Indore: Seats will be filled in the private schools of the state under the Right to Education Act (RTE), in 2021-22 session.
These instructions were issued by the state school education department. The instructions stated that private schools should lock seats by May end so that the admission process can be started.
In the last academic session 2020-21, schools from first to eighth did not open due to coronavirus outbreak. Due to this, private schools were also not able to get admission under RTE. In the last session, nearly four lakh seats of 26,000 private schools were left vacant.
The admission process under RTE was demanded by private schools, but the department declared RTE seats to be void. Now, this time instructions have been issued to fill the seats under RTE for the session 2021-22.
The instruction stated, “Private schools should lock seats by the end of May so that the admission process can be started.” The state education centre will soon start the application process.
Department officials say that it will be difficult to apply under RTE if the schools are not open due to coronavirus and following restrictions to control the pandemic. The application process will be started in June.
Confusion regarding age limit
Last year's seats were declared void under RTE. This prevented children from taking admission in these seats last year. Now their age prescribed under RTE has also been increased. With this, the parents are demanding to increase the age limit. While the government has not yet decided on it.
Half the seats remain vacant every year
Applications are made for four lakh seats in 26,000 private schools of the state. In the session 2019-20, 2,35,000 parents had applied for 3,58,887 seats in private schools. Further, 2,03,447 children were found eligible after document verification. They were given admissions. In this way, only half the seats in private schools can be filled under RTE every year.
Two million children have been enrolled
Under RTE, since 2010, admission of children of poor and deprived class parents in 25% seats in private schools started. The process of free admission started from the year 2011-12. Under this, about 20 lakh children have been enrolled so far. The fees of these children are reimbursed by the state government.
