Parents demonstrate outside the district collectorate on Thursday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

A tardy district education department and callous private institutions are allegedly keeping out poor students from English-medium schools in violation of Right to Education Act norms, protesters alleged on Thursday.

City parents’ forum Jamshedpur Abhibhavak Sangh alleged 70 per cent of seats earmarked for BPL and financially weak groups are lying vacant in almost all English-medium schools of the city, though three months of new academic session have rolled by.

A delegation of the outfit demonstrated before the district collectorate, alleging meetings with district superintendent of education Abhay Shanker failed to resolve the issue.

“We have more than 25 parents here whose wards were denied admission in English-medium private schools though they submitted income certificates to prove their financial status. School authorities are denying admission to poor students in an open violation of RTE Act,” said outfit president Umesh Kumar.

Protesters withdrew their agitation after East Singhbhum DC Amitabh Kaushal assured them of finding a solution within 10 days.

East Singhbhum DSE Shanker, in New Delhi on a personal visit, said over phone he would hold a meeting with representatives from private schools after returning to the city on June 24.

Eligible parents have BPL cards or an annual income within Rs 48,000-Rs 50,000.