Times of India DEC 14 Parents unhappy with new admission norms TIMES NEWS NETWORK-   “These aren’t really guidelines,” says Sumit Vohra, founder, a d m i s s i o n s n u r s e - r y. c o m, “This is just a calendar. Schools have once again been given the autonomy to do what they please. We are afraid the result will be even worse than last year when many parents failed to admit their kids despite applying to over 20 schools each.” But he also admits that the fixing of the last dates will help. “Last year, one school gave forms for only four days, another for six days,” he says, adding, “the notification directing schools to keep as many seats at entrylevel as the highest number in the last three years will not allow schools to reduce their seats.” New Delhi: The admission guidelines issued by the Directorate of Education on Thursday have, in retaining last year’s guidelines, disappointed the parents, who were expecting a change in at least the points system. They had hoped a limit will be imposed on points allotted for categories such as alumni and siblings and more weightage will be given to distance criterion. A batch of PILs over the points system and talks of centralized system had gotten their hopes up. Parents and activists were also hoping the guidelines would fix an upper limit on the age of eligible candidates. There is a mass confusion every year because there is no upper limit on age. While in some schools candidates get points for being older than four, in others they will be denied admission into nursery altogether says Sumit Vohra of admissionsnursery.com.However, the fact that the guidelines have left the schools to decide on the parameters has come as a relief to school authorities.     “This is as per expectation,” says Manika Sharma, principal The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar.     Meanwhile, the hearing on the PIL, for which DoE was waiting, has been postponed to the middle of January     Guidelines governing EWS admissions into minority schools on government land were also expected. Amit Singla, director, Education says they will now be given in a separate order which is “in the process”.     Moreover, as lawyer and social jurist, Khagesh Jha points out, that despite discussion on the subject, no provision for grievance-redressal has been mentioned in the guidelines.

Deccan Herald

Govt releases admission guidelines for 2013-2014

Much to parent’s disappointment, nursery guidelines for 2013-14 academic session do not have many changes for the general category compared to last year.

However, more relief has been given to students who will apply under the Economically Weaker Section category.

Since the High Court refused to urgently hear a public interest litigation that challenged the points system followed by private schools, the Directorate of Education decided to release the guidelines, which were prepared in advance, as the next hearing is on January 23.

One of the most prominent additions is that of including orphans under the disadvantaged category who will be required to produce a certificate issued by the Department of Women and Child Development, Delhi.

Also, the neighbourhood distance criteria devised by the HC in the January order for EWS admissions has been included in the guidelines. Schools will have to provide 25 per cent seats to EWS students across entry level classes like pre-school, pre-primary and even class 1.

Similar to last year, a common registration form for admission under EWS has been uploaded on DoE’s website.

After reports on schools charging for these forms, the DoE has given specific instructions which state, “Every school shall ensure that the registration forms in the prescribed performa are made available free of cost to all applications under EWS and disadvantaged group without any barrier or hindrance.”

Guidelines also specify that the number of entry level seats should not be less than the highest number of seats in the entry class “during the previous three years.” “Even children who did not get admission last year will benefit as seats will be increased. But there are no specifications on the criteria for students from the minority community,” said Khagesh Jha, advocate and Right to Education  campaigner.

Schools have been directed to send details about the number of vacant seats under EWS at the end of the admission procedure to the area deputy director of education by April 4, 2013.

The collated information will then be forwarded to DoE’s main branch to ensure that vacant seats are filled before the academic session starts.

School principals said they are relieved to see the guidelines.
“The guidelines should have been given much earlier as it would have helped us start the procedure in a better manner. We are happy that the department has specified the dates as well,” said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road. “We will follow the same admission criteria as last year’s.”

Parents who plan to apply under the general category are still demanding online forms. “What is there in the guidelines for parents? Parents were expecting some change in the guidelines where neighbourhood and first child will be given preference. Considering last year’s admission process, we are not hopeful that this year it will be smooth,” said Sumit Vohra, founder, admissionsnursery.com.He added that parents should not focus on brands but go for neighbourhood schools.

