High Court slams Delhi govt for ‘chaos’ by last-minute notice - Nursery Admissions Delhi 2017-18

The Delhi high court came down heavily on the city government on Thursday for creating “chaos and confusion” in the nursery admission process every year by putting up fresh notifications just before the admission season starts.

“Why have you put up a new notification in January, when the admission process starts in January... This makes the citizen jittery, who does not know where to go,” justice Manmohan fumed.

The judge noted that this behaviour of the government created “chaos and confusion” for parents who didn’t get enough time to plan admission process of their kids.

“It has become very difficult to deal with this government... In the last four years, you (government) have come up with at least three notifications in the month of January,” justice Manmohan remarked, while hearing a fresh petition moved by an association of private unaided schools challenging a January 7 notification on nursery admission.

The court noted that the late notification on nursery has created a situation where if anyone challenges it and the court interferes, the whole admission planning of parents gets disturbed.

“What were you (government) doing the whole year. This notification should have come at least six months or a year in advance so that parents gets to plan in advance. Don’t take anyone by surprise,” justice Manmohan said, posting the case for hearing in the afternoon.

Action Committee Unaided Recognised Private Schools, consisting of more than 450 private unaided recognised schools functioning in Delhi has challenged the notification restricting private schools on public land to admit toddlers only using the neighbourhood or distance criteria.

The new policy was approved by lieutenant governor Anil Baijal and announced by the government on Saturday.

One of the major problems about 300 private schools, which are built on Delhi Development Authority (DDA) land, has with the new guidelines is that they can no longer deny admission to anyone who seeks admission from their neighbourhood.

The government January 7 notification said these private schools cannot “refuse admission to the residents of the locality” and fill 75% of the capacity. The remaining 25% seats are mandatorily reserved for children whose parents’ annual income is less than Rs 1 lakh a year.

The notification gave priority to students living within a radius of one kilometre. In case seats remain vacant, those living within a distance of 3km will get a chance.

There are 1,400 private unaided schools in the Capital and 298 of them are built on land allotted by the DDA.

The committee has challenged the notification contending that it was “illegal, arbitrary, whimsical and unconstitutional”. It contended that the terms of allotment was superseded by the lease deeds subsequently executed and registered by the land owning agencies in favour of the private educational societies.

source:www.hindustantimes.com/

Some Private Schools Start The Process, Others Waiting For Government Guidelines : Delhi Nursery Admissions 2017-18

Nursery admission in Delhi schools started on January 2 and the parents are still facing troubles with choosing schools for their children. Plenty of complaints have been reported after Delhi nursery admissions kicked off in the beginning of this week. Most prominent among them is the confusion over 298 schools in the capital city. After Delhi Directorate of Education (DoE) notified that schools on public land of Delhi Development Land (DDA) will have new guidelines for nursery admissions, so far, the only thing happened in that front is the meeting between school authorities and the Directorate of Education.

According to reports, those who have attended the meeting informed the government authorities their concerns regarding having two sets of standards for schools in the capital. 

Though there was no common admission guidelines published after the meetings, some private schools in the capital have already started admission procedure. 

Some schools are waiting for the government guidelines to come regarding the criteria and they have informed the parents about this, Red Roses Public School is one of them. "Pre-School admission for the session 2017-18 has been stopped till further guidelines from Directorate of Education", Red Roses Public School has said in a notice published in their website. 

Amidst all this confusion, parents are worried. Their major concern is; what will happen if they wait for the new guidelines and its aftermath. For the past few years Nursery admissions in Delhi have seen many controversies, with parents taking schools and the government to court over changing rules and guidelines several times. 

Meanwhile there were reports suggesting that the Delhi government is planning to do away with the management quota in the nursery admissions. If that happens, the schools and parents may again will be dragged into the court procedures as happened last year in which the schools procured a stay on Delhi government's decision to end the management quota in school admissions.

According to the education department's notification, admission forms were available from January 2 and the last date to submit applications is January 23. 

The first list of selected candidates, including those waitlisted, along with marks allotted under the point system, will be announced by schools on February 15. The second list, if any, will come out on February 29 and the admission process will close on March 31.

source: www.ndtv.com/

3 mistakes that DOE/Delhi Govt could have avoided - and they did it again!? Check out...

It is not rocket science and even if it would have been that complex, don't they have required resources, or support, or authority to get it done?

Parents are clueless and left to wonder, grin, and helpless once again! Nothing new in year 2017, yet again, and history repeats as schools continue to play by their own rules, and parents shall expect that those 1400 odd schools that free to choose their own criteria have no motivation or support or govt. control to relax it from what they did last year.

Here are the top 3 gross and silly mistakes that could have been avoided and it is not rocket science -

Mistake #1) DOE should have asked schools (all schools that need to publish points) to list and publish selection criteria and points by 15th December, so that parents get enough lead time (15 days) to shortlist schools they would like to apply (basis total points they are scoring).

Reality check: 
1) Guidelines for admissions to Govt schools and 298 schools on DDA land are not published as yet, admission starts tomorrow.
2) Parents would now have wait and/or to go to all schools and check the guidelines, criteria and other details starting tomorrow and that's not an easy task.

