RTE Act: 1,130 kids denied admission under minimum age rule in Gujarat

With the implementation of the minimum age rule for Class 1 from the academic session 2023-24 in Gujarat, around 1,130 children were denied admission under 25 per cent reservation in private schools under the Right to Education Act (RTE) Act. “After admission in the first round, allotment to as many as 1,130 children was cancelled as they had studied in Class 1 or Class 2 in the previous academic year,” stated a government release issued Monday.

As many as 4,966 children were admitted in the second round of admissions in private schools under the Right to Education Act on Monday, as per the data shared by the Education Department. “With the 6 years and above clause, this year, there were a large number of students who had already studied in Class 1 or even Class 2, be it in government or private schools. As per the RTE Act rule, we cannot provide admission to such students,” Director Primary Education MI Joshi told The Indian Express.

In the academic year 2023-24, a total of 82,853 seats were available under the RTE Act in 9,833 unaided primary schools of the state across different mediums. Seats were allotted to 54,903 students in the first round keeping in view the selection of the students and the rules in the schools available in the area of a 6 km radius. Of these, as many as 48,890 students confirmed their seats.

Story continues below this ad

The parents of students who got admission in the second round will have to go to the concerned school during working hours till June 5 and get the admission confirmed by submitting the necessary proofs.

After the second round, around 30,127 seats remained vacant across the state under the RTE Act.

Among these, 14,546 seats are in Gujarati medium, 12,466 in English medium, 2,828 in Hindi medium, and 287 in other medium schools.

After the completion of the first round, 33,907 seats were left vacant.