Delhi BJP has opposed the Aam Aadmi Party government’s proposed “The Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill, 2015”, saying it will not help in the improvement of education standard, check exploitation of teachers and staff in private schools or provide relief to parents who are fleeced by unscrupulous school management.
Delhi BJP president and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta, while welcoming prohibition on screening procedure for admission in nursery classes, said other provisions in the proposed legislation ought to be rejected outright. He said the proposed amendments were being introduced without taking into consideration the constitutional powers of the Central government and the ground realities as they exist in our school education system and society.
The proposals seek to omit the requirement of prior approval of the Central government for making any rule under Delhi School Education Act, 1973. Delhi government unilaterally cannot make such proposal by itself, he said, adding such powers are to be invested by the Central government in the Delhi government for which a proper procedure needs to be followed.
The Delhi government’s proposal seeks to amend the Section that ensures parity of staff, salaries between private schools and government schools, said Gupta. “This amendment will go against the interests of teachers and staff of private schools. It will lead to their exploitation. It is impractical on part of the government to think that the changed law will necessitate that schools pay teachers and staff as per the minimum wages of a skilled worker (about Rs 11,000 per month). It will lift protective umbrella from teachers and staff. Most of the schools are charging hefty fee by fleecing parents, but are not paying teachers the wages they are entitled to receive,” added Gupta.
“The Supreme Court has already held that the teacher is not a worker and not covered under the minimum wages laws. It is not understandable how the government will implement the laws which go against the ruling of the Supreme Court. The government should have thought about it before proposing the amendment,” the BJP leader said.