Mistake #2) DOE/Govt should have defined a fixed list of criteria that schools can choose from (say 5-8 criteria), e.g. Neighborhood (with clear and predefined distance slabs),  Sibling, Alumni, Girl Child, and so on. 

Reality check:
1) Although DOE has asked schools not to use ones from 62 list, but....schools are free to use some of them as long as they "try" to ensure it is defined well and is not biased. You know what I mean....
2) Parents struggled over years to sync up same criteria being used by different schools differently e.g. Distance slabs would vary from school to school), Alumni - mother and father and both would be rated by schools differently and there are many more...

Mistake #3) Despite of all resources available, the DOE site doesnt work properly, the information published is scattered all over the place, you really need surgical eyes and hands to find the links and information.

Reality check:
1) No summary of notices, information available, its all published in long PDFs and report formats that's hard to understand and an 'aam aadmi'. Many parents would have appreciated if the information is also available in Hindi
2)  No reliable search feature on site, no heads up on how and where the information will be published on DOE site, its all "treasure hunt" games for parents.

(Updated on 2nd Jan 2017: SchoolsWeLike.com has come up with Search Engine on data provided by DOE to make it easy for parents to search the school criteria and points for Nursery Admissions 2017-2018)

----------------------------------------------------

The list is long, all I wanted to reflect here is this is all easy to implement - we are in 2017 (oh! Happy Near Year friends! :D)

The problem can be fixed this within short span of timehrs, as techie I know it is easy as long as you got data in right form and shape which I hope they have and if not, please add that as Mistake#4 :)

Wish you all a fresh beginning here and may your ward gets admission to the school you desire him/her to go to. 

DoE asks 298 Delhi schools not to start Nursery Admissions!

We published DoE order analysis few days back and as expected DoE has asked those 298 (13 new schools added to the existing list!!) schools on DDA land not to start Nursery Admissions yet!

In case you are looking for more details of our report click here!

Here is clip from Navbharat Times today -

Click here to see the notice and the list of all 298 schools.

Here is the news as published in HT today.

Nursery Admissions Delhi (2017-2018) - All you need to know about new circular/order issued on 19th Dec 2016

Fear is the mind-killer! So lets all understand what this new order is all about.

New DOE Delhi order dated 19th Dec 2016 issued for Nursery Admissions in Delhi for session 2017-2018 is bit confusing, and here I have simplified this for you in 3 simple steps -

Step I) This new circular is applicable only for -

1. Families that do NOT belong to Economically Weaker Section (EWS) or Disadvantaged Group (DG) categories
2. Only for admissions to Private, Unaided and Recognized Schools of Delhi
3. Nursery Admissions in Delhi for session 2017-2018
4. Schools that are NOT constructed on DDA land (there are 285 schools in Delhi that are on DDA land)
5. Schools that are NOT run by government

Step II) In short - 

1. SOME GOOD NEWS! - This order is NOT applicable for about 50% of the "well-known" schools of Delhi as they are constructed on DDA land (Yes!), these schools (total 285 of them) must admit 75% of students from neighborhood. Detailed guidelines will be released by DOE in coming days.
2. MORE GOOD NEWS! - This order is applicable for all other Private Schools of Delhi, and most of those are either Small-Mid sized Private Schools, or they are one of those 5-7 star category schools of Delhi that have their own land.

Step III) Bit of BAD news. We all make mistakes, every system has loopholes, so does this order (that has mistakes and loopholes)

Point#7 in the order refers to DOE order issued on 06-01-2016 (No. F.DE.15/Act-l/4607/l3/2015/5686-5696), which states that schools shall not adopt criteria abolished in that old order, the problem is that the original list had 62 criteria, but new order has restricted use of 51 criteria hence leaving open several disputed ones, here are few criteria that schools may use to their advantage -

• Points for management quota - old order leaves room for this by stating "However, if required, the children of the staff and the children of the members of the Management Committee can be given admission by making it a criterion and assigning points"
• Special ground (parents with proficiency in specific areas of art etc)
• First child
• School transport users

Although there would only be 25% seats that schools can fiddle with, and we hope DOE fixes this loophole to ensure admission process is fair ever.

Here is the admission schedule as published in the order :

               Source: http://www.edudel.nic.in/

Nursery Admissions Delhi 2017-18 Schedule and Guidelines (Directorate of Education)

Admission Schedule for entry level classes for open seats in Private unaided recognized schools of Delhi for session 2017-18

The DOE will issue another set of guidelines and schedule for schools on DDA land

Nursery Admissions Delhi 2017-18



In a first, the Directorate of Education will issue two sets of guidelines for admission into nursery of private schools - one for schools on public land, another for the rest.

Late on Monday, DoE issued guidelines for the second lot. For schools on private land, the nursery process begins on January 2; admission criteria will be uploaded online and submitted to DoE the day before.

Application forms will be available from January 2 and parents will have time till January 23 to submit. Details for children competing for "open" -unreserved -seats, will have to be filled in by January 31 and the tally of points (out of hundred) for each child will be uploaded by February 6.]The first list of selected candidates and the waiting list will be posted on February 15.

