Mayor asks schools for quota under Right to Education

CHENNAI: A letter from the office of mayor Saidai S Duraisamy to more than 30 private schools in the city has got Opposition members and councillors crying foul. The letter, on the Chennai Corporation's official letterhead, which mentions the government order implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act in the state and requests the schools to consider the list of students recommended by him, is almost a misuse of his office and the RTE Act itself, they say.
"When we were in power, even we have issued letters of recommendation with the corporation letterhead. But we have done so only for a couple of students with their names mentioned. But giving blanket letter like this, it's almost like exerting pressure on the schools," said former mayor M Subramaniam.
While mayor Duraisamy was not willing to comment on the issue, sources in his office said the letter was just a 'request'. "The mayor tries to help everyone who approaches him. He usually writes a letter or makes a telephone call, to address a person's complaint or petition. We just want schools to try giving priority to members of families below the poverty line (BPL) who approach us, only if and when possible. We do not have a quota, earn a monetary benefit or intend to force any school to admit a student recommended by him," said one of the mayor's personal assistants. "The students recommended by the mayor are people known to him. Under the RTE Act, the mayor's office has recommended only families who come under the BPL income bracket," said the assistant.
Schools say the mayor's concern is unfounded since a government officer is likely to be appointed specifically to help schools verify applications under the RTE Act. "According to discussions with the principal secretary, we have to admit only students living within a 1km radius of the school for LKG and who have not been admitted to a government school in the same radius. So, the officer will help us sift through our applications and choose the children," said the principal of a school in Mogappair.
Educational institutions claim they are unfazed by the 'request' letters. "Earlier, recommendations used to be a menace, but now people recommend only genuine students. Even then when we refuse admissions, most ministers understand our position," said the principal of a school in Anna Nagar.
A school principal in Ashok Nagar said dealing with blanket recommendations becomes tricky because there have been instances of touts arranging for signatures and letters.