Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Madhya Pradesh Private Schools Await ₹800 Crore RTE Reimbursements
Private schools in Madhya Pradesh teach some children for free under the Right to Education Act.
The law requires them to keep at least 25% of entry-level seats for disadvantaged children.
The government is supposed to repay the schools for this education.
Schools say about ₹800 crore in payments for two school years has not yet arrived.
This is especially difficult for small schools with many RTE students.
The School Education Department says it has asked the Finance Department to release the money.
School groups say they may hold a hunger strike and march to the Chief Minister’s residence.
Government figures show that ₹404.34 crore was reimbursed during 2024-25 for 7.09 lakh children.
The government also says more than ₹3,000 crore has been reimbursed since the program began in 2011-12.
Private schools in Madhya Pradesh are awaiting about ₹800 crore in RTE reimbursements for 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Under the RTE Act, private unaided schools must reserve at least 25% of entry-level seats for disadvantaged and weaker-section children.
Schools say they are educating RTE students without collecting fees, creating financial pressure, especially for smaller institutions.
The School Education Department has approached the Finance Department and said payments will be made after funds are released.
Government data records ₹404.34 crore reimbursed to 20,892 schools for 7.09 lakh children in 2024-25.
- Who
- Private unaided schools, RTE students, the Madhya Pradesh School Education Department, and the Finance Department.
- What
- Private schools are awaiting about ₹800 crore in RTE fee reimbursements for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years.
- When
- The pending reimbursements cover the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years; the reimbursement data cited covers 2024-25.
- Where
- Madhya Pradesh, with the issue raised in Bhopal.
- Why
- Schools must educate children admitted under the RTE quota without charging their families, while government reimbursements have been delayed.
Private Schools’ Concerns
Government’s Position
Delayed payments
Private Schools’ Concerns
Schools say the unpaid reimbursements are becoming difficult to sustain because they continue educating RTE students without collecting fees.
Government’s Position
The School Education Department said it has approached the Finance Department and that payments will be made once funds are released.
Impact on schools
Private Schools’ Concerns
Representatives say the delay is placing financial pressure on smaller schools, particularly those with many RTE students, and has reduced the number of schools covered under reimbursement.
Government’s Position
Government data cited in the report shows that 20,892 private unaided schools received ₹404.34 crore for 7.09 lakh children in 2024-25.
Next steps
Private Schools’ Concerns
The private school organisation plans a hunger strike and march to the Chief Minister’s residence if the issue remains unresolved.
Government’s Position
The department’s stated approach is to release the pending payments after funds are provided by the Finance Department.
- Pending amount
- About ₹800 crore
- Pending academic years
- 2024-25 and 2025-26
- RTE seat requirement
- At least 25% of entry-level seats in private unaided schools
- Funding ratio
- The Centre and state share Samagra Shiksha funding at 60:40 in Madhya Pradesh
- 2024-25 reimbursement
- ₹404.34 crore reimbursed to 20,892 private unaided schools for 7.09 lakh children
- Long-term government figure
- More than ₹3,000 crore reimbursed since the scheme began in 2011-12
- Planned protest
- A private school organisation said it may hold a hunger strike and march to the Chief Minister’s residence