In another first, the DoE has allowed a three-day window -from February 16 to 18 -for "resolution of queries of parents...regarding allotment of points to their ward in the first list." All details -full list of criteria and points allotted to each parameter -will be available on the DoE's website. The second list should be out by February 28 and the process, if all goes to plan, should be over by March 31, 2017.

But things may not be as simple. Monday's "guidelines and schedule are not applicable for the schools running on the land allotted by DDA on the condition that "the school shall not refuse admission to the resident of the locality" or "the society shall undertake to admit 75% of the students of the neighbourhood or from the locality in which the school is located"." The DoE will issue another set of guidelines and, possibly, a different schedule for this lot of schools -285 as per the attached, "tentative" list. These may constitute a fraction of the total number of private unaided schools - about 1,700 - but some of these invite the fiercest competition. The appended list includes several DAVs, Delhi Public Schools, Bal Bhartis, Heritages and also Vasant Valley and Ahlcon International. The issue of criteria for this lot is in court. Admissions into the 25% EWSDG (economically weaker section/disadvantaged categories) seats will be handled by the DoE directly. There should be third list of instructions for that.

source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

For 285 schools built on DDA Land, there will be separate schedule and guidelines

Nursery Admissions for the session 2017-18 will begin from January 2,2017 in around 1400 private unaided recognised schools in the capital. But it does not cover the 285 schools built on DDA Land. There will be separate guidelines and schedule for these 285 schools.

According to the notification, guidelines for these schools will be declared later. These 285 schools comprise some of the most well-known institutions in the city.

For the remaining schools, the guidelines remain largely the same as last year. Criteria such as distance from school, parents as alumni, sibling in the same school, girl child etc can be used and points can be ascribed to them as the school deems fit.

Unfair criteria — such as giving points if the applicant’s parents are well-educated, if the child is proficient in music, or if the parent is vegetarian — however, will not be allowed. Management quota will be allowed but will be capped at a maximum of 20 per cent.

The difference this year, however, is that schools will have to reserve two days to resolve parents’ grievances, if any, after the declaration of the first admission list.

The guidelines released Monday flowed from the legal battle fought last year. The Delhi government had come out with a strict guideline where it did away with the management quota and defined the basis on which points could be given. Schools went to court over the matter and won. They were allowed to frame their own guidelines provided they were fair, non-discriminatory, and did not violate Right to Education Act.

The cost of one form is capped at Rs 25. Parents will not be forced to buy school prospectus. All schools will have to reserve 25 per cent of their seats for students from the economically weaker section. These admissions will be carried out by a centralized online application system.

source: www.indianexpress.com/

Nursery admissions to begin from Jan 2 in 1,400 Delhi schools

Nursery admissions will begin from January 2, 2017, in around 1,400 private unaided recognized schools in the capital for the next academic session but this announcement does not cover the 285 schools build on DDA land as there will be separate guidelines and schedule for them.

The Directorate of Education (DOE) on Monday announced the admission schedule for around 1,400 schools, out of the total 1,700 schools. Admission forms will be available from January 2 and the last date of submission of application forms is January 23, officials said.

These schools will be free to decide the criteria and its points for admission but they will have to steer clear from a list of 51 criterions, which the government had abolished last year.

The abolished criteria include, parent’s education, parent’s profession, age, oral test and interview.

“The admission process for general category seats will begin from January 2. Schools can decide pointers for the criteria but they cannot adopt 51 listed criteria that have been abolished by the government,” officials said.

DOE said that separate guidelines and schedule for 285 schools on DDA land given on lease condition will be announced later. The government had earlier announced that schools build on DDA land will have to follow only the distance criterion.

“The above guidelines and schedule is not applicable for the schools running on the land allotted by DDA on the condition that ‘the school shall not refuse admission to the resident of the locality’ or ‘the society shall undertake to admit 75% of the students of the neighbourhood or from the locality in which the school is located’,” DOE said on Monday.

The first list of selected candidates, including the wait list candidates, along with marks allotted under point system, will be announced by schools on February 15. After the first list is out, the parents can get their doubts resolved about allocation of points or any other queries related to the admission procedure for three days, i.e. February 16, 17, and 18.

“The second list, if any, will come out on February 29 and the admission process will close on March 31,” DOE said in its notification.

DOE said that the minimum age should be 3 years by March 31 of the year in which admission is being sought. It also said that the number of seats at the entry level shall not be less than the highest number of seats in entry level classes during last three years.

The documents that can be considered as proof of residence of parents are, ration card issued in the name of parents, domicile certificate of child or his/her parents, voter ID card of any of the parent.

AT A GLANCE

1. School to upload criteria and their points on DOE wesbite: Jan 1

2. Application forms to be available: Jan 2

3. Last date of submission of application forms: Jan 23

4. Schools to upload marks (as per point system) given to each applicant: Feb 6

5. Schools to announce first list of selected candidates: Feb 15

6. Schools to announce second list of selected candidates: Feb 29

7. Closure of admission Process: March 31

source: www.hindustantimes.com/

Management quota inherently prone to misuse, says Delhi Govt to HC

The Delhi government today told the High Court that management quota for nursery admission in private schools was “inherently prone to misuse”, which led it to step in and scrap it.

