RTE reimbursement delays in Karnataka shifting burden to fee-paying parents, says KAMS | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Lakhs of parents paying school fees in Karnataka are unknowingly shouldering part of the govt’s bill for implementing the Right to Education (RTE) Act.In a fresh attack on the govt, the Karnataka Associated Managements of Schools (KAMS) has alleged that the state’s failure to revise the Per Child Expenditure (PCE) and clear long-pending reimbursement dues has forced private unaided schools to cross-subsidise RTE admissions by recovering the shortfall from fee-paying students, placing both schools and families under financial strain.In a detailed representation submitted to chief minister DK Shivakumar, the association said the govt’s continued reliance on reimbursement rates fixed nearly a decade ago has pushed thousands of recognised private schools into financial distress. D Shashi Kumar, general secretary of KAMS, alleged that while the state’s expenditure on school education has more than doubled — from around Rs 20,000 crore to over Rs 45,000 crore — the reimbursement to private schools continues to be based on outdated rates of just Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000 per child.“With every passing year, the gap between the actual cost of educating an RTE student and the reimbursement paid by the govt is widening. Schools are left to bridge this deficit on their own,” Kumar said.Explaining the impact, he added: “For every child admitted under the RTE quota, schools spend several times more than what the govt reimburses. That deficit doesn’t simply disappear — it is ultimately borne by schools and, inevitably, by parents of the remaining 75% of students who pay fees. Ironically, it is the private schools that are accused of overcharging parents.”KAMS office-bearers said affordable private schools, which primarily cater to lower and middle-income families, have been the worst affected. With reimbursements falling far short of actual costs and dues for the past two academic years still unpaid, many schools are struggling to pay staff salaries, maintain infrastructure and invest in improving classrooms.Claims govt ‘understated’ expenditureThe association alleged that the govt significantly understated the Per Child Expenditure by considering only five expenditure heads while excluding more than 50 recurring components prescribed under the RTE Act and the Karnataka RTE Rules. Based on its analysis of Karnataka budget documents, finance accounts, accountant general reports and other official records, KAMS estimated that the actual PCE for the 2026-27 academic year should be between Rs 40,000 and Rs 60,000 per child — several times higher than the reimbursement currently being notified.It also alleged that Rs 7 crore has been recovered from schools following audit objections arising from what it described as an incorrect interpretation of the statutory provisions governing PCE.Terming the situation “financially unsustainable,” the association urged the state govt to immediately revise and notify the PCE for 2026-27 in accordance with the statutory formula, disclose the methodology used to calculate the expenditure, clear all pending reimbursement dues and ensure greater transparency in implementing the RTE reimbursement mechanism.