India, March 20 -- The state government owes as much as Rs.2,930 crore to private, unaided schools that admit students under the Right to Education quota, over the last ten years. The money is a fee reimbursement for educating children from economically weaker sections under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE).

Accordingly, 25% of seats is set aside in private, unaided schools for this purpose. According to the school education department, the government spends Rs.17,670 per student under the RTE quota.

The arrears came to light in the state legislative council on Wednesday, when school education minister Dada Bhuse submitted a written reply to a calling attention motion by NCP member Amol Mitkari. In his re...