The submission was made in response to a query by a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath as to how private unaided schools can be restrained from exercising management quota when they are entitled to it under a 2007 order of Lt Governor.

“When there is something inherently prone to misuse, state as regulator can say don’t do it. Management quota is a criterion which is prone to misuse,” the Delhi government said on the issue.

The private unaided schools, on the other hand, contended that the Delhi government’s January 6 order scrapping various criteria and the management quota was not issued by the LG or under any statute and “ran foul” of the LG’s 2007 order.

After hearing arguments of both sides, the bench reserved its verdict on the government’s plea challenging a single judge order of the high court staying the scrapping of the management quota and certain other criteria for nursery admissions in private unaided schools. While reserving its verdict, the court observed that due to shortage of good schools in Delhi, people were being forced to go to Noida where it was easier to get admission. During the hearing, the court said the government would have to show that private unaided schools were indulging in commercialization and profiteering by way of the management quota and asked, “where is the basis for such allegation?” The government said it has received complaints from lot of parents that some schools have demanded capitation fees and added that these were placed before the single-judge who in turn asked the government to take action. Read: Fossil fuel is waste we throw out of our house: J&K science teacher It said it has issued show cause notices to some schools which had indulged in such activity. The government also contended that the 2007 order was not etched in stone to make it insurmountable for all times to come. It alleged that there were “inherent contradictions” in the entire approach of the single-judge who had passed the February 4 interim order in which he had also given a prima facie view that the January 6 decision was taken without any authority of law. The government has contended that its January 6 order “was validly and lawfully” issued and it superseded the 2007 order. It also claimed that the decision was taken “without any view to interfering in autonomy of private unaided schools”. It said the “objective was not to deprive private unaided schools of autonomy, but to ensure that admission to entry level classes are made in a fair, reasonable, rational, transparent and non-exploitative manner.” The Directorate of Education (DoE) of the government in its plea has said it was “fully empowered and competent in terms of Delhi Schools Education Act and Rules framed thereunder to issue” the January 6 order. These contentions and claims were opposed by the private schools during the hearing. Read: 10 tips and tricks to prepare for entrance exams The single-judge in his February 4 interim order was of the prima facie view that Delhi government’s January 6 order, scrapping a total of 62 criteria and management quota, was “issued without any authority” and in “direct conflict” with the LG’s 2007 order on nursery admissions in private schools. On the issue of management quota, the court had said the high court-appointed Ganguly committee and the government had done a balancing act by agreeing that the 100 per cent discretion enjoyed by private schools in admissions was minimized, but not abolished. The government, in its appeal, has said the issue of management quota “needs to be approached differently than as recommended by the Ganguly committee” in view of the “change in time and subsequent experiences”. The single judge had also observed that “promoters of a school who make investment at their own personal risk are entitled to full autonomy in administration including the right to admit students.” The order had come on the pleas filed by Action Committee of Unaided Recognized Private Schools and Forum for Promotion of Quality Education For All, seeking quashing of the DoE’s January 6 order.

source:indianexpress.com

Nursery admissions: Delhi High Court stays government decision to scrap management quota

The Delhi High Court Thursday issued a stay on the Delhi government’s order to abolish “management quota” in nursery admissions in private unaided schools, while observing that the order was “prima facie without any authority”.

This leaves schools free to create their own admission criteria for this year.

However, the court clarified that the January 6 order of the Directorate of Education (DoE) has not been struck down and merely been stayed till final disposal of the petition.

“Rule 145 of (Delhi School Education) Rules, 1973, states that the head of every recognised unaided school shall regulate admissions in their school. Consequently, it was held that private unaided schools have maximum autonomy in day-to-day administration, including the right to admit students,” said the bench in its order. The bench of Justice Manmohan said the schools had agreed to defend only 11 specific criteria to be adopted under management quota. It also said the DoE could take action if a school was found “misusing” the quota. It added that “prima facie there is nothing in the 11 criteria which would show that they are unreasonable or based on whims and fancies and/or they can lead to maladministration”. The 11 criteria permitted by the bench includes qualification of parents, their proficiency in fields such as sports, music, social work, as well as points for first born child, gender specific points and for adopted children and twins. Commenting on the legality of the office order issued by the DoE, the bench noted that prima facie view indicated it was “in direct conflict” with the order issued by the Lieutenant Governor which had allowed management quota in nursery admissions. “This court is of the prima facie view that Article 239AA(3)(c) of the Constitution of India would be attracted to the present case,” said the bench. It added that management quota had been recommended by the Ganguly Committee — formed by a division bench of the high court — and “accepted and approved by the GNCTD in its 2007 order”. “The same has been implemented from November 24, 2007 to December 18, 2013. Even the office order dated December 18, 2013 issued by the Lt Governor seeking to delete management quota was quashed by judgment dated November 28, 2014,” said the court. It held that “at this stage, deletion of management quota by way of an office order is impermissible in law”. The court again said the opinion given in the judgment was “only a prima facie” one and should not be seen to affect the hearing on the larger legal issue which will now be heard in April

source: indianexpress.com

Nursery Admissions: Delhi High Court issues notice to Kejriwal govt....seeks reply from Kejriwal govt over management quota row

With regard to the Delhi High Court's move to issue notice to the government in connection with scrapping of management quota, the association of private schools said that the quota should not be scrapped as schools need to "oblige" people.

