Education Held Hostage: Parents Fret as TN RTE Portal Closed over State, Union Govt Row
Abhishek Vijayan | 23 June 2025 | The News Minute
The ongoing standoff between the Tamil Nadu and Union government regarding the release of the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds has led to the closure of admissions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act in private schools. Citing a lack of funds, the state government has closed the online admissions portal.
The RTE Act allows for a 25% reservation for private, unaided schools for children from marginalised, economically vulnerable communities. The Union government’s share in the funds required to implement this RTE provision comes through the SSA scheme. The Union government has refused to release the SSA funds due to Tamil Nadu—a substantial Rs 2,151.59 crore—unless the state implements the controversial National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP’s three-language dictate has long been seen in Tamil Nadu as an indirect means of Hindi imposition….