working class demanded it, the educated ones termed it as religious sanctity and denied education. Today too it has remained the same but with a few changes that a person can demand the right to education until he wants to learn. It has been made compulsory only till the age of 14. Few changes have to be made in this right as it should be made compulsory until a person wants to learn and hence the true meaning of right to education can be achieved.”

Explaining the motive behind organizing the meeting, co-convenor of the Vedike and the director of Padi, Renny D'Souza said, "Today education has become a money making system. Since the institutions are run by the influential people, various norms which are stressed in the Right to Education (RTE) act have been violated. Many circulars stating displaying the number of seats, number of admissions, fees allotted for the academic year have been dumped in the dustbin."

"This has to be discussed at state level. Lack of awareness among many people, has led private schools to charge very high fees. We need to make a strong team to visit every private school and urge for strict implementation of the RTE.The four objectives of the meeting were to tackle the obstacles in implementation of RTE, make a note if high fees are charged in PUC admissions, transparency in admissions of autonomous colleges, and to urge the government to extend the minimum age mentioned in RTE." Renny added.