"Those people (government) who can't administer a public school are trying to take over admissions of private schools", the HC said reprimanding the AAP government and censured the government for its failure to improve the condition of public schools.

Meanwhile, Delhi government's additional standing counsel Gautam Narayan told the court there cannot be any such quota and "it has to go". Apparently, the government believes that schools have taken advantage of their discretionary powers. "There is rush in private schools because the standard is not good in public schools". When can't you improve public schools? You are taking over private schools. No one is addressing that issue. "Set your house in order".

It clarified that that parents may apply now but the scrutiny of applications would be subject to final orders in the petitions by Forum for Promotion of Quality Education and Action Committee of Unaided Recognized Private Schools. The SC had recognized the right of the private schools to have maximum autonomy in admissions and to set a fee structure.

Private schools had argued that the orders passed by Arvind Kejriwal-led government stating that it is contrary to and violates the judgements of the Supreme Court and High Court and affects the autonomy of private unaided schools to regulate their admissions.

He said the existing provision of 25 percent seats earmarked for students from poor families will remain in place.

"However, respondent no. 4 (Sanskriti) in sheer defiance of the circulars has not uploaded the admission criteria and points for admissions of open seats at entry level classes for the academic session 2016-17", a petition filed by a toddler's father, advocate Dheeraj Singh, has said.

Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung had in December 2013 issued a notification abolishing management quota in nursery admissions but this was challenged by the affected schools.

Earlier, the high court, in an order, had asked the Delhi government not to micro-manage the admission process following which Education Department had allowed the schools to frame their respective criteria and put them on their websites.

source: theindianrepublic.com

Sanskriti School can’t keep admission process pending indefinitely:High Court to school

Delhi High Court today told the Sanskriti School here that it cannot keep its admission process pending “indefinitely” on the ground that its plea against quashing of 60 per cent quota forwards of group-A government officials was pending in the Supreme Court.

“You have to comply with the circulars of Department of Education (DoE). You can’t keep it pending indefinitely,” Justice Manmohan told the lawyer appearing for the school.

However, the court did not issue any directions on those lines and adjourned the matter to January 20, as the school’s special leave petition against high court’s November 6, 2015, order scrapping its 60 per cent quota is listed for hearing in the apex court tomorrow.

Justice Manmohan asked the school’s lawyer to inform the apex court about this petition as well.

Meanwhile, Delhi government’s additional standing counsel Gautam Narayan told the court there cannot be any such quota and “it has to go”.

Narayan also said the school cannot have its way and refuse to put up the nursery admission criteria for academic session 2016-17 on their website.

He said the school should comply with DoE’s circulars of December 8, 2015 and December 22, 2015 which mandate that the admission process should commence from January 1 and fix the last date for application as January 22.

The January 6 order asks schools “to develop and adopt criteria for admissions to the 75 per cent open seats to entry level classes for session 2016-17 which shall be well defined, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent”. “However, Respondent no.4 (Sanskriti) in sheer defiance of the circulars has not uploaded the admission criteria and points for admissions of open seats at entry level classes for the academic session 2016-17,” a petition filed by a toddler’s father, advocate Dheeraj Singh, has said. The petition has sought directions to the government and DoE to ensure that the school puts up the admission criteria before the last date of application. It has also sought that DoE should take over the management of the school if it does not comply with the circulars and order. The high court had on November 6 last year quashed the 60 per cent quota in Sanskriti School, saying it was akin to the erstwhile segregation of white and black students in the US and violated the constitutional provisions of equality and right to education. It had also said that by providing such a reservation, the school created an “arbitrary separation” between the children of Group-A officers and all other students. The decision was challenged by the school in a special leave petition before the apex court. On January 7, the central government had told the apex court that wards of group B and C government employees can also be provided admission under the 60 per cent quota. The apex court has listed the matter on January 19 for passing an interim order after the government and Sanskriti sought that the school be allowed to carry out admission process under the earlier system.

source: indianexpress.com

Kejriwal bouncer for private schools....

Delhi govt scraps all quotas except EWS for nursery admissions

In yet another shocker to private schools, the Delhi government on Wednesday scrapped all quotas except the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) for nursery admissions.

The decision was announced in a state cabinet meeting where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the 'management quota' the breeding ground for biggest scandals in the education sector in the country and said that his government will not be a mute spectator to it.

The state government also made some stark changes in admission guidelines for private school in December last year.

