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The Right to Education (RTE) Act  opened the doors of opportunity to children who otherwise could never hope to join private schools in life. There has been good response from parents in enrolling their wards in Dakshina Kannada district, by availing the 25 per cent seats reserved for children from backward classes, weaker sections of the society in private schools.

In 2012-13, only 768 students were admitted under the quota, but in 2013-14, the Department of Public Instructions has received 1,421 applications. Inspite of few private educational institutions approaching the court over minority status, the number of applications received under RTE Act is 3,359 in 2014-15. A total of 170 unaided schools in Dakshina Kannada (exempting 306 minority schools) come under the RTE Act.

This includes 34 schools in Bantwal, 18 — Belthangady, 37 — Mangalore City, 27 — Puttur, 9 — Sullia, 32 — Mangalore taluk and 13 — Moodbidri educational block. There were 2008 seats available under RTE Act. This included 126 seats for pre-primary and 1,882 for class one. 

The total number of seats available under different educational blocks are Bantwal— 365 seats, Belthangady— 176 seats, Mangalore City—475 seats (18 pre-primary seats), Puttur— 375 (22 pre-primary), Sullia— 88 seats  (86 pre-primary), Mangalore — 381 and Moodbidri block—148 seats.  

4 blocks achieve cent pc

This year, for the available 2008 seats under the quota, the department has received 3,359 applications.

Bantwal block has received 623 applications as against the available 365 seats, while Belthangady received 226 applications as against 176 seats, Mangalore City received 944 applications for 475 seats, Puttur received 346 applications for 375 seats, Sullia received 386 applications for 88 seats, Mangalore taluk received 613 applications for 381 seats and  Moodbidri has received 221 applications for 148 seats.

In total 1,787 students have been selected and Bantwal, Belthangady, Sullia and Moodbidri have achieved cent per cent in filling the reserved seats.

Court battle

Out of seven blocks, Mangalore City, Puttur and Mangalore taluk have failed in filling the reserved seats inspite of receiving applications. A few private educational institutions have approached the High Court seeking minority status. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Deputy Director of Public Instructions (DDPI) Moses Jayashekar said “five institutions in Mangalore namely Canara High School Dongarakeri, Raj Academy Vamanjoor, Prestige Institute Jappinamogaru, Sharada Vidyalaya Kodialbail and Sharada Vidhyaniketan Talapady have filed petition in the Court seeking linguistic minority status, which would exempt them from giving 25 per cent seats under RTE. The Court has passed an interim stay order. Effort is being made by the government to vacate the stay. Overall the response has been good this year for the reserved seats under the RTE act,” he added.

In Puttur block, 346 applications were received for 375 available seats. Only 339 students have been admitted. Puttur BEO Shashidhar said “St Ann’s Institute of Kadaba has claimed that it should be considered as a minority institute. But, they don’t have the minority certificate which is mandatory. A notice has been issued to the institution,” he said. “In some schools though the number of seats were more, they did not receive the applications. So we could not achieve cent per cent in filling the seats,” he added.