Panel to ensure smooth implementation of free education for poor children in private schools

The School Education Department has constituted a State-level committee for determining the ‘per-child’ expenditure to be met by the government for students admitted to private schools under the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009. 
| Photo Credit: VENKATACHALAPATHY_C

The School Education Department has constituted a State-level committee for determining the ‘per-child’ expenditure to be met by the government for students admitted to private schools under the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

The committee is represented by government officials, members of private and unaided schools’ managements, and NGOs working in the education sector.

A G.O. (No. 103) released to this effect on Tuesday said that Principal Secretary/Special Chief Secretary, School Education, would be the Chairman of the committee, while the Special Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Commissioner/Director of School Education, representatives of private school managements such as Tulasi Vishnu Prasad K. from Andhra Pradesh Private, Unaided Schools Managements Association (APPUSMA), V. Subrahmanya Raju from A.P. Private Schools Association (APPSA), K. Srikanth from Independent School Managements Association (ISMA) and president of United Private Education Institutions Federation (UPEIF) D. Srinivasa Rao, Director of South Zone from Indus Action Soumya Suresh, Sr. Programme Manager, Pratham Education Foundation K. Suresh Babu and Education Specialist from UNICEF Seshagiri Madhusudhana Rao as members and State Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Society as member/convener.

The members will meet within three months, and thereafter in December every year to assess the per-child expenditure for the next academic session. For the 2025-26 academic year, the members should take immediate steps to assess the per-child expenditure.

The reimbursement will be made by the government directly by way of Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS)/National Electronic Fund Transfer (NEFT) in a separate bank account maintained by the school in two instalments during the academic year.

The first instalment of 50% would be reimbursed in September while the rest will be reimbursed in January.