Deccan Herald

Schools sell inflated forms, flout guidelines
New Delhi, Jan 2, DHNS:

Parents asked to provide details of income, educational qualification

Some schools in the city are selling nursery admission forms at high prices and asking details of the educational qualifications and income of parents. This is clearly a violation of guidelines laid down by the Directorate of Education (DOE).

According to DoE, each form should cost only Rs 25, and schools cannot ask parents’ income and educational qualifications.

“Some schools forcibly ask us to buy prospectus with attached forms at very high rates. When I asked the authorities to give me just the form, they refused, saying it is compulsory to buy the form with the prospectus,” said Shivani Gupta, who bought a prospectus-cum-form for Rs 200 from Rukmini Devi School, Rohini.

However, an official of Rukmini Devi School claimed that schools have “discretionary powers”. Similarly, reports of forms being sold at higher prices came from KR Mangalam School, Indian School, Lancer Convent Play School and Venketeshwara International School — each costs Rs 500. Maxfort School sold forms for Rs 300 and Birla Vidya Niketan for Rs 350.

V R ONE founder Sumit Vohra said similar violations also happened last year. V R ONE is an online forum for parents seeking nursery admission for their children.

“Every year the DoE says that action will be taken against schools that sell forms at higher rates. But schools still do it and go scot-free. They earn a huge profit from it. Parents are humiliated if they refuse to pay such high amount,” Vohra said.

While the high prices of forms was a dampener for parents, the schools also flouted DoE guidelines as the forms included income and educational qualification for screening children.

“This is discriminatory. Screening children as per their parents' income is unfair. Such acts makes it so evident that big schools are averse to the idea of giving a chance to an average middle class student,” said homemaker Shikha Arora, who brought a form from Springdales School. This school asked for income and educational qualification of both parents. The principal of Springdales School couldn't be contacted despite repeated attempts by Deccan Herald.

According to parents, schools such as Convent of Jesus and Mary, J D Tytler School, Mater Die School, Happy School and Salwan Public School have also included income and educational qualification slots in their forms.

“If needed, schools can ask income and educational details of parents after the admission. Asking for such details before the admission leads to indirect screening,” added Vohra. Other violations of the guidelines also came to light. Schools stopped the sale of admission forms on the first day itself. The forms should be available in schools from January 2 to January 16.

“Rukmini Devi School in Pitampura started selling forms since July. They closed the sale of admission forms on Monday. Parents were directed to another branch to buy forms, but they were unavailable. The authorities said the sale of forms have been closed,” said Advocate Khagesh Jha, member of Social Jurist, an organisation working for the upliftment of the underprivileged

DAINIK BHASKAR

12 स्कूलों ने उड़ाईं नियमों की धज्जियां

कड़े आदेशों के बावजूद 150 से 500 रुपए तक में बेचे प्रोस्पेक्ट्स, अभिभावकों के पेशे व शैक्षणिक योग्यता का भी ले रहे हंै ब्यौरा।

भास्कर न्यूज त्ननई दिल्ली
शिक्षा निदेशालय के स्पष्ट दिशा-निर्देशों के बावजूद बीते सालों की तरह इस बार भी नर्सरी दाखिला प्रक्रिया शुरू होते ही स्कूलों की मनमानियां शुरू हो गई हैं। नर्सरी दाखिले की दौड़ में पहले ही दिन 12 ऐसे स्कूलों के नाम सामने आए हंै, जिन्होंने निदेशालय के दिशा-निर्देशों का उल्लंघन करते हुए 150 से लेकर 500 रुपए में अभिभावकों को फॉर्म के साथ जबरन प्रोस्पेक्ट्स थोपने का काम अंजाम दिया। इतना ही नहीं, स्क्रीनिंग की मनाही के बावजूद स्कूल अभिभावकों का प्रोफेशन व शैक्षणिक योग्यता पूछने से भी बाज नहीं आ रहे हैं।

