PUNE: The State government is pushing for better implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act and to ensure better admissions, it is inspecting the schools. However, an association of unaided schools has alleged that files of around 250 schools in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad that have applied for renewal of RTE admissions are pending at Pune Zilla Parishad. 

However, the officials at Zilla Parishad’s Education Department have insisted that most of the files have been cleared now and it is important to see at what level the files are being held. 

“We have been following up with the Zilla Parishad officials for more than four months now, and each time we face a new excuse. Sometimes there is no response, while sometimes they say they are low on manpower. The primary education officer has also been changed a couple of times in last six months due to which taking follow-up also becomes a problem for us,” Jagruti Dharmadhikari of Independent English Schools Association (IESA) said. 

However, reacting to the issue, Sunil Kurhade, Primary Education Officer, Zilla Parishad Education Department said all the files on his table have been cleared. “In the past few days, I have signed around 200 to 250 files for the renewal of RTE certificates. Now, we will have to check if the said pending files are stuck in clerical work,” Kurhade added. 

Explaining the same, Ashok Godse, Extension Officer, Zilla Parishad Education Department said, “It is important to check whether the file has reached the Education Officer, or is pending in the administrative section. I agree there was a problem a few days ago regarding transfer of charge of the Education Officer, but now, it has all been settled. I must say that the present education officer is very efficient, and there is never an issue of clearance of the files. If the schools have an issue, they can always drop a letter and check where the file is pending and if there are any mistakes.”