"What is management quota? Under it, you get admission if someone is recommended by a chief minister, education minister, judge, police commissioner, SHOs or by an income tax official. Either it is a recommendation or seats are sold. Management quota is the biggest scandal in the country which the Delhi Government is scrapping. 75 per cent admissions in private schools will be under open category. Other than EWS category, there will be no other quota," Kejriwal announced.

The government also scrapped 62 arbitrary and discriminatory admission criteria listed by schools on their websites. The decision came in the midst of the ongoing admission process for nursery classes in over 2,500 private institutions in the Capital.

Warning schools of stringent action, Kejriwal said the government will use all available options against erring institutions, including takeovers. "If they do not budge, they can be derecognised or government can take them over," he said.

Private schools in Delhi have quotas for management, siblings, alumni and many others. The decision also prohibits schools from making parents declare details like whether they smoke or drink or consume non-vegetarian food. "The government will not tolerate this. The idea is to make the admission process pro-people and transparent," Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.

The HC, in an order, had asked the Delhi government not to micro-manage the admission process following which the education department had allowed schools to frame their respective criteria and put them on their websites. Kejriwal said certain criteria put out by schools were very shocking and in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution relating to equality before law. "The education department officials told me that court has directed not to micro-manage the admission process. I told them not to worry. Tell the court that I have done this. I will tell the court that management quota is the biggest scandal and this should be stopped. And now the cabinet has given its approval," said Kejriwal.

However, school associations which had moved court in 2014 after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had notified the scrapping of quotas, claimed the matter is still pending and hence the announcement amounts to contempt of court. There was a judgment by a single bench of high court granting autonomy to schools for deciding quotas.

"The government had challenged the judgment seeking a stay before a double bench but the matter is still pending. Such an announcement at this stage when the matter is sub-judice amounts to contempt of court," said SK Bhattacharya, President of Action Committee for Unaided Private Schools, which has 400 schools registered under it.

"Also, management quota is not just a brainchild of private schools but also of the Justice Ganguly Committee who had also supported the issue. The tearing hurry in which the cabinet has taken this decision is not understandable," Bhattacharya added.

Private schools in Delhi adopted a cautious approach in reacting to Delhi government's decision of scrapping the management quota for nursery admissions even as various associations of unaided private schools reacted strongly saying the move is an attack on the schools' autonomy.

Ashok Sehgal, Principal, Ahlcon International School and Chairman, National Progressive Schools Conference (NPSC) said, "After schools went to high court and it ruled in favour of the schools and connotations of it, they challenged it and the matter is pending. Then to bring any order at this stage is surprising especially when the admissions have already begun. It will create further confusion for parents."

source:indiatoday.intoday.in

AAP govt strikes off 62 criteria, management quota in private schools of capital......

The AAP government Wednesday scrapped 62 assessment criteria used by private unaided schools in nursery admissions, terming them ‘arbitrary’ and ‘discriminatory’. The cabinet approved the decision to strike down criteria including economic condition, parent’s profession or area of expertise, regularity in payment of school dues and lifestyle choices of parents like smoking, drinking and eating non-vegetarian food. 

The criteria used by certain schools for nursery admissions were “shocking”, said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while explaining the reason behind the government’s move. 

“The Delhi High Court had said in an order that private school admissions cannot be micro-managed by the government… they should have the autonomy to decide the criteria for admission. But the high court had also said that the criteria and the admission process has to be fair, transparent and reasonable,” said Kejriwal. 

“When we saw the criteria put up on the websites of some schools, we were quite shocked. Some schools said that those children whose parents smoke, drink or eat non-veg will not get admission. Others said if parents know how to paint or are trained in music, the child will get extra points. The criteria are so arbitrary and discriminatory,” added the chief minister. 

The government has also decided to do away with all quotas in private school admissions except the 25 per cent reservation for students from economically weaker sections (EWS).

 “Lots of private schools have made terrific reservations. One school has only 25 per cent open seats… 75 per cent of its seats are reserved. There are all kinds of quotas — management quota, sibling quota, this quota and that quota. The court did not allow any quotas. We are opening up 50 per cent more seats for the public. What is this management quota in schools and colleges? References from the chief minister, deputy chief minister, a judge, a station house officer, commissioner of police, income tax department… or they are sold. It is either influence or sale of seats,” said Kejriwal. 

The chief minister said that no school will receive such ‘references’ from any member of his government. 

The Directorate of Education had, in a circular on December 8, 2015, directed all private, unaided and recognised schools to develop and adopt criteria for admissions for the 75 per cent open seats to entry-level classes for 2016-17. The criteria, it stated, should be “clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent.”

 The process for nursery admissions in various schools started on January 1 and the last date for submitting admission forms is January 22. 

The government examined various admission criteria used by private schools admitting children to entry-level classes and also cited reasons for terming them ‘unjust’. 

Explaining why the criterion about parent’s economic condition was being done away with, the government said, “Parents seeking admission in a particular school are aware of the fee structure of the school and willing to pay the same. The fee structure of the school is same for everyone in the school. So, the economic condition does not matter.” 

On scrapping the criterion about parents’ profession, the government stated, “Parent’s profession should not be a matter for the admission of tiny tots as all children have the same rights.” 

