Gurgaon parents puzzle due to varying nursery admission procedures

Gurgaon schools, unlike Delhi schools, do not have a regulatory body to check nursery admission procedures that started in July

With the age limit for nursery admission still unclear, parents seeking admission for their little ones have more to worry about after schools notified different admission procedures.

While some schools are using point system and lottery system to choose students, some others prefer personal interaction. Some institutions are also giving admission on a first-come first-served basis.

Gurgaon schools, unlike Delhi schools, do not have a regulatory body to check nursery admission procedures that started in July. The district education officers (DEOs) - elementary and senior - say the nursery section does not come under their purview.

“Every parent chooses at least three to four schools for their child. The problem is that each school is following different criteria and it is not mentioned on their websites. Most of the time, we have to call the reception and get all the information. If we miss something, the chances of our child getting admission will be lower,” Sarthak Thakur, a parent said.

Some parents blamed schools for going against the Right to Education (RTE) norms by screening and profiling children. However, schools said the interaction session is conducted so that parents can understand the school better.

A parent, requesting anonymity, said, “Recently, we were called to a school for an interview. The interviewer was more interested in knowing my profession and the annual package than knowing about the child. We were furious but as it is a good school, so we had to play along.”

Dhriti Malhotra, principal, Manav Rachna International School in Sector 46, said, “Children are chosen on a first-come-first-served basis after which we conduct interactions. We want to understand the child better and help the parents understand the institution better.”

Schools that follow point system give scores to applicants on criteria such as distance from school, sibling, girl child and contribution towards national cause. For example, HDFC School in Sector 57 gives priority to applicants on three grounds - proximity from school, siblings and employee’s child.

Rupa Chakravarty, principal of Suncity World School in Sector 53 said, “Point system is the most transparent way to admit children. The system was made after a lot of research and is beneficial for all stakeholders, including parents, children and the school.”

However, some parents said the point system is unfair. They said if they want their child to go to a good school, they have to buy a house in the locality. Parents with a single child questioned the sibling criteria.

“I want my child to go to a school in Sector 57. My in-laws have been living here for 30 years. Should I change my home now for the admission?” Sangeeta Goel of Sector 15 said.

Schools said the distance criteria is for the safety of children.

“We do not want to risk a child’s security. The first preference will be for students living in a 10-kilometre radius,” Anita Makkar, principal of The HDFC School in Sector 57, said.

Adding to the misery of parents, schools, including Ridge Valley School, Vega Schools in Sector 48, The Maurya School in Palam Vihar, have not mentioned their admission processes.

Madhu Singh, a parent said, “There is a need for some uniformity or regulation in nursery admissions. Schools should mention all details on the display boards or websites so that parents are aware of the process.”

source:www.hindustantimes.com