Madhya Pradesh: Only 45 percent of reserved seats under Right to Eduation (RTE) have been filled in the state. This gap of 55 percent puts an extra burden on private schools, which transfers to parents with fee hikes and extra charges.
Only 45 percent of reserved seats under Right to Education (RTE) have been filled in the state. This gap of 55 percent puts an extra burden on private schools, which transfers to parents with fee hikes and extra charges.
While a few schools are able to book their RTE seats with children of their employees, most of the schools are able to fill only 10 percent of the reserved RTE seats. Maximum schools in the state have been able to fill up only one seat from the 10 reserved.
Now, since govt won’t pay anything for the reserved nine seats, the entire burden of this fee will be passed onto to other students in the batch and school.
This is the case with most schools in the state, which include about 28,303 schools in Madhya Pradesh (MP), which were registered under RTE. Moreover, 2,91,111 seats were reserved in the state, but most of them remain vacant.
From these 2.9 lakh seats, only 1.4 lakh seats have been filled in the state. This means 1.5 lakh seats remain vacant despite being reserved under RTE for the academic session.
Unless schools are able to quickly fill up these seats now, these seats will become a burden to them and result in transfer of burden to parents.
While a few schools are able to book their RTE seats with children of their employees, most of the schools are able to fill only 10 percent of the reserved RTE seats. Maximum schools in the state have been able to fill up only one seat from the 10 reserved.
Now, since govt won’t pay anything for the reserved nine seats, the entire burden of this fee will be passed onto to other students in the batch and school.
This is the case with most schools in the state, which include about 28,303 schools in Madhya Pradesh (MP), which were registered under RTE. Moreover, 2,91,111 seats were reserved in the state, but most of them remain vacant.
From these 2.9 lakh seats, only 1.4 lakh seats have been filled in the state. This means 1.5 lakh seats remain vacant despite being reserved under RTE for the academic session.
Unless schools are able to quickly fill up these seats now, these seats will become a burden to them and result in transfer of burden to parents.
Indore
Seats reserved under RTE 12,338
Applications received for 10,000
Admissions recorded 8,000
Seats that remain vacant 4,000
Bhopal
Seats reserved under RTE 17,453
Applications received for 12,500
Admissions recorded 7,684
Seats that remain vacant 9,769
Ujjain
Seats reserved under RTE 12,447
Applications received for 8,357
Admissions recorded 5,857
Seats that remain vacant 6,590
In Indore, there were 12,000 seats reserved for students under RTE. There were 10,000 applicants for these seats.
Further, only 8,000 admissions are recorded. The 4,000 seats will remain vacant for the year now.
Similarly, the situation for Bhopal was worse with 9,769 seats remaining vacant for the academic session. Against about 17,500 reserved seats, just about 7,000 seats were filled.
In Ujjain, the situation was worse than Indore but better than Bhopal, as 6,590 seats remain vacant.
There are many manifolds to the admission system, which include technical reasons and parents’ choice. In such a situation, many seats are vacant every year, but state education department doesn’t find the need to add any revisions, citing their aims are different.
Seats reserved under RTE 12,338
Applications received for 10,000
Admissions recorded 8,000
Seats that remain vacant 4,000
Bhopal
Seats reserved under RTE 17,453
Applications received for 12,500
Admissions recorded 7,684
Seats that remain vacant 9,769
Ujjain
Seats reserved under RTE 12,447
Applications received for 8,357
Admissions recorded 5,857
Seats that remain vacant 6,590
In Indore, there were 12,000 seats reserved for students under RTE. There were 10,000 applicants for these seats.
Further, only 8,000 admissions are recorded. The 4,000 seats will remain vacant for the year now.
Similarly, the situation for Bhopal was worse with 9,769 seats remaining vacant for the academic session. Against about 17,500 reserved seats, just about 7,000 seats were filled.
In Ujjain, the situation was worse than Indore but better than Bhopal, as 6,590 seats remain vacant.
There are many manifolds to the admission system, which include technical reasons and parents’ choice. In such a situation, many seats are vacant every year, but state education department doesn’t find the need to add any revisions, citing their aims are different.
Reserved seats more than applications
“This is the situation every year, we are doing whatever the protocol is,” district project coordinator Akshay Singh Rathore said. He added that parents step back from admissions most of the time or face an error.
“We conducted two counselling, allotted seats via lottery system, but we can’t force parents to follow deadline and complete the rest of the process,” Rathore said.
When asked about RTE reserved seats in Indore being more than applications, Rathore said, “Every year, we record more or less about 8,000 admissions only under RTE, so more number of seats is bound to remain vacant.”
“This is the situation every year, we are doing whatever the protocol is,” district project coordinator Akshay Singh Rathore said. He added that parents step back from admissions most of the time or face an error.
“We conducted two counselling, allotted seats via lottery system, but we can’t force parents to follow deadline and complete the rest of the process,” Rathore said.
When asked about RTE reserved seats in Indore being more than applications, Rathore said, “Every year, we record more or less about 8,000 admissions only under RTE, so more number of seats is bound to remain vacant.”
Lower RTE admissions is ‘good’, Govt schools preferred
“The protocol for reserving seats under RTE is only for initial classes, so we reserve the same,” Director State Education Centre Dhanraju S said. He added that following the protocol, 291,111 seats were reserved in state.
