NEW DELHI: Suggestions from parents on the guidelines for nursery admissions are pouring into the mailbox of Action Committee for Unaided Recognized Private Schools-some want maximum points for 'neighbourhood', the separate category for 'girl child' is unpopular; and 'inter-state transfer' is an absolute no-no.

The umbrella body of private school associations in the city says the "admissions criteria committee" they have constituted will consider all these suggestions before deciding anything.

"We want the process to be child-friendly. Parents are asking that 'neighbourhood' be given priority and we will," says SK Bhattacharya, who heads Action Committee. But it's their stand on the 'girl child' that has him baffled. "I'm not sure why they are not in favour of points for the girl child," says Bhattacharya. And everyone agrees a separate category for transfer cases is a bad idea. "Fake certificates and letters were submitted last year. One school was handed a letter from a company that didn't even exist." He adds that parents have also spoken up against points for contribution to society, award winners and others. "There shouldn't be any ambiguity in the criteria," Bhattacharya states.

The committee of principals constituted to formulate general guidelines is likely to meet on Monday. While the committee will draw up a list of permissible criteria (or categories), it will not assign points. Schools will have the freedom to select categories from the list and assign points.

These guidelines, however, will not be "legally-binding" but only "morally binding." That, in the long run, may not amount to much as one parent has already complained on admissionsnursery.com of being asked by a Dwarka school to "register" for Rs 10,000. Of course, the final outcome of these processes is contingent on the high court's decisions on the fresh batch of pleas challenging last Friday's order.

Meanwhile, Catholic school heads will meet on Monday to decide the criteria for their schools. They had won exemption from Directorate of Education's guideline last year itself as they are minority institutions. "We did follow the schedule last year as we don't bend any rule. This year we may not stick to the schedule but that decision will be taken on Monday," says one principal.