ABSTRACT: The paper examines the assertion of reservation of seats to economically weaker section (EWS) children in unaided-private schools at state level in consequence of an agreement between a land granting authority and unaided private educational institutions. It involved considerable amount of negotiation and initiative of several stakeholders such as non-governmental organization (NGO), judiciary, and government with the private educational institutions to secure reservation. The author, as a special invitee to the state level committee which was appointed to look into modalities of EWS reservation, has recorded the deliberations which highlight the view points of the representatives of private schools and NGO. Further, interviews with the few parents of EWS children provide information on some of the ground realities. With the inclusion of 25 per cent reservation for EWS children under Right to Education Act 2009 at national level, the issues raised by the stakeholders at state level carry significance in implementation. It is concluded that in addition to effective measures for implementation of reservation for EWS children, it is necessary to improve the functioning of government schools to check excessive exodus of children to unaided-private schools.

KEY WORDS: Unaided private schools, economically weaker section, elementary education, equity in education, and social inclusion.

About the Author: Dr. Sreekanth Yagnamurthy is an Associate Professor at the National University of Educational Planning and Administration, 17-B, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi 110016, India. He can be contacted via his e-mail at: syagnamurthy@yahoo.com and sreekanth@nuepa.org

How to cite this article? Yagnamurthy, Sreekanth. (2013). “Reservation for Economically Weaker Section Children in Unaided-Private Schools: Policy and Practice” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies, Vol.5(2) February, pp.201-222. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI in Bandung, West Java; and FKIP UMP in Purwokerto, Central Java, ISSN 1979-7877.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (December 5, 2012); Revised (January 8, 2013); and Published (February 17, 2013).

Alston, P. & N. Bhuta. (2005). “Human Rights and Public Goods: Education as a Fundamental Human Right in India”. Working Paper for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Series # 5, Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. New York: NYU (New York University) School of Law.

Bansal, Rashmi. (2006). “The Right to a ‘Good’ School”. Retrieved from http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/may/17rashmi.htm [accessed in New Delhi, India: November 17, 2009].

Brandsma, J. (2001). “Education, Equality, and Social Exclusion: Final Synthesis Report” in DG for Research: European Commission. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/improving/ docs/ser_clusters_education_social_exclusion_synthesis.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 18, 2012].

Bourdieu, P. & J. Passeron. (1977). Reproduction in Education, Society, and Culture. London: Sage.

Bowles, S. & H. Gintis. (1976). Schooling in Capitalist America. London: Routledge.

CAG [Comptroller and Auditor General]. (2005). “Comptroller and Auditor General Report”. Retrieved from http://www.cag.gov.in/html/reports/civil/2005_4/Chapter4.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 5, 2012].

COI [Census of India]. (2011). “Provisional Population Totals: NCT of Delhi”. Retrieved from http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/data_files/delhi/2_PDFC-Paper-1-major_trends_44-59.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 21, 2012].

Davies, L. (2005). “Schools and War: Urgent Agendas for International and Comparative Education” in Compare, 35(4), pp.357-371.

DOE [Department of Education]. (2012). “Government of NCT of Delhi: List of Schools Allotted Land”. Retrieved from http://stoic-rational.blogspot.in/2011/03/list-of-schools-which-were-allotted.html [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 8, 2012].

EII [Education in India]. (2004). “Justice Singh Dissents in the Supreme Court’s Judgment on Commercialization of Education”. Retrieved from http://prayatna.typepad.com/education/law_and_judgements/page/2/ [accessed in New Delhi, India: November 12, 2009].

Erickson, D.A. (1986). “Choice and Private Schools: Dynamics of Supply and Demand” in D.C. Levy [ed]. Private Education: Studies in Choice and Public Policy. New York: Oxford University Press, pp.82-109.

Ermisch, J.F., M. Francesconi & D.J. Pevalin. (2001). Outcomes for Children of Poverty. Leeds: Corporate Document Services, Department for Work and Pensions Research Report No.158.

GOI [Government of India]. (2005). “Allotment of Land to Educational Institutions”. Retrieved from http://www.cag.gov.in/html/reports/civil/2005_4/Chapter4.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: November 14, 2009].

Gregg, P., S. Harkness & S. Machin. (1999). Child Development and Family Income. New York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Hattam, R. et al. (2009). “Researching for Social Justice: Contextual, Conceptual, and Methodological Challenges” in Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 30(3), pp.303-316.

http://aserf.org.in/kkc.htm [accessed in New Delhi, India: 2nd May 2012].

http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/India/India_RighttoEducationBill2005.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: 2nd May 2012].

http://www.indg.in/primary-education/policiesandschemes/free%20and%20compulsory.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: 2nd May 2012].

http://www.socialjurist.com/content.php?ar=14 [accessed in New Delhi, India: 2nd May 2012].

