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Convent schools VS state govt - The Times Of India

Suhas Phadke ()
March 20, 1998

Title: Convent schools VS state govt
Author: Suhas Phadke
Publication: The Times Of India
Date: March 20, 1998

A long battle between the state government and the church-
controlled convent schools in the city looks all too likely with
the Sana BJP alliance pressing for the implementation of its
ambitious reforms in primary education in these schools. And the
state Congress criticism that the move is ant-minority has given
the controversy a political angle as well.

Despite opposition from the convent schools and other minority-
run institutions, the state government had been trying to
initiate the reforms in these schools. But after the Archbishop
Ivan Dias felt that it would be an attack on the fundamental and
human rights of minorities, the government has agreed to refer
the matter to the advocate general of the state whose opinion
would be binding.

The primary education department had been trying to evolve a
system to streamline issues like donations, admission to students
>from local areas, the fee structure, quotas for the children of
teachers, government servants, soldiers and student siblings.
There are an estimated 187 Catholic schools in the city, apart
>from several other schools catering to linguistic minorities.
Over 90 per cent of these schools are unaided.

Initially, the government had proposed a quota of 20 per cent for
minorities, also known as the 'management quota.' It had also
asked for the remaining 80 per cent to be kept open for the
neighbour hood applicants. After the school authorities protested
against this, the government has now proposed a fresh formula
which envisages 50 percent seats for the minority, 25 per cent
for siblings and 25 per cent for students from neighbouring
areas. The government has been willing to allow the schools to
determine the local areas for these admissions, However, the
minority schools refused to entertain any suggestions from the
government on this issue.

They contended that being largely funded by the community, the
minority schools had a contractual obligation towards catering to
the needs of their respective community members. 'What are we
supposed to do if the number of applications from minorities far
exceeds the 50 per cent quota being put forward by the
government. Are we to go back on our contractual obligation?'
asks Fr Denis Pereira, secretary Archdiocese Board of Education.

Since assuming office three years ago, education minister Sudhir
Joshi has discussed these issues with a number of experts
including Prof Ram Joshi, former vice chancellor of Mumbai
University. The minister has maintained that ft was relying on
expert advise rather than taking such sensitive decision on own.

Education department officials feel that the minority-run
institutions were adamant on being free of any government
control. They alleged that many of these schools denied
admissions to deserving students from other communities.

Meanwhile, the schools controlled by the Archdiocesan Board have
decided to stag the admission procedure until the court judgment
on two petitions filed in this connection. One has been filed by
aggrieved parents and another by two Christen school.


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