The demand for RTE quota seats in private schools was higher than the number of seats available, with each seat being contested by 1.44 applications. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) received 2.28 lakh applications for 1.58 lakh seats available under the RTE quota.
Despite the high demand though, more children are expected to secure admissions compared to previous years as the number of seats has risen from 1.28 lakh in 2017-18 to 1.58 lakh.
Sources in the Education Department said that this year, there were more number of seats available as even aided schools were mandated to provide reservation to children from disadvantaged and weaker sections of society. According to Section 12 (1) (b) of the RTE Act, aided schools would have to provide free and compulsory elementary education to children admitted based on the annual recurring aid or grants, subject to a minimum of 25%.
Several parents remain worried as the demand for seats is more than what is available. Nagesh Kumar, an auto driver, said that there was a need for the department to ensure that the allotment process is completed quickly so that parents whose children fail to obtain seats under the quota could make alternative arrangements before the academic year begins by the end of May.
The last date to file applications was March 28.
New initiative
With a large number of applications for RTE quota seats being rejected in the past years, the DPI has decided to match the name of the parent in the Aadhaar card as well as in the caste and income certificates.
The same process last year was done manually and close to 10,000 applications were rejected during the document verification process.
P.C. Jaffer, Commissioner for Public Instruction, said that the process aims to streamline the RTE admission process. “If names in the two documents are found to be different, then the applications would not be accepted,” he said.
As per the earlier calender of events, the first round of seat allotment is scheduled to be conducted in the first week of April, but department officials pointed out that it is likely to be postponed by a week.
