Private schools are protesting the extension of the RTE Act up to class 10 for SC/ST students without changes

The Associated Management of Primary & Secondary Schools in Karnataka said the circular raises significant legal and procedural concerns. | Photo credit: FILE PHOTO

While the Karnataka government issued an order to extend free and compulsory education to Class 9 and 10 for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students under the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2029, private schools objected to the extension without amending the RTE Act 2009.

The schools have written a letter to the chief secretary to the government warning they will launch a legal battle if they are forced to implement the order without changing the law.

The Chief Minister announced in the state budget that SC/ST students who have taken admission under the RTE Act-2009 and studied in class 8 in 2025-26 can continue their studies in classes 9 and 10 in the same school. He allocated ₹19 crore and said that the welfare department would bear the expenses for the education of the students.

Accordingly, the Department of Education and Literacy (DSEL) has issued an order for the same.

Further, if SC/ST students who have taken admission under RTE and studied in class 8 have already paid class 9 fee in the same school, steps will be taken to refund it.

Also, if for some reason Transfer Certificates (TC) are issued to SC/ST students even though the school currently has classes 9 and 10, the parents who agreed for the student to continue in the same school should be allowed to continue in classes 9 and 10 in the same school again.

What private schools say

Shashikumar D., general secretary of the Associated Management of Primary & Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS), however, in his letter to the chief secretary said, “We strongly protest the DSEL circular. While the intention to ensure continued schooling is a welcome step, the circular raises significant legal and procedural concerns.”

“This is a violation of the statutory age limit for RTE. Section 3 of the RTE Act 2009 restricts free and compulsory education to children between the ages of 6 and 14. Extending benefits to students above this age without legislative amendment is beyond the scope of the law,” he said.

He further said that as per the directions of the Supreme Court, they demanded to declare the expenditure per child every year and reimburse the unaided schools based on the actual expenditure of more than 50 components. However, DSEL ignored these guidelines, he said. “The ministry continues to report figures that vastly understate the actual cost, manipulating the data to reflect only a fraction of the actual expenditure. The expenditure per child exceeds five times the figures declared eight years ago. It is a violation of RTE rules and court orders,” he said.

“If the government is sincerely trying to allow SC/ST students to continue their studies in class 9 and 10 in the same school after completing class 8 under RTE, then take necessary steps to amend the RTE Act accordingly. If not, if provision is made under other laws including the Karnataka Education Act, we will also provide for separate expenses per child and allow SC/ST students to continue their education as per the government order,” he said.

Published – 22 May 2026 20:46 IST