The education department has decided to conduct a detailed investigation into the minority status granted to Vibgyor High School in Goregaon on the basis of a certificate issued by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI). The education department officials said that while prima facie they will accept the certificate’s validity, they would be investigating into whether the school has been fulfilling the criteria laid down for minority institutions.
Speaking on the relief that the Vibgyor High management had managed to secure by producing the minority certificate, P.R. Pawar, education inspector, Mumbai (north) said, “The issue does not end there.” Referring to the refusal by the management to admit students from marginalised sections of the society as per the Right To Education (RTE) Act, he said, “In fact, it has given a new impetus to our probe and we will be investigating whether the management has abided by the rules laid down for minority institutions,” he said.
As per the guidelines of the NCMEI, institutions claiming minority status are expected to fill up 51 per cent of the seats by students belonging to the community under which it has claimed the minority status; the Vibgyor High management has claimed minority status for the Parsi community.
Mr Pawar said, “By refusing to reserve 25 per cent seats for students from the marginalised section of the society, they have tried to take undue advantage of the permissions granted by the government and it cannot be permitted.”