“We completed the process and now, if kids don’t want to take admission in sub-standard schools, then it is understandable,” Dhanraju said. He added that lower admissions in RTE indicate that students and parents prefer government schools.
“Clearly, some of these private schools are not good enough and government schools are better than them, so it is good news for us,” Dhanraju said.
When asked if some changes should be brought in for seats that remain vacant due to RTE reservations, Dhanraju said, “I don’t worry about the change in RTE, because my interest is getting more and more kids into govt schools.”
“The protocol for reserving seats under RTE is only for initial classes, so we reserve the same,” Director State Education Centre Dhanraju S said. He added that following the protocol, 291,111 seats were reserved in state.
“We completed the process and now, if kids don’t want to take admission in sub-standard schools, then it is understandable,” Dhanraju said. He added that lower admissions in RTE indicate that students and parents prefer government schools.
“Clearly, some of these private schools are not good enough and government schools are better than them, so it is good news for us,” Dhanraju said.
When asked if some changes should be brought in for seats that remain vacant due to RTE reservations, Dhanraju said, “I don’t worry about the change in RTE, because my interest is getting more and more kids into govt schools.”
All schools are good CBSE/MP board!
“All the schools are good, whether private or government, whether affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE),” UK Jha, chairman, Indore Sahodaya Complex of CBSE schools, said.
He added that all the private schools are running successfully with parents who are willing to pay fee for the admissions. “It’s a clear indication that schools are good and they are just working for students’ welfare,” Jha said.
On RTE, he felt puzzled that admissions are in a tiff. “Perhaps because of technical issues or some others in the process,” Jha said.
“All the schools are good, whether private or government, whether affiliated to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE),” UK Jha, chairman, Indore Sahodaya Complex of CBSE schools, said.
He added that all the private schools are running successfully with parents who are willing to pay fee for the admissions. “It’s a clear indication that schools are good and they are just working for students’ welfare,” Jha said.
On RTE, he felt puzzled that admissions are in a tiff. “Perhaps because of technical issues or some others in the process,” Jha said.
Admissions were to be provided in all pre-primary classes, not just initial
As per RTE norms, 25 percent seats are reserved for admissions in the initial classes. “However, the admissions should be allotted in pre-primary classes, which means admissions should be given in Nursery, KG-1, KG-2 and class 1st,” Gopal Soni, state vice president of association of MP board private unaided schools, said.
He added that because MP govt refuses to provide the option of admission in these classes, most parents have to think twice. “If my school starts at Nursery, then the child can only take admission in Nursery under RTE, not KG-1 or higher levels,” Soni said.
He added that this becomes a major issue as most parents are unable to apply for their kids to be admitted from Nursery onwards and fit in the age bracket. “Further, even after considerations, many parents and students have to go back because of high number of technical errors like despite being a resident of Indore, the parent has BCL card of other district cards, SC/ST card issued in names of grandparents, etc.” Soni said.
As per RTE norms, 25 percent seats are reserved for admissions in the initial classes. “However, the admissions should be allotted in pre-primary classes, which means admissions should be given in Nursery, KG-1, KG-2 and class 1st,” Gopal Soni, state vice president of association of MP board private unaided schools, said.
He added that because MP govt refuses to provide the option of admission in these classes, most parents have to think twice. “If my school starts at Nursery, then the child can only take admission in Nursery under RTE, not KG-1 or higher levels,” Soni said.
He added that this becomes a major issue as most parents are unable to apply for their kids to be admitted from Nursery onwards and fit in the age bracket. “Further, even after considerations, many parents and students have to go back because of high number of technical errors like despite being a resident of Indore, the parent has BCL card of other district cards, SC/ST card issued in names of grandparents, etc.” Soni said.
2011 development: extend principle till Class X
RTE Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats to children (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan).
A critical development in 2011 has been the decision taken in principle to extend the right to education till Class X (age 16) and into the preschool age range. The CABE committee is in the process of looking into the implications of making these changes.
RTE Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the ages of 6 and 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools. It requires all private schools to reserve 25% of seats to children (to be reimbursed by the state as part of the public-private partnership plan).
A critical development in 2011 has been the decision taken in principle to extend the right to education till Class X (age 16) and into the preschool age range. The CABE committee is in the process of looking into the implications of making these changes.
RTE needs more work
“RTE is an important act providing admissions in private schools to underprivileged students, but it still needs more work in the process,” Girish Sharma, additional project coordinator (APC), Ujjain, said. He added RTE recorded 5,857 admissions, but the seats reserved were much more.
“RTE is an important act providing admissions in private schools to underprivileged students, but it still needs more work in the process,” Girish Sharma, additional project coordinator (APC), Ujjain, said. He added RTE recorded 5,857 admissions, but the seats reserved were much more.
Districts with highest number of seats reserved
|
District |
No. of schools |
Total seats |
|
BHOPAL |
1,457 |
17,453 |
|
UJJAIN |
999 |
12,447 |
|
INDORE |
1,635 |
12,338 |
|
REWA |
1,232 |
11,683 |
|
DEWAS |
905 |
11,056 |
|
SATNA |
1,035 |
11,010 |
|
GWALIOR |
1,241 |
10,429 |
Comments
Post a Comment