NEW DELHI: Several schools started the nursery admission process on Saturday with some conducting it on campus. This year's staggered admission process has drawn a mixed response from parents. While some say it will help them apply to more schools, others find it inconvenient.

K N Saha, who is collecting forms for his grandson, said, "Different dates make it easier for us. We can't cover all the schools in a short period of time". However, Jaspreet Gill, a doctor seeking admission for his first child, said, "The schedules are a problem. It's like we have nothing else to do but keep checking school websites for the next 15 days".

Parents are especially unhappy with schools that sell and accept only physical copies of forms. "Why call us here? They don't even let you look around," said a parent standing in a queue on the road outside a school for the second time on Saturday.

The impact of varying schedules was most evident from the near-absence of EWS-category applicants. The website of Springdales School (Pusa Road), said, "EWS forms will be given when the department of education gives permission to do it as 25% of EWS is their purview (sic)".

Springdales principal Ameeta Mulla Wattal said, "That is the prerogative of the government. They haven't uploaded the form on their website yet, how can we start? For the rest, the high court has granted us freedom and autonomy and there's no stay so we have gone ahead".

Whatever their views on the process, parents queued up for forms on Saturday. The Indian School sold over 750 on the first day. Long queues were also seen outside Summer Fields School (Kailash Colony) and KR Mangalam World School (Greater Kailash). Springdales (Dhaula Kuan), Maxfort (Dwarka) and DAV Centenary Public School (Paschim Enclave) also started selling forms on Saturday while some other schools announced their schedules. Raghubir Singh Junior Modern School will start the process on January 5; St Francis de Sales (Janakpuri) on January 2. Sanskriti School will start its process on December 23.

Each school has its own point-distribution system. Mrinalini Mehta, a parent, reckoned she has a good chance at The Indian School. "I will get points for distance and 'first child'" she said, adding, "Elsewhere, I'll get points for 'girl child'".

What parents are less sure about is the number of seats. Restoration of management quota means there are fewer open seats this year. "This year could turn out to be the worst since 2007. Parents will have to run around from December 20 to January 20, just to collect and submit the forms," said Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com, adding, "The differing schedules could also make collecting fee refunds difficult".

THE HINDU- Nursery admissions begin in the Capital

Many schools in the Capital started Nursery admissions on Saturday despite the Directorate of Education on Friday asking the schools to put them on hold till January 5.

Schools like Sanskriti School, Springdales School and DAV Public School started admissions, while others like Delhi Public School have decided to adopt the wait-and-watch policy and will start admissions after the Supreme Court verdict.

Schools in East and West Delhi saw parents, in large numbers, queuing up to buy application forms. Schools in Central Delhi and South Delhi released the forms online.

Parents will now have to buy individual forms for all schools they want to apply at. Some of the schools that had earlier announced to start admissions on Saturday delayed the procedure after the DOE notice.

Kapil Arora, seeking admission for his daughter in Dashmesh Public School in East Delhi said: “The admission procedure this year is very confusing. The schools are not declaring anything properly.”

Sumit Vohra from nurseryadmissions.com said: “Around 70 schools had announced to start admissions from Saturday, but only a few creamy layer schools started it. Others are starting from January 5, but many have not even declared the admission dates putting parents in a fix.”

Another point of worry for the parents this year is that the admission procedure has been prolonged. “Parents will have to run from pillar to post as schools are issuing forms till January 20 and January 31. This would also mean that the fee refund policy of the DOE will not be applicable in case a parent wants to withdraw admission from one school and go to another as the fee refund is valid only for one month,” added Mr. Vohra.

HINDUSTAN

DAINIK JAGRAN