शिक्षा निदेशालय की ओर से निर्धारित व्यवस्था के तहत जहां गरीब कोटे के आवेदकों को फॉर्म मुफ्त मुहैया कराना जरूरी है, वहीं सामान्य श्रेणी के आवेदकों के लिए इसकी कीमत 25 रुपए निर्धारित है। इसके अलावा, आवेदकों को जबरन प्रोसपेक्ट्स खरीदने के लिए स्कूल बाध्य नहीं कर सकते हंै। एडमिशन नर्सरी डॉट कॉम के संस्थापक सुमित वोहरा बताते हंै कि निदेशालय की लाख कोशिशों के बावजूद बीते सालों की तरह इस बार भी पब्लिक स्कूल अभिभावकों को प्रोस्पेक्ट्स के साथ फॉर्म उपलब्ध कराकर अच्छी खासी रकम वसूल रहे हैं। इससे साफ है कि उन्हें कार्रवाई का कोई डर नहीं है। स्कूलों की ज्यादती से परेशान अभिभावकों का आरोप है कि माउंट कार्मल (आनंद निकेतन) में 150 रुपए, आरडी राजपाल (द्वारका) में 500 रुपए, इंद्रप्रस्थ स्कूल (द्वारका) में 500 रुपए, वीआईएस (द्वारका) में 500 रुपए, मैक्स फोर्ट (पीतमपुरा) में 400 रुपए, सेंट फ्रांसेस डीसेल्स (जनक पुरी) में 225 रुपए, हंसराज मॉडल स्कूल (पंजाबी बाग) में 200 रुपए, रुकमणि देवी पब्लिक स्कूल (रोहिणी) में 200 रुपए, लांसर कांवेंट (प्रशांत विहार) में 500 रुपए, एलकॉन पब्लिक स्कूल (मयूर विहार) में 150 रुपए, फैथ अकेडमी (प्रसाद नगर) में 200 रुपए व जीडी गोयनका (मॉडल टॉउन) में 200 रुपए का भुगतान आवेदन फॉर्म के लिए करना पड़ रहा है। अभिभावकों का कहना है कि बिना प्रोसपेक्ट़्स के आवेदन फॉर्म नहीं मिल रहा है, जिसके चलते मजबूरी में उन्हें इतना महंगा प्रोस्पेक्ट्स भी खरीदना पड़ रहा है। इसके अलावा, राजधानी के पब्लिक स्कूलों पर अभिभावक स्क्रीनिंग का भी आरोप लगा रहे हंै। कई स्कूल तो अभिभावकों से जानकारी के नाम पर उनका पेशा, आमदनी व शैक्षणिक योग्यता का ब्यौरा मांग रहे हैं। पूसा रोड स्थित स्प्रिंगडेल्स स्कूल की बात करें तो यहां भी अभिभावकों से आवेदन प्रक्रिया के तहत शैक्षणिक योग्यता व प्रोफेशन की जानकारी मांगी जा रही है। हालांकि, स्कूल इसके पीछे किसी तरह की स्क्रीनिंग नहीं, बल्कि अपने रिकॉर्ड की अनिवार्यता को जिम्मेदार करार दे रहा है। इसी तरह, गरीब कोटे की बात करें तो शिक्षा निदेशक की ओर से जारी फरमान के बावजूद घर से दूरी के नाम पर इस श्रेणी में भेदभाव जारी है। शालीमार बाग स्थित गुडले पब्लिक स्कूल ने तो इस श्रेणी के तहत भी स्कूल से तीन किलोमीटर तक की दूरी पर रहने वाले छात्रों को 100 में से 90 प्वाइंट देने की घोषणा कर दी है, जबकि शिक्षा निदेशक का आदेश है कि घर से दूरी के नाम गरीब कोटे में आवेदन नहीं कराए जाएं और भी छात्र आए उसे मौका दिया जाए।

Hindustan Times Dated 3 dec

DAY 1 Parents across Delhi start to line up early morning; many say schools seeking their professional info Though I'll get points just for neighbourhood, I don't want to lose out for lack of trying.

A N I TA J A I N homemaker The long line just makes me depressed as there is a lot of competition for a few seats.

RAMANPREET KAUR doctor I have taken leave from work today and might have to do the same to submit forms S N E H A M I T TA L lawyer Last year, we applied to just five schools. This year, we will apply to at least 15.

M E N E K A C H AW L A businesswoman
The day started early for Ajit Kumar on Monday.
Standing in queue since 7am to secure a nursery admission form for his boss's child, Kumar finally managed to lay his hands on one at 11.30am. “The arrangement at the school was adequate, but the queue was long.
I waited for four hours,“ he said.

Day 1 of the sale of nursery forms saw parents across Delhi either queued up outside schools or making arrangements to get forms collected.

At Springdales, Pusa Road and Kirti Nagar, 1,100 and 600 forms for the general category were sold on Monday respectively, while 250 EWS forms were sold. At Tagore International, Vasant Vihar, 370 forms were sold. Alchon International School sold 450 forms.

“The long queues are a big disappointment as I qualify only under neighbourhood points,“ said Mahima Pandey, a resident of Rajender Nagar, who has applied at Springdales, Pusa Road for her son.

Most schools also have the option to apply online and were giving out forms only for EWS category. “I went to Raghubir Singh Modern School but was told that registrations are online.
I wish such information was prominently available on the school website,“ said Anoop Mittal from South Extension II. The first day of the sale of forms also saw many complaints from parents and observers. At Springdales, an objection to the section that demanded information about parents' profession and educational qualifications was raised.

According to Delhi government norms, schools cannot ask for such information.

“We have clearly mentioned in our forms that the information will not be used to determine who gets the information.
This is only for our database,“ said Jyoti Bose, principal, Springdales, Dhaula Kuan.
Some other schools, such as Bal Bharati, Pitampura, also asked for parents' PAN and profession in their online form (a copy of the form is with HT).br/>
Despite repeated attempts, the school principal could not be contacted.NEWS COURTESY LATHAA MANAVALAN OF ADMISSIONSNURSERY.COM

“Asking for information about parents' educational qualification and profession is unfair. If the school knows the educational and professional background of parents, how can one be sure the process will be transparent,“ said Ashok Aggarwal of the NGO Social Jurist. MORE ON WEB For details on nursery admission, log on to hindustantimes.com/nursery2012

http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/7202207.cms

HINDUSTAN

http://epaper.livehindustan.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HT/2012/01/03/index...

