BANGALORE: Karnataka Federation of Independent Schools’ Managements, which represents nearly 300 ICSE and CBSE schools in the state, said the schools are unable to comply with the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE) Act this year as the admissions process was over.Speaking to reporters after an internal meeting on Wednesday, president of the Federation L R Shivarame Gowda said, “We welcome RTE, but we will not be able to accommodate 25 per cent children from weaker sections of the society this year. The admissions in our schools are completed by October every year. It is too late for us to do anything.” Representatives from various ICSE and CBSE schools put the ball back in the state government’s court.“Now that admissions in our schools are over, we want the government to tell us which of the children already admitted will go out to make way for the 25 per cent. Else, the government can authorise us to remove children,” said general secretary of Management of Independent CBSE Schools Association Mansoor Ali Khan.Gowda stressed that the schools faced problems in implementing the Act this year. “We cannot add another section as there is no space. There are genuine infrastructure issues,” Gowda added.The federation clarified that its intention was not to defy the Supreme Court order. “It is a Catch-22 situation. If nothing works out, we have to be ready for penalty,” he said.Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education G Kumar Naik said that the schools need to solve the issue. Speaking to Express, Naik said, “At this point, we cannot consider any admission process that has been done without keeping RTE in consideration. Similar to drawing lots, these schools have to do something to accommodate the 25 per cent.”
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