ILO [International Labour Organization]. (2004). “World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization/International Labour Organization a Fair Globalization: Creation of Opportunities for All, Report Submitted to ILO in Geneva on February 24, 2004”. Retrieved from http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/docs/report.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: November 18, 2009].

Jessop, Tansy. (1998). “A Model of Best Practice at Loreto Day School Sealdah, Kolkata” in Occassional Paper, No.1. New Delhi, India: Education Sector Group, Department of International Development.

Juneja, Nalini. (2005). “Exclusive Schools in Delhi: Their Land and the Law” in Economic and Political Weekly, Issue No.3685, 13th August.

Kaushaar, O.F. (1972). American Non-Public Schools: Patterns of Diversity. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins.

Kumar, Amita et al. (2007). “Status of Girl’s Education (6-14 Years) in Delhi Slums”. Retrieved from http://indiasponsor.org/pdfs/ISF%20SURVEY%20REPORT.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 20, 2012].

Lauder, H., P. Brown & A.H. Halsey. (2009). “Sociology of Education: A Critical History and Prospects for the Future” in Oxford Review of Education, 35(5), pp.569-585.

Lucas, S. (2001). “Effectively Maintained Inequality: Education Transitions, Track Mobility, and Social Background Effects” in American Journal of Sociology, 106(6), pp.1642-1690.

Mallica. (2005). “Poor Children in Rich Schools”. Retrieved from http://www.isst-india.org/PDF/poor%20children%20in%20Rich%20school.pdf [accessed in New Delhi, India: October 15, 2009].

MCD [Municipal Corporation of Delhi]. (2012). “Child Sex Ratio”. Retrieved from http://www.mcdonline.gov.in/dems/ [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 15, 2012].

Mehta, C. Arun. (2011). Elementary Education in India: Progress towards UEE. New Delhi, India: National University of Educational Planning and Administration.

Mittler, Peter. (2000). Working towards Inclusive Education: Social Contexts. London: David Fulton Publishers.

News on “Delhi Govt to Set Up Three Public Schools” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: 16th July 2009.

News on “Pvt Schools Challenge RTE Act in SC” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: March 23, 2010.

News on “RTE: Schools Put Ball in Govt Court” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi, India: April 1, 2010a.

News on “Follow the Learning Curve” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: April 1, 2010b.

News on “Pvt Schools Gain at Expense of the Govt-Run” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: May 28, 2010.

News on “School Throws Out Postman’s Son” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: July 20, 2010.

News on “Bangalore School Raises Red Flag on Poor Kids” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: 30th July 2010.

News on “Freeship Quota Up After RTE, Schools in a Fix” in Times of India [newspaper]. New Delhi: August 7, 2010.

ONS [Office for National Statistics]. (2005). Focus on Social Inequalities. London: TSO, 2005 edition.

Personal communication with Prof. R. Govinda, Member Secretary, on 17th February 2012.

PIL [Public Interest Litigation]. (2002). CW No.3156, Judgment in 2002 of the High Court of Delhi at New Delhi (Public Interest Litigation) Social Jurist versus Government of National Capital Territory: Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Union of India, and Delhi Development Authority. New Delhi: n.p.

Prasad, C.S., Vibha Mathur & Anup Chattarjee. (2007). Sixty Years of Indian Economy, 1947 to 2007. New Delhi: New Century Publications.

Raffo, Carlo. (2011). “Educational Equity in Poor Urban Contexts: Exploring Issues of Place/Space and Young People’s Identity and Agency” in British Journal of Educational Studies, 59(1), pp.1-19.

Ranjan, Priya. (2010). “Equity in Education: A Sociological Analysis of ‘Right to Education Bill’” in D. Pramila [ed]. Equity and Education in India: Policy, Issues, and Challenges. New Delhi: Kanishka Publishers, pp.277-282.

Reay, Diane. (2006). “The Zombie Stalking English Schools: Social Class and Educational Inequality” in British Journal of Educational Studies, 54(3), pp.288-307.

Shingvi, L.M. (2005). “The Evolution of Indian Judiciary” in M.K. Sanathanam [ed]. 50 Years of Indian Republic. New Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of I & B, Government of India.

TCPO [Town and Country Planning Organization]. (1965). Report of the Committee on Urban Land Policy. New Delhi: Ministry of Health, Government of India.

UHRC [Urban Health Resource Centre]. (2007). State of Urban Health in Delhi. New Delhi: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

UNPFA [United Nations Population Fund Agency]. (2009). “State of World Population in 2009”. Retrieved from http://unfpa.org/swp/2009/ [accessed in New Delhi, India: February 25, 2012].

Yagnamurthy, Sreekanth. (2009). “Bullying: An Element Accentuating Social Segregation” in Education 3-13, 37(3), pp.233-245.

Young, M. [ed]. (1971). Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education. London: Collier-Macmillan.