Times Of India

Nursery admissions from Jan 1
Shreya Roy Chowdhury TNN

NewDelhi:The Delhi government has announced a fixed schedule for this year’s nursery admissions to more than 1,200 private, unaided schools in the city, unlike last year’s flexible calendar.
    The admission process begins on January 1 and ends on March 30, 2013. The last date
for submission of forms is January 15 and schools have to post the first list by February 15. The second list should be out by February 28, said a Directorate of Education release. In a first, ‘orphans’ have been put in the disadvantaged category, which makes them eligible for the 25% quota. Other guidelines remain the same. Forms to be sold till last date Schools Cannot Deviate From Sale Schedule, Move To Benefit Parents
“Earlier, the admission dates were only indicative. Schools could write to the department and change dates and that would lead to confusion,” said Amit Singla, director, Education.
    The guidelines also state that schools will have to ensure “admission applications are made available to all applicants till the last date of submission of applications”. This will benefit parents as they will have more time for the application process. There were schools that had distributed forms for less than a week last year.
    The EWS admissions will take place the way they did last year with a common form and schools submitting the number of vacancies after the first round of admissions to the directorate by April 6.
    Candidates applying under the ‘orphans’ category would need to produce a certificate declaring them orphans. Till recently there was no agency authorized to issue such a certificate. That has been fixed.
    The department of women and child development has, through an order dated December 11, 2012, authorized all child welfare committees (CWC) to “issue certificate declaring a child orphan…under Delhi Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2009 after necessary inquiry”.
    Ajay Singh, chairman, CWC Dilshad Garden, welcomed the move to include this category but objected to the term ‘orphan’ which, he felt bore an “negative connotation”. He preferred “child without parental support”.
    The guidelines remain the same in practically every other respect. A February notification directing schools to have as many seats at the entry level as the highest number in the last three years still remains applicable. And schools are free to adopt any system – draw of lots or points system – for admitting and are also free to decide on the criteria that’ll be awarded points.
SOME BABY STEPS, SOME PITFALLS
Nursery admission schedule
Admission forms available
Jan 1-15, 2013
Last date of submission
Jan 15
Last date for displaying list of selected applicants (including EWS and disadvantaged group categories, waiting list)
Feb 15
Last date for second list Feb 28 (if any)
Closing of admissions
Mar 30 CHANGES ANNOUNCED 1 Provision allowing deviation from schedule withdrawn 2 Department of women and child development has authorized all child welfare committees to issue a certificate declaring a child orphan “in terms of Rules 2(k) of Delhi Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2009, after necessary inquiry”. Orphans included in disadvantaged category for the first time DISAPPOINTMENTS 1 Parents were expecting DOE to direct schools to give distance preference in the points system 2 Guidelines were expected on points for first-borns 3 Fixing of maximum age for nursery admission was expected 4 Guidelines were expected for minority institutions on govt land
Schools welcome status quo
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: School authorities are pleased the nursery admission guidelines remain unchanged but parents and education activists are unhappy for the same reason.
    “I am glad the schools will have autonomy with respect to the parameters for admission. If an old school wants to give more points to children of alumni, there’s nothing wrong with that. This flexibility has to be allowed,” says SK Bhattacharya of the Action Committee for Unaided Recognized Private Schools.
    The point-system has been the bone of contention between schools and activists. Social jurist Ashok Agarwal considers it discriminatory and “for the benefit of the institute, the school management and not child-centric”. He had filed the PIL against it in the high court that made it touchand-go for the points system. “They are only perpetuating the dynasty system,” he continues, “helping a minority of kids through points for alumni and siblings.”
    Schools have welcomed the increase in time allowed for registration. “There is enough flexibility available to the school. It gives managing committees the freedom to decide on the criteria and we understand that they have to be completely transparent,” says L V Sehgal, chairman, National Progressive Schools Conference and principal, Bal Bharati School, Pusa Road.
    Parents who were expecting a change, given hope by PILs, have been disappointed. “I am a little disappointed because the criteria haven’t changed this year,” says Kavita Chawla from Srinivaspur who will be applying for her daughter, a first child. She feels that an unchanging points system means her daughter’s chances will reduce — they’ll lose the points for alumni or sibling. Nitin Goel, 30, a finance professional based in Dwarka, too, is disappointed. “There has been no improvement. I went to schools in Dwarka and they straightaway asked for donation. This is their only criterion,” says Goel.
 
    The inclusion of orphans in the “EWS-disadvantaged groups” category is probably the only move that’s welcomed by everyone. The certification will be the responsibility of Child Welfare Committees.

MIXED FEELINGS

Despite fixing the schedule, schools and managing committees will have enough flexibility to decide when they want to post lists. Fifteen days for distribution of forms is alright because parents also need time to arrange for documents

L V Sehgal | CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE SCHOOLS CONFERENCE

We are glad the guidelines are the same as last year. Now we can get on with our work. I don’t think there’s a problem with the schedule being made compulsory
Ameeta Mulla Wattal | PRINCIPAL, SPRINGDALES SCHOOL, PUSA ROAD

RTE is opposed to discrimination between children. That’s what the point system does. They are putting majority of children at a disadvantage and helping the minority. Points for siblings and alumni only perpetuate the dynasty system. All these guidelines are for the benefit of the institution, not the children
Ashok Agarwal | SOCIAL JURIST

NAVBHARAT TIMES- DEC 14

Dainik Jagran- DEC 14

जागरण संवाददाता, नई दिल्ली : निजी स्कूलों में नर्सरी दाखिले की तारीखों को लेकर एक माह से चली आ रही उलझन दूर हो गई है। शिक्षा निदेशालय ने बृहस्पतिवार को वर्ष 2013-14 के लिए नर्सरी दाखिला शेड्यूल जारी कर दिया है।

