The Department of Public Instruction is planning to take the RTE admission process online from the next academic year in an attempt to fix loopholes in the process of quota admissions for underprivileged children in private unaided schools.
“We are planning to make sure that people can apply to as many schools as they want online, from 2015-2016. This will save having to make numerous trips to the schools and the office of the BEO,” said Commissioner for Public Instruction Mohammad Mohsin.
However, he said the modalities are yet to be chalked out. “We are yet to decide on whether the entire process, including the selection, will go online or whether only the applications will be filled online,” Mr. Mohsin said.
However, parents, who have in the past applied for RTE quota seats, say the admission process going online may have an adverse effect. It could deny a huge section of people the opportunity to obtain seats.
“A large section of the lower economic groups are not well-versed with computers. This may only increase middlemen and make things worse for the parents,” said Mangala, a flower vendor and a parent whose child studies in a private school in Vijayanagar under the RTE quota.
Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights H.R. Umesh Aradhya said the real challenges, such as weeding out false income certificates and taking up awareness in the low-economic areas, is necessary if it has to reach out to the intended beneficiaries.
Three batches of students have been enrolled under the quota so far, and the process has been cumbersome for parents from lower economic backgrounds to avail the benefit, with many schools showing reluctance.