City schools learn from Delhi admissions

While some schools have already introduced the Delhi model,the rest are to follow from next year. This will replace the existing system followed in majority of schools of preference or percentage of seats for certain categories.

The private schools have mooted the “point system” concept to the UT Education Department in the last meeting held to implement the Right to Education Act. The department has given its nod.

“The Education Department has agreed to the point system,” said P K Sharma,Director,Public Instruction (Schools),“points for siblings,neighbourhood and other categories will be a part of this system.”

“Since every school is following its own percentage criteria where preference is given to siblings,girl child,wards of school faculty,even defence and other categories,it has been decided that there will be an uniform weightage process,” said H S Mamik,president of Independent Schools Association. Of the nearly 70 private schools,51 are part of the Association.

Under the new system,children from the neighbourhood of a school will be given the most weightage points. Further points will be awarded to those who have siblings in the same school,the wards of alumni and of the faculty,he said. The final modalities,however,are yet to be worked out.

The system will be applicable to 75 per cent seats open for general category. The remaining 25 per cent are reserved for the Economically Weaker Sections. The neighbourhood concept has been given prominence in admission criteria in the RTE Act.

For instance,for children applying in Classes from I to V,a neighbourhood will mean within a distance of one kilometre from the school. For Classes above V to VIII,the neighbourhood will mean a radius of three kilometres.

Adopting the RTE rule,the UT Administration,in its draft rules,has asked schools to give preference to neighbourhood,though it will not be compulsory.

“The schools have to follow the RTE neighbourhood concept,thus if they come up with the point system for other categories too,it will help them in the admission process,” said Secretary (Education) Ram Niwas.

Another point which is still under consideration by co-education private schools is encouraging equal number of admissions for boys and girls. Some schools are currently giving weightage to girl child.

Points system at Strawberry Fields World School

Strawberry Fields World School,Sector 26,has already introduced the new point system from this year. “The RTE gives authority to the schools to formulate the admission criteria for the remaining 75 per cent seats. From this year,we have adopted parts of the Delhi model,” said Atul Khanna,Director of the school.

The system introduced by the school is:

*Child attending Strawberry Fields kindergarten school in Sector 24: 2 points

*Child has a sibling in Strawberry Fields or Strawberry Fields World School: 2 points

*One of the parents works in any of these two schools: 4 points

*Parents/guardians response to questions related to the school and education: 4 points