The High Court’s stay on the Delhi government’s “neighbourhood criteria” for nursery admissions was received with much cheer by parents as well as heads of schools. But the parents who were eyeing schools in their neighbourhood are now unsure of their seat as they will no longer receive any special benefit.
“This is a good move. Just because I live in a neighbourhood that does not have any well known schools, why should I be deprived of a fair chance at the best schools for my child? It would have been a different scenario if good schools were evenly distributed across the Capital,” said Kavya Gupta, a parent seeking nursery admission for her son this year.
No restriction
The government had instructed private unaided schools built on DDA land to accept nursery admission forms based only on the neighbourhood criteria.
“It is important to let parents choose for their kids rather than imposing neighbourhood clause on them. There are some areas where there are few schools while other areas have a lot of schools. I think Delhi is not ready for this clause... very wise decision by the HC,” said Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal of Springdales Public School.
Commenting on their struggle that finally bore fruit, Member of the Action Committee for Private Unaided schools, S.K. Bhattacharya, said: “I am very happy that the HC has decided to grant the stay Parents can decide schools for their toddlers on the basis of neighbourhood, siblings, alumni and more factors, rather than just on distance.”
Some parents, however, were left confused. “Why does the government have to wake up at the eleventh hour to frame these policies,” said Medha Savarna, a parent who has gone through the nursery admissions process twice.
K.C. Malik, owner of Manvi Public School in Rohini, said there is no reason for the government to stop parents from choosing schools. the ultimate aim of schools was to fill seats so they would not say no to a students if they come from the neighbourhood but if parents want to choose some school which is not in their neighbourhood, then why stop them? “This is just a political stunt, which has created a lot of difference between the schools and parents. Parents do not trust the schools any more due to statements made by politicians. If parents do not trust the schools, then how will there be a mutual understanding for the betterment of the kids? That is why, I feel that this is a good decision and more decisions like these need to come out.”
Tuesday was the last date for filling nursery application forms.
