Mumbai schools upset with changes to RTE rules

Schools in Mumbai are upset with the constant changes by the education department on the Right to Education (RTE) seats. Thursday’s decision to scrap the two-layer entry system comes when most schools have finished their admission process for the upcoming academic year.

Schools in Mumbai are upset with the constant changes by the education department on the Right to Education (RTE) seats. Thursday’s decision to scrap the two-layer entry system comes when most schools have finished their admission process for the upcoming academic year.

In the past two years, the education department has made several last minute decisions pertaining to current education policies or process, especially online admissions to RTE seats.

City schools have said that the government needs to inform them in advance of any changes. “We have already admitted students allotted to us in Class 1 and nursery. If the government had taken a decision sooner, it would have saved us of extra costs,” said a managing trustee of a chain of city schools, on the condition of anonymity.

The trustee added that the government should come up with decisions only after studying the topic in depth. “First they told us that it was compulsory to admit children in our entry-level, then we were told we will not be paid for admitting children to entry-level, if it is kindergarten and now we can choose our own entry-level,” he said.

Earlier, schools had to keep all the admissions on hold waiting for the government to declare the uniform age-limit. But later they were informed that the age-limit will not be applicable this year.

“Such sudden announcements end up wasting our resources,” said Father Francis Swamy, co-ordinator, Jesuit Board of Education and manager of St Xavier’s School, Fort. “Also, even after announcements, it takes time for the official circular to be issued. So we are uncertain whether they will be implemented.”