शेड्यूल के अनुसार, अभिभावक पहली से 15 जनवरी तक आवेदन पत्र लेकर उसे जमा सकेंगे। ईडब्ल्यूएस (निम्न आय वर्ग) और अन्य आरक्षित श्रेणी के दाखिला फार्म स्कूल मुफ्त में देंगे। अभिभावक फार्म को शिक्षा निदेशालय की वेबसाइट से भी डाउनलोड कर सकते हैं। निदेशालय ने ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटे का कॉमन दाखिला फार्म जारी किया है। दाखिला प्रक्रिया 30 मार्च को बंद हो जाएगी। इसके बाद ईडब्ल्यूएस व आरक्षित श्रेणी की खाली बची सीटों की जानकारी स्कूल प्रशासन शिक्षा विभाग को भेजेंगे। इसके बाद घर से स्कूल की कम दूरी के आधार पर शिक्षा निदेशालय छह अप्रैल से खाली सीटें भरने की प्रक्रिया शुरू करेगा। इसके तहत 10 अप्रैल, 2013 तक दाखिले होंगे। वहीं नर्सरी, प्री-नर्सरी और पहली कक्षा में ईडब्ल्यूएस व अन्य आरक्षित श्रेणी में 25 फीसद दाखिले होंगे।

शिक्षा निदेशक अमित सिंघला ने बताया कि स्कूलों की मनमर्जी पर लगाम लगाने व अभिभावकों को राहत देने के लिए दाखिला प्रक्रिया का शेड्यूल जारी किया गया है। शेड्यूल को स्कूलों को सख्ती से पालन करना होगा। कोई भी स्कूल इन्हें आगे-पीछे नहीं करेगा। सभी निर्धारित तिथियों की जानकारी स्कूल के नोटिस बोर्ड और स्कूल वेबसाइट पर जारी होना अनिवार्य है। इस पर निदेशालय की भी नजर रहेगी। शिकायत मिलने पर स्कूल के विरुद्ध सख्त कार्रवाई होगी।

प्वाइंट सिस्टम में कुछ बदलाव जरूरी : जैन

दिल्ली स्टेट पब्लिक स्कूल मैनेजमेंट एसोसिएशन के अध्यक्ष आरसी जैन के अनुसार, शिक्षा निदेशालय की ओर से जारी गाइड लाइन का स्कूल प्रशासन स्वागत करते हैं। समय से गाइड लाइन जारी होने से वे तैयारी कर सकेंगे। लेकिन सरकार को दाखिला गाइड लाइन में निजी स्कूलों के प्वाइंट सिस्टम में भी सुधार करना चाहिए। घर से स्कूल की कम दूरी, बच्चे का सिबलिंग स्कूल में पढ़ रहा हो या फिर बच्चे के अभिभावक स्कूल में पढ़ चुके हों तो दाखिले के समय उन्हें तवज्जो मिलनी चाहिए। सिंगल अभिभावक, सिंगल गर्ल चाइल्ड और स्कूलों में दाखिला स्थानांतरण के मामले पर दिए जाने वाले प्वाइंट सिस्टम को रद कर देना चाहिए। शिक्षा में लिंगभेद करना और इन नियमों के तहत खास तबके को दाखिले में फायदा पहुंचाना अन्य अभिभावकों के साथ न्यायोचित नहीं है। हां, अनाथ बच्चों को भी विशेष श्रेणी के तहत मुफ्त में दाखिला देना स्वागत योग्य है।

स्कूलों को फिर से मनमानी के लिए छोड़ा : सुमित

एडमिशन नर्सरी डॉट कॉम के संस्थापक सुमित वोहरा कहते हैं कि पब्लिक स्कूलों के साथ सरकार मिली हुई है। सरकार ने नर्सरी दाखिले में अभिभावकों को किसी प्रकार की राहत नहीं दी है। प्वाइंट सिस्टम पर भी स्कूलों को निर्देश जारी नहीं किए हैं। ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटा पहले से ही शिक्षा के अधिकार में शामिल है। अभिभावक दाखिला आवेदन के बाद 15 फरवरी तक सूची आने का इंतजार न करें और ऑनलाइन स्कूलों की सूची खंगालते रहें। कुछ स्कूल पहले ही सूची जारी कर देते हैं।

नर्सरी दाखिले की मुख्य तारीखें :

- फार्म मिलेंगे : एक जनवरी 2013 से

- फार्म जमा करने की अंतिम तारीख : 15 जनवरी 2013

- ईडब्ल्यूएस और वंचित श्रेणी सहित अन्य चयनति छात्रों की पहली सूची (प्रतीक्षा सूची सहित) : 15 फरवरी

- दूसरी सूची जारी होगी : 28 फरवरी

- दाखिला प्रक्रिया बंद : 30 मार्च 2013

मुख्य बातें :

1. ईडब्ल्यूएस और वंचित श्रेणी के लिए स्कूलों में मुफ्त मिलेगा फार्म।

2. दाखिले में घर से स्कूल की कम दूरी को दी जाएगी वरीयता।

कम नहीं होगी स्कूलों में सीटें

शिक्षा निदेशालय के अनुसार, स्कूल प्रबंधन स्कूलों की सीटों में फेरबदल करते समय इस बात का ध्यान रखेंगे कि सीटों की संख्या गत तीन वर्षो में जिस वर्ष भी सबसे अधिक रही हो। उससे कम न हो। अधिकतम सीटों को ही आधार मानक माना जाए।