Schools force parents into buying prospectus

As the race to get a seat in nursery hots up, complaints against schools are also piling up. Within six days of the sale of nursery admission forms, the website of the Directorate of Education (DoE) has already received 105 complaints.

As the race to get a seat in nursery hots up, complaints against schools are also piling up. Within six days of the sale of nursery admission forms, the website of the Directorate of Education (DoE) has already received 105 complaints.

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While complaints range from refusal to give EWS category forms to points being allotted for parents’ profession, the most common complaint is against schools refusing to sell application forms without the costly prospectus. According to DoE guidelines, the maximum cost of forms cannot exceed R25 and it is not necessary to buy a prospectus.

“I went to five schools in north Delhi and was refused an application form without prospectus in all five,” said Mahesh Shandilya, a resident of Shalimar Bagh, who is seeking admission for his son.

Scores of other parents too are going through the same ordeal. “I was mocked and asked to apply in government schools if I refused to pay R500 for the prospectus. It is not about the affordability but about principle. Why should I buy the prospectus when I don’t need it?” said Chetan Tewari, who did not wish to reveal the name of the school that sold him the prospectus.

According to DoE officials, these complaints are coming up in huge numbers each day.

“We are trying to take action and pass orders against all schools that are harassing students. Some schools have made nursery admissions a means to fill their pockets,” a senior DoE official said.

Parents are also venting their anger online. “This problem comes up each year. Those who are ready to fight may get

their rights but for others, paying thousands of rupees is the only option,” said Sumit Vohra, founder, admissionsnursery.com, an online forum for parents.