Seeks information on number of seats reserved,filled and still lying vacant In a significant development,UT Education Department issued fresh instructions to city private schools,on Monday,seeking details on seats reserved for the less privileged children under the Right to Education Act,number of seats already filled and number of seats lying vacant by February 22. The department has also asked the schools to provide the number of children admitted to the reserved seats last year,while assuring to notify the reimbursements - to be made to the schools - within the next one week. Our finance department is in the process of finalising the per-child-expenditure to be reimbursed and the amount of reimbursement for each school,in accordance with the percentage included in their respective land allotment letters. We will decide everything once we get the details from the schools by February 22, said DPI (Schools) Sandeep Hans. As per the provisions of the RTE Act 2009,all private schools in the city are supposed to reserve 25 per cent seats at their entry level classes for children belonging to economically weaker sections of society. For imparting education to these children,the schools are entitled to receive reimbursements from the Education Department. The schools have been reiterating shortage in the number of application for the reserved seats. The notification on the amount of reimbursement and time of payment of the reimbursements is awaited by the department. There are a total of 3,000 seats reserved under RTE across 73 private schools in the city. Till date,l the Independent Schools Associations (ISA) claims that only 700 applications have been received against these seats.
