Economically weaker section (EWS) students in Maharashtra will no longer have access to free education in private schools if there is a government school nearby.

Educational experts criticised the move and said it appears to be contradicting the RTE Act.

Recent amendments to regulations by Maharashtra's school education department, as published in the gazette, signify a significant shift in access to private education for economically disadvantaged students under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 (RTE). The amendment stipulates that economically disadvantaged children won't be eligible for admission to unaided private schools under the 25% RTE quota if there's a government or government-aided school within a kilometer radius. This move is likely to impact students, particularly in urban areas like Mumbai and Pune, where government schools are prevalent, depriving them of opportunities for English-medium education in private schools.

Critics, including educational experts, have raised concerns, citing contradictions with the RTE Act. Similar measures taken by the Karnataka government are currently facing legal challenges, with a pending verdict in the Supreme Court. Over the past decade, approximately 500,000 underprivileged children in Maharashtra have benefited from education in private schools through RTE admissions, according to government data.

The decision to amend the RTE rules was driven by the state's substantial debt to private schools, totaling ₹1,463 crore in fee reimbursements for RTE admissions over the past 12 years. It's projected that this amount would have exceeded ₹2,000 crore without the amendments. Consequently, private unaided schools participating in the RTE process will no longer be eligible for reimbursement.

Educationists like Kishore Darak question the legality of such notifications, suggesting they may be challenged and potentially struck down by legal authorities for contradicting the RTE Act. Tushar Mahajan, from the school education department, highlights a focus on strengthening government and government-aided schools through increased funding and improved infrastructure to enhance their appeal and quality of education.