DoE restrains schools on public land from starting admissions

TNN | Updated: Dec 31, 2016, 02.56 AM IST

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NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Education on Friday released an order restraining all schools on public land from starting the admission process. The move comes after a few schools put up admission schedules and criteria points on their websites. As per a previous order issued on December 19, schools on public land must base their admission procedure and schedule on a new set of guidelines, which have not been issued yet.

The order is yet another marker of delay in the issuance of guidelines that will rule the admission system and schedule of close to 300 schools that are built on DDA land, which also happen to include some of the most sought after educational institutions. The order on December 19 had released guidelines for 1,300 private, unaided schools, along with an admission schedule, giving them a go ahead to start their procedure, on some conditions.

However, it said the remaining schools on public land are to wait for the second set. The latest order has also increased the number of schools that must wait for the guidelines from 285 to 298.

The restraint has caused a lot of anxiety among parents and schools. Some confused parents, according to Sumit Vohra of nurseryadmission.com, have floated queries if the admissions to the other private, unaided schools have also been restrained.

According to Ashok Pandey, the principal of Ahlcon International School, three separate guidelines -- for unaided schools, for schools on public land and schools with EWS riders -- are creating the biggest confusion. "Having three separate guidelines is nothing but a hassle for parents. My school is on public land, and yet I'm getting queries from parents asking why my school's schedule is not out when everybody else has released it," said Pandey, who is also the chairman of National Progressive Schools Conference.