ACTION FOR SCHOOL ADMISSION REFORMS or ASAR is a new initiative for DoE in action against the schools.
Since most parents fear the result of their actions against schools, they are reluctant to complain against them. Schools on the other hand have continued to violate the recommendations of the Ganguly Committee.
The admission form may be given out for Rs. 25, but the schools are charging a hefty amount for the prospectus. And for everyone, the form is no use without the prospectus.
But buying the form does not ascertain the child’s admission to the school. It only burns a bigger hole in the parents pocket.
This is just one illustration of the violations that the schools are showing.
ASAR is one initiative to get the voice of the distressed parents, to be heard by the right people. Since the DoE is inclined towards filing of complaints against schools, ASAR has volunteers to file the right kind of complaints to the right authorities. Inspite of all the media glare, and blog posts the schools continue to flout rules, and remain indifferent about it.
The DoE still maintains it has not received any complaints about any of the schools activities so far. “Somebody will have to come forward. We can’t take any action unless such violations are pointed out by the parents,” said Chandrabhushan Kumar, director, DoE.
The volunteers are confident that DoE will get enough information to act on if the initiative picks up.
They are encouraging people to come forward, and report their experiences, and help them with more suggestions. The parents will be given a choice of keeping their identity a secret, if they wish to.
