Girl child education discriminated
You may be aware that in many countries available indicators show that the girl child is discriminated against from the earliest stages of life, through her childhood and into adulthood. It may not be out of place to mention here that India is one of those countries in the world in which men outnumber women. The reasons for this can be attributed to, among other things, indifferent attitudes and practices against girl child including their health and well being. It has generally been observed that girl child is discriminated against in the matter of education also. The ratio of drop outs for girls at different levels of education is more than that for the boysTo remedy the situation, the Central Board of Secondary Education has already made a provision in its Examination Bye-Laws that girl candidates, who are bonafide residents of the National Capital Territory of Delhi can appear in Class X and Class XII Examinations of the Board as Private Candidates.In order to further promote education for girl child, an amendment in the Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board has now been made that all the affiliated schools will grant full waiver of all fees (including tuition fee and all other fees under any head except the meals and transportation fee) charged by them from class VI onwards to each girl student who is also the single child of a parent. Similarly, it will be appreciated if the schools also consider extending 50% concession in these fees for every girl student who is one of two daughters who are also the only two children in a family. In addition to above, the school on its own can also waive such fees like transportation and meal fee (as applicable).It has been decided by the Board that the above provisions will be made applicable to all schools affiliated with the Board. However, already affiliated schools will have a choice to implement these either with immediate effect or from the next academic session commencing from 1.04.2006. In case of schools seeking affiliation with CBSE, the implementation will be with immediate effect.For implementation of these provisions, it is advised that the schools may accept the status of the girl children on the basis of a simple affidavit sworn by the parents. Such parents may also be informed very categorically that they shall intimate the school immediately about any change in the single status of girl child/children in the family, if and when it occurs, and it shall be their sole responsibility. The schools may also intimate to the parents that in case it is detected at any time that the affidavit sworn in by them was false, appropriate action will be taken by the school against them, and the CBSE will also consider withholding certificates.
In the light of the above, the Managements & Heads of the Institutions of all the affiliated schools are requested to take appropriate action, and to submit their 'Quarterly Report on Fee Concession', as per enclosed format. The schools who have applied for affiliation with the Board are also requested to be in readiness for implementing the above provision for promotion of education for the girl child from the month they receive affiliation with the Board and start sending quarterly reports in the format. To start with, the report for the quarter ending September 2005 may be sent to the Joint Secretary (Affiliation), Central Board of Secondary Education, Delhi before 30th November 2005. It is hoped that all the affiliated schools will take the pride in the implementation of above provisions in the interest of education of girl children, and non-implementation of these provisions will attract necessary action under Affiliation Bye-Laws of the Board.
Not only was the CBSE asking schools to provide free education to single girl children, it was also asking schools to submit a Quarterly Compliance Report - more paperwork for the schools. There was strong resistance to this move from CBSE-affiliated schools and a minority unaided institution, Carmel Convent School, moved the Delhi High Court saying that the circular is violative of Article 30 of the Constitution (right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions). In January 2006, theDelhi High Court stayed the implementation of the order and Justice Vikramjit Sen issued notices to CBSE, the Centre and the Director of Education of the Delhi Government asking them to file replies to the petition within four weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on March 27.
Just a week before the next hearing in the Delhi High Court, the CBSE in its circular has chosen to water down its old ones by making it optional for private CBSE-affiliated schools to consider extending waiver of fees to single girl children studying in classes IX to XII. But all single girl children studying in government run Kendriya Vidyalayas would be given a fee waiver from class VI onwards, with the government picking up the tab. It has also introduced a new scholarship scheme for single girl children who secure 60% or more marks in their class X Examination for the year 2006 onwards. These children would be given scholarship of Rs. 500/- p.m. for studying in classes XI and XII in schools who charged tuition fee of not more than Rs. 1,000/- p.m. during the academic year 2005-06.
The Delhi High Court has subsequently disposed off the case (Civil Writ Petition No. 778/2006) on March 27.
