Schools get greater say in admissions

Schools in the Capital were on Wednesday given full autonomy to frame their own nursery admission guidelines so long as these did not violate the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

Schools in the Capital were on Wednesday given full autonomy to frame their own nursery admission guidelines so long as these did not violate the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

HT Image

Thus schools, whether aided or unaided, will have to reserve 25% seats for students from the economically weaker sections, and interview of admission-seeking children or their parents remains a strict no-no.

But beyond that, the Delhi government has decided it will be up to the schools to decide if they want to follow the ‘points’ system — which they have been doing for the last three years — or conduct a draw of lots, or even try a combination of the two.

It has, however, laid down that the discretionary quota with the school management for admitting students cannot be more than 20%.

Education minister Arvinder Singh said his government had formulated the guidelines on the basis of the RTE Act.

The girl child and children of single parents get extra points in some schools. “Interviews of parents are banned of course,” said Singh. “Also, parents’ income or educational qualification cannot be taken into account while considering admission.”

However, to ensure transparency and fairness, the system each school adopts will have to be approved by the state’s education department.

Schools have to submit the precise formula they will employ to the department by December 31. “It is great that the autonomy of schools have been upheld. Schools, too, should reciprocate by creating criteria that are just and fair,” said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road.

However, a number of schools said they would stick to the points system.