Schools create another hurdle for EWS

As if the open hostility some city schools displayed towards those seeking admission under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category wasn't enough, the harassment has been taken a notch higher by choosing to declare the admission list in the said category much later than the general category. Mallica Joshi reports.

As if the open hostility some city schools displayed towards those seeking admission under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category wasn't enough, the harassment has been taken a notch higher by choosing to declare the admission list in the said category much later than the general category.

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While city schools have been directed to come out with their first admission lists for nursery classes by January 31, many schools are releasing the first list in the EWS category as late as March.

According to a notification issued by the Directorate of Education, schools are required to come out with a common list of names of admitted candidates. "The schools shall display the list of children admitted, under free ship (EWS) and general category, commonly in alphabetic order indicating G against general category children," the notification clearly states.

In clear violation, reputed schools are coming out with admission lists for general and EWS categories separately.

ASN International School in Mayur Vihar is coming out with its list for the EWS category on March 16 even as its list for the general category comes out on January 30.

This is not for the first time that this has happened. Even last year schools came out with the lists separately.

"The government is not serious about implementing the rules it makes. There is no clarity about a watertight schedule. All schools have to send their schedules to the Directorate before they publish it. How could the directorate have cleared this schedule," said Saurabh Sharma, member, Josh, an organisation that works on issues around the Right to Education Act.

Education officials, meanwhile, said that they would look into the matter. "No school will be allowed to flout rules. We are looking into all complaints," an official said.