No takers for RTE seats in 70 schools

Mumbai: In the 2018-19 academic year, of the 347 city schools eligible for providing 25 per cent admissions under the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009, close to 70 schools have received no applications from the parents.

According to the education department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the reason for this is parents preferring only ‘popular English medium’ schools over language medium schools.

“Even after conducting four rounds and having enough seats for the students under RTE admissions, there are students who are left out. This happens because we are receiving applications in schools that has zero seats left, whereas there are no applications for the schools which has more number of vacant seats. Probably regional language medium, semi-popular or less-popular schools are left with more vacant seats,” said a senior official.

The official further added that, the prime reason for the students being left out is the parents’ choosiness in their school preferences. Starting this year, several schools begun admissions on the basis of first come, first serve (FCFS). “In the first four rounds, all our seats were almost full. Howe-ver, few seats tend to remain empty, for which we started admissions on FCFS basis to avoid any discrimination or forgery,” Arjuna Ramkr-ishna, a principal said.

Mr Ramkrishna’s school had total 43 seats reserved under RTE but he received more than 350 applications. In areas such as Kurla, Chembur, Govandi, Mankhurd from where number of applications are high in number, most schools received very less number of applications.

“It is practically impo-ssible to place every student in famous international schools,” the official said. This year, the education department of the BMC conducted seminars, workshops and announcements in slum areas of the city to crea-te awareness about RTE admissions. The parents were informed about the rights conferred to the marginalised category by the act.

Out of the 11,000 plus applications received this year, only 3,214 admissions were confirmed while the more than 8,000 seats are available in 347 schools.

Through RTE Act, students from financially weaker sections can enrol in private unaided schools through the 25 per cent of seats reserved for them.