Private schools in Delhi will have to conduct admissions for students who fall in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) regardless of whether they are able to conduct general category admissions. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said around 32,500 seats had been allotted to different schools based on the draw of lots this year.
“Usually, EWS parents can go and get their children admitted to private schools. Schools conduct one EWS admission for every three general category admissions,” Sisodia said.
Under the Right to Education Act (RTE Act), 25 per cent of seats in entry-level classes i.e. nursery, KG and the first grade, in all private schools are to be reserved for the EWS and Disadvantaged Group category.
Addressing the Press virtually, Education Minister Sisodia said that in accordance with the RTE Act, private schools have to reserve 25 per cent of the seats for the EWS. “If there are 100 seats for admission in schools, 75 seats are considered under the general category while 25 of these seats are reserved for EWS,” he added.
According to the Directorate of Education (DoE), the Delhi Government has started a provision wherein the State Government will announce a draw for admissions for seats reserved under the EWS category, based on the applications received and the information provided by schools on the number of seats available.
“When we called for applications under the EWS category, we received around 1.26 lakh applications based on which we announced a draw of 32,500 seats,” Sisodia said.
“In normal circumstances, private schools admit three students under the general category and then one under the EWS category, based on the allotted list provided by the Delhi Government.
This is the general process of admission. However, considering that the lockdown has derailed the entire admission process, there has been a difference in admission for even general category students.
The Delhi Government has now decided that regardless of whether they are admitting students under the general category or not, private schools will have to admit students under the EWS category, based on the allotted list sent by the Delhi Government.”