Ganguly code not for pvt schools: Govt

The Delhi government on Tuesday said unaided private schools should have the freedom to devise their own criteria for nursery admissions, reports Harish V Nair.

The Delhi government on Tuesday said unaided private schools should have the freedom to devise their own criteria for nursery admissions.

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In a fresh affidavit filed before the Delhi High Court, the government said the nursery admission process would begin on November 30 and that these schools are not bound by the Ganguly panel recommendations.

The affidavit filed by Additional Director of Education S.N. Ghonkrokta, on the eve of the crucial hearing in the nursery admission case, said: “Schools’ autonomy cannot be interfered with.” The court will take a stand on the affidavit on Wednesday.

Maintaining “every school has a distinct identity which is marked by its philosophy and ethos”, the affidavit said: “it is imperative that its individuality be secured by giving full autonomy in the matter of admission.”

Earlier, Delhi Education Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely had said the government would like to give freedom to schools to frame their own admission policy.

The government feels the recommendations of the Ganguly Committee, imposing a set of uniform criteria on the basis of neighbourhood policy, alumni, sibling and educational qualification of parents, cannot be accepted as it runs contrary to rule 145 of the Delhi School Education Act.

The government said every school will start the admission process on November 30. Forms will be available till December 15 and can be submitted till December 30. The first list will be issued on February 1.

The affidavit says the government remains “fully committed” to implementing HC directives against interviews or interaction, and assures the admission process will be monitored to ensure transparency and objectivity.

The government said all schools have been asked to adopt a standardised registration form and that there will be a pre-primary class before Class I. The age eligibility for this will be four years.