Hundreds of private matriculation schools across Tamil Nadu continue to face severe financial strain as they await long-pending reimbursements under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Despite a government sanction of approximately ₹875 crore, the crucial funds have not reached a significant number of institutions, even after a wait extending beyond two years.
Official Figures vs Ground Reality: A Stark Discrepancy
While officials from the Directorate of Private Schools claim that only about 500 schools are pending payments, private school associations present a drastically different picture. They assert that at least 50 schools in each district have not received the money, pushing the total number of affected institutions to over 2,000.
The issue stems from delayed disbursements against sanctioned amounts. On December 3, 2025, the state government sanctioned ₹450 crore to 7,609 schools for the academic year 2024-25. Simultaneously, it sanctioned ₹425 crore to 7,594 schools for the previous year, 2023-24. The directorate had assured that all schools would receive the money within a week.
Broken Promises and Mounting Financial Woes
"More than a month has passed, and the government only released the amount for 2023-24, that too to just about 5,900 schools," revealed S. Arumugam, President of the Federation of Private Schools Association. This partial and delayed disbursement has left school administrators in a lurch.
The financial blockage severely impacts day-to-day operations and essential infrastructure development. Schools report difficulty in allocating money for basic needs like constructing compound walls or adding more toilets. K. Saravanan, principal of Sree Maruti Kids Nursery and Primary School in Krishnagiri, highlighted a personal grievance: "It has been three years now, and about ₹3 lakh is pending for our school."
Official Reasons and School Counterclaims
When questioned about the delay, K. Bhaskaran, Assistant Project Officer of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, cited account mismatches from the schools' end as the primary reason. "District education officers (private schools) are informing the school heads to rectify anomalies from their end," he stated.
An official from the Directorate of Private Schools elaborated further, noting that several schools changed their bank accounts or underwent ownership and management transfers, leading to procedural holdups. The official maintained that only around 500 schools are still awaiting reimbursement and assured that the remaining amount would be disbursed by January 10.
However, representatives from private schools firmly deny these charges, arguing that administrative delays on the government's part are the core issue, not discrepancies from the schools. The standoff continues, leaving the affected schools in a state of financial uncertainty, struggling to uphold the quality of education mandated by the very Act meant to support them.
