By IANS,
Patna: Thousands of private schools in Bihar observed a strike Wednesday to protest against a government order seeking their mandatory registration, saying it violates their autonomy.
The schools have some five million students on their rolls.
“Most private schools remained closed,” said D.K. Singh, president of the Bihar Public School and Children Welfare Association.
He said the government wanted to harass private schools in the name of Right to Education Act.
Bihar Human Resource Development Minister P.K. Shahi said registration of private schools was mandatory. The government has extended the deadline for registration from Sep 30 to Nov 12.
According to the RTE act, private schools have to reserve 25 percent of their seats for children from economically weaker sections.
While schools say they have no problems with this provision, they will not allow interference from the government.