Days after the Southern Railway authorities issued an order instructing to stop fresh admissions in railway mixed schools in its jurisdiction, the administration has now revised this heeding to various representations.
The latest order issued by the railway administration on Wednesday has made it clear that the Railway Schools at Villupuram, Jolarpet and Arakkonam could continue and admit students at the primary level for the academic year 2018-19 and for classes which were above it.
With respect to other railway schools functioning at Perambur, Madurai, Palakkad, Golden Rock, Erode and Pothanur, the new order permitted admission in Class I only if there were at least 15 to 20 wards of railway employees.
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For other classes, preferably railway wards may be admitted, it further said.
The revised order has been communicated to the Divisional Railway Manager of Chennai, Palakkad, Tiruchi, Salem and Madurai besides to the Chief Workshop Manager, Golden Rock as well as to the Principal of the Railway Schools.
The earlier order issued by the railway administration in April-end had shocked the parents of children studying in railway schools and also the railway unions.
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The Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU) while taking up this issue with the railway administration also demanded the withdrawal of the order during a 60-hour-relay fast organised by the union in support of their charter of demands.
The SRMU general secretary N. Kanniah made a representation to the Southern Railway administration recently in this regard.
"In consideration of representation from the SRMU general secretary, the issue of admissions into the railway schools has been reviewed", the order said.
Railway sources here acknowledged that the new order with respect to admission into the schools had been received from the headquarters.