Christian educational institutions in Gujarat have jointly filed a petition in the Ahmedabad High Court on June 7th, challenging the recent amendment to the “Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Act” passed by the Gujarat Assembly, alleging that it violates article 30 of the constitution which guarantees the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.
On March 31, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly amended the “Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Act,” mandating minority institutes to appoint only principals and teachers who have passed the TAT (Teacher’s Aptitude Test) in secondary and higher secondary schools administered by them.
Father Fernandes, secretary of Gujarat Education Board of Catholic Institutions and one of the petitioners challenging the amendment, said, ” Until now church-run educational institutions enjoyed the right to appoint non-teaching and teaching staff including the principal. They also framed rules and regulations for the administration of the institution and to discipline the students and staff. But the new law has withdrawn all such powers.”
He went on to say that 63 of the 181 schools managed by the Gujarat Education Board of Catholic Institutions receive government funding to pay teachers’ wages and that with the recent amendment, Christian leaders worry that all church-run schools may soon fall under state control.
However, Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said that the recent amendment is in accordance with Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court judgments and that the requirement for appropriate qualification along with TAT examination for appointment of principals and teachers in minority educational institutions will improve the quality of education in the state.
(with inputs from UCAnews)
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