‘Re-verify data, send corrections’: DoE says schools can’t deny admission once vacant seats finalised

The DoE’s Private School Branch will consolidate the data by September 2, as per officials

Written by Sophiya Mathew

New Delhi | Updated: August 31, 2025 08:47 AM IST

Roughly 95–97% of the vacant seats are in Classes II to VIII, about 3 to 4% in Classes IX to X, and less than 1% in Classes XI to XII (Express File Photo/Sophiya Mathew)

The Directorate of Education (DoE), in a communication dated August 27, asked private unaided schools to re-verify the number of vacancies for Classes 2 and above and send corrections, if required, adding that they cannot cite unavailability of seats to deny admissions once the numbers are finalised. According to the DoE’s class-wise vacancy list, 2,253 EWS seats are still lying vacant across 411 private unaided schools on government-allotted land in Delhi.

The DoE’s Private School Branch will consolidate the data by September 2, as per officials. As per its list, the highest number of vacancies are in Southwest Delhi schools (23%), followed by West and New Delhi districts at around 16% each. Meanwhile in North and Northeast Delhi schools, the seats are mostly filled with around 60-80 vacancies.

Roughly 95–97% of the vacant seats are in Classes II to VIII, about 3 to 4% in Classes IX to X, and less than 1% in Classes XI to XII. In the lower classes, the vacancies are higher. For instance, for up to Class 8, around 70% vacancies are in Classes II to V, with this gap narrowing in higher classes.

“If no representation is received from the concerned school, then it will be presumed that the data … in respect of the school is correct and accordingly candidate will be allotted through computerized draw of lots. Thereafter school shall not be permitted to deny the admission to the successful candidates of the draw of lots on the ground of ‘No Vacancy. If any school denies the admission on this ground, then the appropriate action will be taken against the school as per the relevant provisions of DSEAR, 1973 and RTE act 2009,” read a circular issued by the DOE on August 27.

As per an official, a round of computerised draw of lots will be conducted, after the vacancies are verified. The first computerised draw of lots for EWS/DG (disadvantaged) entry-level admissions in Delhi’s private unaided schools was held on March 5, when around 42,000 seats were allotted.

From the homepage