Private Schools Say RTE Reimbursement No Longer Covers the Cost of Educating Students: The Associated Management for Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) has urged the Karnataka government to revise the Per Child Expenditure (PCE) reimbursed to private schools for students admitted under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
The association says the reimbursement amount has not been revised since 2017, even though the cost of running schools has increased significantly over the years. 📚
📌 Reimbursement Stagnant Since 2017, Says Association
Association General Secretary D. Shashi Kumar said private schools have been receiving reimbursement for RTE admissions since the 2013-14 academic year, but the Per Child Expenditure has remained unchanged for nearly a decade.
“The Per Child Expenditure has not been revised since 2017, despite repeated requests. Incorrect information is allegedly being submitted before the courts,” Kumar claimed.
According to the association, the outdated reimbursement is placing a heavy financial burden on private educational institutions across Karnataka.
💰 Schools Facing Financial Crisis Due to Low RTE Reimbursement
The association alleged that the low reimbursement amount has forced schools to absorb the difference in costs.
According to Kumar, many schools are compelled to recover part of the shortfall from the remaining 75% of students who are not admitted under the RTE quota, creating financial pressure on both institutions and parents.
“Schools are grappling with a severe financial crisis because the reimbursement does not match the actual cost of education,” he said.
📊 Education Budget Increased, But RTE Per Child Expenditure Remains Unchanged
Highlighting the growing gap, Kumar pointed out that Karnataka’s School Education Department budget has increased substantially over the past 13 years.
- 📈 Education budget increased from ₹25,000 crore to ₹45,000 crore
- 👨🎓 Actual expenditure per student is estimated between ₹80,000 and ₹1.3 lakh, according to the association
- 📄 However, court records reportedly mention only ₹8,000 to ₹16,000 per student
The association alleged that these figures do not reflect the government’s actual spending on school education.
🧒 Current RTE Per Child Expenditure in Karnataka
As per the association:
- 👶 Nursery students: ₹8,000 per child
- 🎒 Classes 1 to 8: ₹16,000 per child
The association argues these amounts are far below the actual cost of educating a child in private schools.
🏛️ Association Questions Government Data Submitted to Court
KAMS further claimed that funding for school education comes from nearly 138 different Central and State Government sources, but only five funding heads were reportedly reflected in documents submitted before the court.
The association believes that if the government presents complete and accurate financial data, the RTE Per Child Expenditure could be revised upward.
It has demanded that the Karnataka government:
- ✅ Recalculate the Per Student Expenditure for 2026-27
- ✅ Officially publish the revised figures
- ✅ Release all pending RTE reimbursement dues without further delay
⚖️ Legal Action Planned
The association has announced that it will raise the issue before:
- 🏛️ Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar
- 🇮🇳 Prime Minister Narendra Modi
It also plans to file a petition in court, alleging that inaccurate financial information has been submitted by the Education Department regarding RTE expenditure.
📌 Why This Matters
The Right to Education (RTE) Act guarantees free education to eligible children in private schools, with the government reimbursing institutions based on the Per Child Expenditure.
Private school associations argue that unless reimbursement is revised in line with rising education costs, schools will continue to face financial difficulties, potentially affecting the quality of education and long-term sustainability.
🔍 Keypoints
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