Restriction on RTE quota in private schools draws flak

November 27, 2014 12:30 pm | Updated 12:30 pm IST - Bengaluru:

The restriction imposed by the Department of Public Instruction on parents to apply only to three schools for obtaining seats under the RTE reservation quota in private schools has come under sharp criticism.

Till this academic year, parents could apply to any number of schools in their neighbourhood. However, despite applying to many schools, some parents could not get admissions for their children. This restriction could further reduce the opportunity, say parents and activists alike.

While senior officials of the DPI claim that the move is to ensure there is no duplication of applications as there are a large number of vacant seats every year, parents and department officials point out that the vacant seats are in schools that have poor infrastructure and staff.

Rajesh, a parent who applied for a seat for his son last year, said, “I applied for more than two dozen seats but did not get admission. If RTE seats are vacant in the school, it means that there is no demand for that school and not because applications are duplicated.”

The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has also criticised the move and plans to take up the issue with the DPI.

“By allowing parents to apply only to three schools in the neighbourhood, the department is reducing the opportunity and the right of children to education,” Chairperson of KSCPCR H.R. Umesh Aradhya said.

School mapping

Meanwhile, the department has decided to undertake school mapping exercise in the neighbourhood to plot the number of schools and verify the number of seats available under the quota. If a school does not receive application from the residents in the neighbourhood, those outside the neighbourhood can take the seats. Preference will be given to those whose parents’ annual income is less than Rs. 1 lakh, after which parents earning between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 3.5 lakh will be considered.

Convenor of RTE task force Nagasimha G. Rao has questioned the very concept of neighbourhood. “In the city, there may be many schools in the neighbourhood. But what about in villages where there are no private schools in the locality? Where can these children avail themselves of admissions under the quota?” he asks.

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