Department of Education likely to restrict sibling quota up to 25 per cent
In a decision which may leave several city parents disgruntled, the Directorate of Education (DoE) of the Delhi Government is planning to put a cap on nursery admission in unaided private schools under sibling quota from the next academic session. According to sources, the benefit under sibling criterion is likely to be restricted up to 25 per cent of total seats only. The proposal certainly dashes hopes of those parents who are expecting to get their child admitted in the same schools where his/her sibling is already studying.
Sources said apart from this significant change in fresh guidelines, the department has also proposed not to allow management and inter-State transfer quota this year too. While issuing fresh admission rules in December 2013, Delhi lieutenant Governor scrapped reservation in admission for school management and inter-State transfer cases.
The move resulted into a protracted legal tussle with Capital’s private schools and parents approaching the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court later challenging the guidelines. The court case delayed the nursery admission process by almost two months. The petition challenging the management quota is still pending in the High Court.
Sources said the “new” set of rules for nursery admission (2015-16 sessions) has been finalised and sent to the l-G for his nod, after which a notification is likely to be issued within a week. “Taking cue from difficulties faced during admission process for the current session, the department has decided to act bit early this time. Preparations for the next session have already been completed so that the admission process can be finished on time irrespective of any legal hassle, if there arises any.
The High Court has already been informed about the development that guidelines have been forwarded to l-G for a formal approval,” a senior official of the Education Department said.
A demand to restrict sibling criterion was put during admission process this year when all seats were filled in several schools with maximum number of applicants taking advantage of this parameter, which raised a few eye brows. Some parents also moved the court seeking removal of point allocation to sibling category or putting a cap on it,” said sources adding that the allocation of seats for sibling will limited to 25 per cent. The allocation of seats for sibling will be limited to 25 per cent.
“In case, there are more applications seeking benefit of sibling condition for admission than reserved seats, a draw will be held,” he said. The Pioneer in August has reported that the guidelines for nursery admissions for the 2015-16 session might come earlier than December.