Day 1: Confusion runs riot as parents rush to collect forms

Monday, 02 January 2012 23:51
Staff Reporter | New Delhi
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Day one of the distribution of nursery admission saw huge rush outsides schools, when parents queuing for taking forms on the very first day.

Confusion prevailed over the point system and age criteria. While some schools have opened up the online system, many are selling prospectus for Rs 100 and Rs 500. With point system of various schools being different and leading schools of Delhi giving more points to alumni and siblings, parents feel that it is a long way before their wards can get admitted to a good school. While the judgment of the Delhi High Court on nursery admission is still awaited, schools have opened admission in nursery above three years of age.

Riddhi Chorpa (name changed) could not get her daughter admitted to a school in nursery last year because she did not fulfill the required age criteria in most of the schools. This year when her daughter has turned four, she is again not eligible and is overage for admission as most schools are admitting three plus students. Riddhi is a resident of Rajendar Nagar and her son studies in Salwan Public School, Rajendar Nagar. But since Salwan gives only 10 points for sibling case, her chances of getting daughter admitted in the school are very bleak. "Of all the schools in my neighbourhood my daughter is only eligible for two convent schools and no public school," she says as she looks at the notice board outside Springdales School, Pusa Road.

"The Springdales School is giving 30 points for sibling case, so here again my chances are very less," she says. The school has put a cap on age limit from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Everybody beyond the age does becomes none eligible for admission. Most of the schools have put a similar age cap and are admitted students in 3 years.

For parents like Riddhi, the High Court judgment of January 6 is the only ray of hope. "If the court considers the Ganguly Committee report and makes it mandatory to give admission in nursery at 4 years, only then will my child become eligible for a public school," she says.

Confusion prevailed as most schools sold forms from 8:30am to 12:30 pm. “We were not aware of the timing, we will have to come again to buy the form," said parent Sonali Gurai. Guari had come to Mater Dei School for her daughter’s admission. However, many schools have adopted the online system and the forms have to downloaded from the website. The forms for schools including Delhi Public School, Tagore International School, Vasant Valley, Bal Bharti are available on the school website.

Violating the guidelines of the Directorate of Education which clearly says that the form has to be submitted with `25, many schools are selling prospectus charging fee between `100 to `500. Schools including Venkateshwar International School, KR Mangalam School, Indian School, Birla Vidya Niketan and Springdales are charging a fee for giving forms. "I paid `500 for the form at KR Mangalam School and `100 at Tagore International. I will fill forms for other schools as well and will have to go form-shopping again. I think I will be spending about `2,000 in just filing the forms," Sanjeev Kochar a resident pf Defence Colony. Another parent Amit Saxena, however, refused to pay for the form. "I told them that the Government says that the form is to cost `25, so why should I pay `500. At Birla Niketan School, they took me aside and gave me the form for `25, while more than 250 parents standing in queue paid `500," said Amit.

Further violating the guidelines of the Directorate of Education, some schools have announced that the forms will be available till January 6. St Francis School Janakpuri has announced that the forms will be available toll January 6 and submissions will begin from January 7 to continue till January 12. “This will be violation of the DoE guidelines which says that the forms will be sold till January 16,” said Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com.

Rashtriya Sahara
फॉर्म के साथ महंगे प्रॉस्पेक्टस भी दे रहे हैं स्कूल

नई दिल्ली (एसएनबी)। नर्सरी में एडमिशन के लिए आवेदन प्रक्रिया शुरू होते ही स्कूलों की मनमानी भी शुरू हो गई है। पहले ही दिन कई स्कूलों ने 25 रुपये के दाखिला फॉर्म के साथ महंगा प्रॉस्पेक्टस बेचा। सूत्रों के मुताबिक, करीब बारह स्कूलों ने पेरेंट्स के लिए फॉर्म के साथ प्रॉस्पेक्टस को खरीदना अनिवार्य कर दिया था। इन स्कूलों ने फॉर्म के साथ 150 से लेकर 500 रुपये में प्रॉस्पेक्टस बेचे। जानकारी के मुताबिक माउंट कार्मल व आनंद निकेतन ने फार्म के साथ 150 रुपये का प्रॉस्पेक्टस, आरडी राजपाल, इंद्रप्रस्थ व वीआईएस द्वारका ने 500 रुपये, मैक्स फोर्ट, पीतमपुरा ने 400 रुपये, सेंट फ्रांसेस डीसेल्स, जनक पुरी ने 225 रुपये, हंसराज मॉडल स्कूल, पंजाबी बाग ने 200 रुपये, रुक्मणि देवी पब्लिक स्कूल, रोहिणी न; 200 रुपये, लांसर कान्वेंट, प्रशांत विहार ने 500 रुपये, एलकॉन पब्लिक स्कूल, मयूर विहार ने 150 रुपये व जीडी गोयनका, मॉडल टॉउन ने फार्म के साथ 200 रुपये का प्रॉस्पेक्टस भी बेचा।

Amar Ujala