Earlier this week, Transport Minister Gopal Rai had named 283 private schools which, he said, had “cheated’ the Delhi government. They had promised to let their buses be used for public transport during the odd-even operations in Delhi till January 15, but had not kept their pledge, said the minister. 

However, Kejriwal clarified that the decision approved by the Cabinet Wednesday had nothing to do with that. 

Special grounds and why they were removed 

Parents with proficiency in music, sports etc  This criterion is not just as it discriminates against other children seeking admission.

 Parents’ education India is a developing country and literacy rate is not 100 per cent. This is not just towards children whose parents don’t have a good educational background. 

Regularity in payment of school dues This is illogical. Parents seeking admission of their ward cannot be judged on this criterion. 

Both parents are working Equal opportunity should be given to non-working parent/single working parent/both parents working. 

Status of child This is illogical as one can’t assign status to tiny tots. 

First cousin of a student This will create a homogeneous group in a class/school which is not conducive for overall development of child. 

If candidate has proficiency in music and sports It is ridiculous to assign points for proficiency in music and sport to a child between the age of 3 to 6 years. 

Mother’s qualification  Equal opportunities of admission should be given to children irrespective of their mother’s qualification. 

Attitudes and values It is undefined and likely to be misused. 

Old parents  This is illogical and discriminatory. 

Scholar students This is illogical. No scholastic aptitude can be tested at entry-level classes. 

Permanent resident of Delhi by birth  This is illegal and a violation of the fundamental rights of a citizen. 

Similar cultural ethos  This is undefined. 

Joint Family  This criterion is not practically determinable and as such there is no basis of connecting it to the admission process. 

Special quality  This is undefined and likely to be misused. 

Language skills  It is illogical to assign points to this criterion. Small children should be on equal footing in terms of their quality as an entry-level class is the threshold of learning. 

Economic condition  The fee structure of the school is same for everyone, so the economic condition does not matter. 

Parent’s reason for approaching the school  This is undefined and discriminatory.

source: indianexpress.com

EWS admissions to go online in select schools....

In order to make nursery admissions for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) fair and unbiased, the Delhi Government has made the procedure centralised from this year.

The government so far was issuing a common form and monitoring the draw-of-lots. The rest of the process used to be managed by the schools, but the process has now been shifted online.

With this, from filling up of forms to submitting of relevant documents and selection of students, everything will be done online. The selection will be done through an online lottery system and schools will be notified about the same.

However, online admission will be accepted only by a select group of schools, to be shortlisted by the Directorate of Education (DoE). Other schools will have a manual draw of lots for selection, just like the previous years. The DoE released an official communication in this regard on Tuesday.

The circular issued by the DoE read: “Admissions of EWS shall be made through computerised lottery system in the said schools against 25 per cent seats reserved for them under the provisions of Right to Education Act, 2009.”

“All the applicants should visit Directorate of Education website www.edudel.nic.in and click the button EWS/DG admissions 2016-17 for detailed information and instructions,” the circular further read.

The confusion between schools that will accept online admissions and the ones that will not is likely to create trouble for the parents, feel experts. “There is a lot of confusion among parents after the circular, as new system is not completely online. The system is not totally computerised and centralised system. It will have online and offline modes for different set of schools,” said Sumit Vohra, who runs a portal on nursery admissions.

Meanwhile, the DoE gave yet another warning to private schools asking them to notify their criteria for nursery admissions. The DoE had asked them to do so by December 31 or face action.

According to the data available with the DoE, 324 of 1737 private schools have not yet notified their criteria despite passing of two deadlines and the Department warning them of strict action.

The nursery admission process in Delhi schools will begin from January 1 and conclude on March 31. While the last date for submitting the applications is January 22, the first list will be out on February 15, followed by another list on February 29.

source: thehindu.com

Delhi Nursery Admission 2016-17 ....great anxiety...

Top schools in Delhi charge anywhere between Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh, including tuition fee and admission, for a seat in nursery class. Then there is the capitation fee or donation which could range from `5 to `15 lakh, but remains unaccounted for. A well-known school in the city, which is looking for students with ‘integrity, energy and curiosity’ is demanding a registration fee of `10,000 alone for the 2016-17 admission seasons.

On December 1, Delhi government passed three bills to regulate and refund  excess fees at private institutions in an attempt to bring major reform in the education system. However, Agarwal contended that the Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill was a watered-down version favouring the private unaided schools. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had invited Agarwal earlier this year to discuss regulation of the fee structure. Agarwal, who presented the draft legislation on fee regulation to the Kejriwal Government in June, is apprehensive about the effectiveness of these Acts controlling the price hike. He argued that the Act appears to presuppose the fact that fee hike by private schools is per se legal and valid unless the same is challenged through a complaint and is set aside by the committee. Questions were also raised about the credibility of the Directorate of Education in handling the admission process and maintaining transparency.

There is no provision in the Act that enables a complainant to demand a school to stop charging fee that is unjustified. Besides, it would not be an easy task for any parent to make a complaint because under the new law they need the support of parents of at least 20 students for that, Agarwal pointed out.

