The admission process for entry-level classes at private unaided and recognised schools in the Capital is set to begin on Monday. Twenty-five per cent of seats in pre-school, pre-primary and Class I will be reserved for the Economically Weaker Sections/Disadvantaged Groups (EWS/DG).
3 days to resolve grievances
Parents of prospective students now have time till January 23 to apply to over 1,400 schools across the city. However, they will get only three days — from February 16 to 18 — to resolve any queries they may have regarding allotment of points to their ward.
To ensure that the process is as transparent as possible, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has instructed schools to upload their admission criteria on the DoE portal.
Most of the 1,400 schools have already decided to allot points to those who reside in the vicinity or areas where their buses ply. A notification is still awaited on 285 schools built on DDA land, which are required to fill 75 per cent of seats with students who live in nearby localities.
Also, schools have been asked to stay clear of the 51 criteria that the government did away with last year, and which the Delhi High Court upheld later.
No oral test or interview
As per these, there will be no oral test, interview or points awarded on the basis of the education and achievements of parents. Schools have also been instructed that their criteria should be well-defined, equitable, non-discriminatory and transparent.
Draw-of-lots to be taped
The DoE guidelines also state that draw-of-lots, whenever required, will be conducted in the presence of parents, who will be informed in advance.
Further, the draw-of-lots is to be videographed, with the school retaining the footage for three months.
The slips being used are to be shown to parents before they are put into a box.
The DoE has also asked schools not to charge ‘capitation fee’, which has been defined as any kind of donation or contribution other than the notified fee. Any school or person found contravening the provision will be liable to be punished with a fine that may extend up to 10 times the capitation fee charged.
Further, parents, who are not required to buy the prospectus of any school, will be charged only ₹25 as admission registration fee.
The first list of selected candidates will be released on February 15, while the second list will come out on February 28.
The department hopes to complete the process by March 31.
