Pune: A large-scale admission scam under the Right to Education (RTE) Act has come to light, revealing how wealthy families, agents, and government officials are exploiting the system meant for underprivileged children. Private English-medium schools in Pune and surrounding areas have been flooded with fraudulent admissions, with fake income and residence proof being used to secure free education for children from affluent backgrounds.
Government officials, in collusion with agents and politicians, are facilitating this scam, earning millions in the process. Meanwhile, deserving underprivileged students continue to struggle for admission.
How the RTE Scam Works
Under the RTE Act, 25% of seats in unaided private schools are reserved for students from economically weaker sections. To apply, parents must provide birth, caste, income, and residence certificates. If they own a home, they must submit ownership documents, while tenants must provide a registered rental agreement. However, an increasing number of wealthy families are securing admissions through fraudulent means.
Fake Income Certificates: Despite owning luxury cars and having stable jobs, parents obtain fake income certificates by bribing officials.
Forged Rental Agreements: Parents collaborate with landlords near schools to create fake rental agreements. Some small houses have multiple fraudulent agreements, enabling several children to qualify under the 1 km residence criterion.
Political Influence: Local leaders, including former and current elected representatives, pressurize officials to approve admissions from their lists. Some even charge parents hefty sums under the pretense of "facilitating" the process.
Citizen Service Centers' Role: These centers modify Aadhaar addresses to show false residence proof. Many families altered their Aadhaar details months before the admission process to qualify.
Selective Action: Parents Punished, Officials Protected
Last year, after widespread media coverage, the education department canceled 18 fraudulent admissions in Bhugaon and filed cases against the parents. However, despite clear evidence, no action was taken against the officials who accepted bribes.