NEW DELHI: If any set of parents is worse off than those applying for nursery (pre-school) seats, it would be the one applying for KG or Class I. The first lot can at least count on uniform guidelines; the second can't. Last year, when the lieutenant governor fixed the criteria for selection for schools, several chose not to follow these for admission into KG (also called 'pre-primary') and Class I. This group of parents is waiting for the guidelines just as eagerly but aren't sure if they'll be applicable.

The Vasant Kunj branch of a school chain had used an entirely different points distribution system for prep onwards. Instead of following the DoE-mandated single-slab distance points—70 for those staying within an eight kilometre radius—they used different slabs for different distances. They assigned points to girl or first child, single parent kids and kids with "marginal special needs."

Dwarka resident Sandeep Pal had tried to admit his son into KG last year. He managed a seat but couldn't keep it as the fee was high. "Some schools had followed the DoE guidelines but many had their own points systems. Only schools that start at Class I followed the guidelines," says Pal. The government norms are applicable to admissions at "entry-level", which, in Delhi, covers nursery, KG and Class I with different schools starting at different levels. "I am confused about the criteria and have even heard there are interviews for Class I," says Areej Khan who wasn't able to secure a seat for her son in nursery last year. Living in Daryaganj, Khan had applied to several schools but didn't make it in any of the draws.

"Though it was very clear that all schools have to follow the same calendar and criteria for admissions for children aged three to six, many prominent schools devised their own points system for KG and Class I. Others didn't open admission for these classes at all and held them with admissions to the rest of the classes later. Parents want the education department to make it clear in the guidelines that the criteria are standard even for KG and Class I," says Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com.