Private Schools Obligated To Provide Equipments, Internet To EWS Students For Online Study

Source: The Hindustan Times

The Delhi Government’s Directorate of Education has submitted before Delhi HC that t is the obligation of the private unaided schools to provide desktop/ laptop/ smartphone/ high-speed internet to economically weaker section (EWS) or disadvantaged group category students admitted in their schools to avail online study.

The Directorate filed a counter affidavit stating that it is the duty of the schools to ensure that no child is deprived of online education due to unavailability of learning resources. It further added that Union Act of India is bound to release reimbursement as prescribed under Right to Education Act.

The counter affidavit acted as a response on the petition seeking to provide laptops and smartphones to students of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) who are unable to attend online classes conducted by private schools in accordance to the coronavirus outbreak.

Delhi government, through the affidavit, also said that it has issues a show cause notice to top 15 private schools in Delhi for not providing free laptop/i-pad/android phones with high-speed internet connection.

The high court had recently said that schools and government must ensure that not even a single child could be deprived of online education for the lack of teaching equipment.

The court had observed that the schools may procure the equipment for the EWS and can ask for reimbursement, if any, later from central government. The hearing on the petition is slated to be held on June 10.