Patna: Bihar’s education department has ordered action against 3,672 private schools for allegedly violating provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, in a move aimed at tightening oversight and improving transparency in the state’s schooling system.
According to officials, the schools failed to upload details related to enrolment capacity and infrastructure on the department’s online portal, a requirement under the RTE framework. District education officers have been instructed to investigate the institutions concerned and seek formal explanations.
Dr B Rajendra, the additional chief secretary of the education department, said 2,832 private schools have approval applications pending on the portal. He added that these applications would be processed within the prescribed timeframe.
The department has also warned of action against district-level officials where verification of RTE applications has been delayed. Show-cause notices are to be issued in districts where scrutiny of applications remains incomplete.
A recent departmental review found that 71,065 online enrolment applications had been submitted under the RTE quota. Of these, 22,722 are still awaiting verification, raising concerns about administrative delays in implementing the law.
The RTE Act mandates free and compulsory education for children aged six to 14 and requires private schools to reserve a proportion of seats for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Officials said the latest action was intended to ensure stricter compliance with the Act and to enhance transparency and accountability in the functioning of private schools across the state.