Referring to model acts like the Tamil Nadu (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009, he said the Act has a stipulation of the prior approval of the committee before fee hike and, once approved, it cannot be further hiked up to three years. However, the legislation passed by the AAP Government has put the entire burden on the complainant, exposing the risk of being victimised.

The draft bill had proposed that if the committee is satisfied that the school has collected fee more than what was determined by the committee, it shall direct the concerned unaided private school to refund the excess amount charged with 9 per cent per interest within one month. The committee shall recommend cancellation of recognition or approval.

The AAP legislation passed is surprisingly silent on these issues. No time limit has been proposed for disposal of complaints. “The schools shall thus continue to enjoy its free hand at least throughout the process which has enough scope for inordinate delays,” says Agarwal.

Confrontations between the schools and parents over nursery admission came to the forefront in real sense from 1997 onwards when the 5th Pay Commission was implemented, and private unaided schools hiked fees to “unreasonable” levels. Several petitions were filed in courts and committees set up to bring transparency and make the schools accountable. Of particular concern were the admission criteria fixed by different schools. But a lasting solution continues to elude the stakeholders.

source: www.newindianexpress.com

Over 900 Private Schools In Delhi Fail To Notify Nursery Admission Criteria...

Despite the Delhi government warning them of strict action, over 900 private schools in the national capital are yet to notify the criteria for nursery admissions beginning January 1.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) had asked all the unaided recognised schools to "develop and adopt criteria for admission which shall be clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent".

The schools were asked to upload the criteria adopted for admission to entry level classes (other than those for economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups) for the academic session 2016-17 on the directorate's website latest by December 20.

However, after 1,376 out of 1,735 schools had failed to meet the deadline, DoE issued a notice warning the schools of strict action if the directive was not complied with.

According to data available with DoE, 918 schools are yet to notify their criteria.

"Non-declaration of criteria by the schools will only lead to ambiguity for parents and pave way for back door entries. Despite the government issuing strict directives, there is no compliance, there needs to be action against them," Sumit Vohra, an activist who also runs a nursery admission portal, said.

The controversy-prone nursery admission process in Delhi which normally starts in December has undergone several changes in the past as the authorities looked for ways to make things easier for parents.

Besides state-run schools, the rules are meant to regulate admissions to entry-level classes in private recognised institutions as well.

The nursery admission process in Delhi schools will begin from January 1 and conclude on March 31.

While the last date for submitting the application is January 22, the first list will be out on February 15 followed by another list on February 29.

According to guidelines issued by DoE, all schools shall comply with the directive that the number of seats at entry- level shall not be less than the highest number of seats in the entry class during the years 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-2016.

DoE has also asked private, unaided recognised schools to not process the admission of EWS/DG students manually as the department is working on developing a module for online admission under the category.

The government has also fixed an upper age limit for admission to entry level classes with the maximum age for nursery admissions being set at four years and five and six years for pre-primary and class-I. The upper age limit for admission to entry level classes for differently abled children have been fixed at as five, six and seven years.

source: ndtv.com

Delhi govt warns schools to notify nursery admission criteria by Dec 25....

Warning private schools of strict action, Delhi Government has asked them to notify by December 25 the criteria for nursery admissions for the upcoming academic session beginning on January 1.

The Directorate of Education (DoE) has asked unaided recognised schools to "develop and adopt criteria for admission which shall be clear, well defined, equitable, non-discriminatory, unambiguous and transparent".

The schools had earlier been asked to upload their criteria including points for each criterion for admission to entry level classes, other than EWS/DG category seats, for the academic session 2016-17 on the directorate's website latest by December 20. But 1,376 out of total 1,735 schools were yet to notify their criteria.

"It is regretted to note that all the schools have not uploaded their criteria and points on the module of the Directorate. Therefore, heads of all the remaining private unaided recognised schools are hereby directed to upload their criteria along with points by December 25 positively," the letter sent to defaulter schools by DoE said.

"All the schools should also ensure that a flex board containing the requisite information as directed by DoE must be put at the entrance of the main gate prominently.

Non-compliance of the order shall be viewed seriously," it added.

source:ndtv.com

Upper-age limit fixed for nursery admissions in Delhi ....

Upper-age limit fixed for nursery admissions in Delhi ....

The directorate of education, Delhi, has now fixed an upper-age limit for entry level classes. The minimum age was fixed in 2007 but upper-age has been debated for several years. Also, in a departure from usual practice, the DoE has imposed separate limits for differently-abled children and permitted even further relaxation for mentally challenged ones. 

This is likely to alter points distribution systems according to which nursery admissions are conducted. 

An order issued on December 18, says for nursery classes, the upper-age limit will be "less than four years as on 31st March of the year in which admission is sought." For KG (pre-primary) classes, it is five years and for Class I, six years. "It is a very thoughtful move," says Ashok Pandey, principal, Ahlcon International School, Mayur Vihar and chairperson, National Progressive Schools Conference. "Age variances ranging from one month to two years in a class was creating issues with the cognitive and social development of students." 

source: The Times of India