The latest amendment to the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 by the state government has relieved the majority of private unaided schools in the state from the mandatory requirement of allocating 25 per cent of seats for students from economically weaker sections (EWS). As per the amendment, if there is a government or aided school within a one-kilometre radius, students will be ineligible for admission to private unaided schools under the Act.

The state’s school education department issued a gazette notification to this effect to government officials on February 9, but it was made public on Thursday. Under RTE, 25 per cent of seats in reputed private unaided schools from primary to Std VIII are reserved under the RTE Act. This meant that financially disadvantaged students could receive a quality education or education in private unaided schools regardless of their financial situation thanks to the RTE.