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Families shift to areas with more schools~Times of India~Page 5- 25 Nov 2013

Families shift to areas with more schools

Try To Score Maximum Points For ‘Distance’

Shreya Roy Chowdhury TNN

New Delhi: Vandana Srivastava has already asked brokers to find her an accommodation in Vasant Kunj and has been reading up on the Lieutenant Governor. “He seems like a nice man,” she observes and hopes he understands the stress of parents about to venture into the world of nursery admissions. This year’s round promises to be more stressful than last year’s simply because it’s already November and it’s not yet clear what system will be followed for admissions. The LG has been directed by Delhi high court to take a call on the points system—a subject of much litigation.
    Right now, parents are making decisions based on the assumption that the points system will stay. Srivastava intends to move to Vasant Kunj because there, “the number of schools within the vicinity will increase.” Currently, proximity to school—or ‘distance’—is the criterion which carries the highest number of points.
    Lawyer-activists group Social Jurist argue it should be the only criterion determining which school a child gets admitted to, and that having other point-carrying criteria such as ‘alumni’ and ‘siblings’ amounts to ‘screening’ of candidates and violation of the Right to Education Act 2009. “Categorization is not permissible under the RTE Act. The only parameter allowed is ‘distance’ based on the neighbourhood concept,” says lawyer Khagesh Jha. The high court decision to not interfere with current guidelines has been challenged by Social Jurist in Supreme Court; in a separate case, in September, the LG was directed by HC to decide the matter within three months.
    Till then, it’s limbo for parents. Srivastava knows of others planning to shift to areas where the concentration of ‘good’ schools is higher. “It’s not possible to just pack up and move,” says Namita Goyal who stays near Peera Garhi, “I am willing to arrange for transport but we will still not get the points for distance. Moving may be on the cards down the line —I have a younger daughter and I would want her to attend the same school—but it’s not easy.”
    “The LG report is still awaited. In the absence of any clear guidelines on the selection process, parents are confused as they don’t know whether the points system would be followed or not. The question being raised most often in our forum is what distance criteria should be put in place if all admissions are done through draw of lots. There are areas with no popular school within a two-three kilometer radius. Parents in these areas feel they should be allowed to apply at schools where they can take on responsibility of picking and dropping off their children,” says Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery .com.
    (Some names have been changed to conceal identity) DEBATE OVER RIGHT
2007 | Delhi government allows schools to formulate own criteria for admission 2009 | RTE Act passed 2010 | HRD ministry issues guidelines under Section 35(1) of Act allowing categorization; Delhi government issues order based on ministry’s notification specifying what categorization means – siblings, alumni, transfer case etc
Apr | When LG doesn’t decide on the matter, fresh petition filed in HC seeking direction to LG. HC seeks Delhi government and LG’s response on whether the city’s nursery admission 2010 | Social Jurist, an activist body, challenges both MHRD and DoE notifications, claiming categorization is not permissible under RTE Act and that it amounts to ‘screening’
Feb, 2013 | HC decides RTE Act not admissible with respect to nursery admissions and decides not to interfere with guidelines
rules can be brought under RTE ambit Jul | Social Jurist challeges HC order in Supreme Court Sep | HC directs LG to take a decision within 3 months

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Permalink Reply by mahesh jain on November 26, 2013 at 6:34am

the authorities create confusion and i am really worried coz i am from uttam nagar..where there is no good or quality school and how will my ward get admission in any good good near by school in so called push locations like Vikaspuri,Dwarka and janakpuri...?????