There is scope for improvement in the list of criteria for nursery school admissions, says the chairman of the committee that set the benchmark, as the introduction of cut-off marks has led to the rejection of thousands of applications.
Ashok Ganguly, chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education, who led the Delhi High Court- constituted committee, told the Hindustan Times that the situation had arisen since parents were keen on getting their children admitted to a few good schools.
“I admit that there is scope for fine-tuning the scale further. Admissions this year are being con- ducted as per the 100-point scale only on a trial basis. Based on the feedback we get, we will work on im- provements,” Ganguly said.
{{/usCountry}}“I admit that there is scope for fine-tuning the scale further. Admissions this year are being con- ducted as per the 100-point scale only on a trial basis. Based on the feedback we get, we will work on im- provements,” Ganguly said.
{{/usCountry}}He refuted charges by par- ents that the selection process was impractical, ignored the needs of many parents and gave undue advantage to alumni, siblings and children of professionals. “Some schools are trying to scuttle efforts to introduce trans- parency. How can you ignore things like the neighbour- hood scheme recommended by the Supreme Court several years ago?” he asked.
A large number of siblings and children of alumni have got into schools this year be- cause of the weightage ac- corded to them. This has kept out fresh entrants whose par- ents have studied elsewhere.
Parents of children who did not get admissions this year are worried that they would be rejected next year too on grounds of overage. “I think these could be isolated instances. We can only recommend a minimum age for admission, there is no upper-age restriction,” Ganguly said.
Parents living in west Delhi areas like Dwarka, Maya Enclave and Janakpuri and parts of east Delhi have complained that they do not have enough good schools in these areas. “What is the definition of a good school? There is a Mother Teresa School next to CBSE. If a few good parents send their children there, the quality of the school will automatically improve,” Ganguly said. He, however, conceded that there are areas that are not “properly served”.
“The scale will not work if you do not have enough quality schools in all areas,” Ganguly added.
Email Anuradha Mukherjee: anuradha.mukherjee@hindustantimes.com