The Delhi Government on Saturday came up with guidelines for admission of children belonging to the economically weaker sections (EWS) at the entry level in private schools.
While most points in the guideline remain the same, the government has quashed the mandatory three-year domicile category for applicants this year. According to earlier guidelines, the parents had to produce a three-year domicile certificate for their ward’s admission under the EWS category.
As per the guidelines, all schools will have to reserve at least 25 per cent of the total available seats for children belonging to the EWS category. Under the neighbourhood criteria, admission shall first be offered to eligible students belonging to EWS or Disadvantaged Group (DG) residing within one kilometre of the school concerned, the circular added.
“In case vacancies remain unfilled, students residing within three kilometres of the school shall be admitted. If there are still vacancies, then the admission shall be offered to students residing within six kilometre of the institution. Students residing beyond six kilometre shall be admitted only in case vacancies remain unfilled even after considering all the students within six km area. However, schools will accept forms from all applicants under the EWS or DG group irrespective of distance of residence from school,” the circular said.
Lawyer-activist Khagesh Jha said: “The Directorate of Education [DoE] has finally come up with guidelines for the EWS and DG categories for entry-level classes. However, these are nothing but clarifications on the earlier orders and updates of various High Court orders on the subject. The guidelines do not have any grievance redressal mechanism, which will make things more complicated. The DoE dropped the facility of submission of centralised forms at their zonal offices this year. The guidelines published in English, looks very technical and it will be very difficult for EWS parents to understand them.”
The DoE has devised a common registration form for admissions under the EWS and DG categories and the same is uploaded on its official website — www.edudel.nic.in.
“All the schools are directed to use the said format only by downloading the form or using a printed version of the application form,” the circular stated.
The DoE will provide observers for draw of lots for EWS and DG categories like the previous years.
