CBSE schools worried over approval for increase in intake capacity to accommodate RTE admissions

A principal of one of the CBSE schools in the city, said, “As the process of RTE admissions began this year, it was as per the new amendment which excluded private schools from the ambit of RTE admissions. Accordingly, schools concluded admissions, including on seats which are generally reserved for RTE admissions. Now, we have been instructed to increase intake to accommodate RTE admissions. But that requires approval from the board and the deadline to apply for it was July 15.”

The state government passed an amendment to the rule of implementation of RTE in Maharashtra and declared that private schools having government or aided schools within 1km were not obligated to give RTE admissions. As admission began according to the new rule, parents moved court against it and the RTE admissions were stayed.

In July, the high court ruled in favour of the parents and instructed the state government to resume RTE admissions in its original format wherein 25 per cent of total seats in private unaided schools are reserved for children coming from underprivileged sections of society. RTE admissions began afresh from July 23.

But most private schools have already concluded admissions and started the academic session. “Now students who are allotted seats are approaching us for admissions. We need to have seats to accommodate them,” said principal of another CBSE school, adding that most of them are struggling to make arrangements.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the first round of school admissions under the Right To Education (RTE) Act has been extended till August 5 because many students who have been allotted seats are yet to confirm admissions.

A total of 2,42,516 students have applied for school admissions under the RTE this year. Out of the total, 93,009 candidates have been selected in the first round of RTE admissions while 40,020 have confirmed admissions.