Management quota scrapped in nursery admissions.....

Arvind Kejriwal said that a major decision has been taken to make the admission process in private schools transparent and pro-people.

In a landmark announcement which will perhaps solve school admission woes in the city, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said that a major decision has been taken to make the admission process in private schools transparent and pro-people.

"There will be only 25 per cent of EWS and 75 per cent of seats will have to be made available for general public," Kejriwal said.

Arvind Kejriwal also said that the management quota is a scandal and his government is totally against it. He also said that his government is planning to set up a monitoring committee to keep an eye on private school admissions.

"Management quota is biggest scandal which deprives common people. Delhi government is passing order to abandon management quota. We have scrapped 62 criteria of admission process in private schools that were unreasonable and discriminatory," he said. 

The Aam Aadmi Party had in December 2015 announced that the admissions under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) will be online for schools recognised under Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973 and offline for schools recognised under the Right to Education (RTE) Act 2009.

source: indiatoday.intoday.in

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

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

Delhi Government asks schools to shut from Jan 1-15 during odd-even vehicle scheme...

Delhi govt asks schools to shut from Jan 1-15 during odd-even vehicle scheme

Amid much speculation, the Delhi government has cleared the air and has announced that the schools will remain close in the national capital for 15 days from January 1 to January 15, during the trial period of odd-even vehicle formula. The decision was taken as the government would use school buses under DTC fleet. 

According to PTI reports, official notification by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said, "To make the new scheme functional with least disturbance to our children during the 'Odd Even Scheme' days, the government has decided to declare holidays for all schools from January 1 to 15 and also to procure the services of school buses for the requirement of DTC at notified rates."

The statement also said that the 15-day break would not affect studies much, as private schools usually remain closed for winter breaks, till the first week of January. It also added that the decision might get opposed by some people but the government is flexible on the number of days in the interest of health and well-being of our children for all times to come.

DoE has directed all government schools and un-aided/ recognised private schools, to declare holidays during the period. The government has also asked all the un-aided recognised private schools to provide their fleet of buses to Delhi Transport Corporation so that they can be used as public transport during odd-even formula trial period.

source: indiatoday 

Delhi Government relaxes upper age limit for Nursery admissions, sets at 4 years....

Delhi govt relaxes upper age limit for Nursery admissions, sets at 4 years

The upper age limit for Nursery admissions in Delhi schools has been fixed at four years. According to PTI reports, the Delhi government has said that the upper age limit to be followed by private unaided schools for admissions to entry level classes, with the maximum age for nursery admissions has been set at four years.

The statement released by the Directorate of Education (DoE) said, "Earlier, the minimum age limit for admissions in pre-school, pre-primary and class 1 was prescribed as 3 years, 4 years and 5 years, respectively as on March 31, of the year in which admission is being sought. Now, the competent authority has fixed the upper age limit for admissions in entry level classes as - 4 years for pre-school, 5 years for pre-primary and 6 years for class 1," it added.

The upper age limit for admission in entry level classes for differently abled children have been decided as 5 years, 6 years and 7 years respectively. "The heads of the schools are directed to note that the relaxation in upper age limit to children with mental disabilities shall be allowed as a rule and that rejection of an application for admission should be based on valid grounds and a speaking order shall be passed by the principal," the circular sent to schools said. 

Explaining the move, a senior DoE official said, "The lower limit for admission was already fixed at three years, but there was no upper age limit for admission. Logically, it makes sense for children of a particular age group to be in a particular class."

Earlier, the government had notified that the application forms for admissions to Nursery class in Delhi for the session 2016-2017 will begin from January 1. The last date for submission of forms will be 22 January. The schools have also been given instructions to publicise their admission criteria on their official website before the start of admission process.

source: indiatoday

Admission Schedule for Entry Level Classes for open seats in Private Unaided Recognized Schools of Delhi for session 2016-17

Source: www.edudel.nic.in

AAP introduced Delhi School Bill, 2015 — also known as the Fee Regulation Bill in assembly

Arvind Kejriwal

The second controversial bill is Delhi School (Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee) Bill, 2015 — also known as the Fee Regulation Bill. Introducing it in the 70-member assembly, Sisodia said, “People say that fee of a private school nowadays is more than their salaries, making private schooling for their kids a nightmare. This bill will ensure regulation and accountability.”

According to the bill, a committee headed by a retired high court judge or retired district judge or a retired officer not below the rank of principal secretary to the Delhi government will be constituted to verify schools’ accounts. If a school is found charging extra fee or diverting money, the committee can direct refund of excess fee and ask schools to re-fix its fees. The schools will also have to submit audited financial return along with proposed fee structure for next session. Schools that fail to comply may face jail term or fine.

But Agarwal and others say it gives “absolute powers to unaided recognised private schools to increase fees arbitrarily instead of controlling it” and “loot the hapless parents in whatever way the school managements like”.

“It fails to cater to the mischief of exorbitant and unjustified fee-hike for the following reasons: first, it presupposes that fee-hike by private schools is per se legal and valid unless the same is challenged by a complaint and is set aside by the committee. If we look at the existing acts on private unaided school-free regulation, particularly the Tamil Nadu (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009, there is a stipulation of prior approval by the committee before fee-hike and the increased fee, once approved, cannot be further hiked up to three years. But here, the proposed bill has put the entire burden on the complainant.

“Second, this bill suffers from various practical anomalies. The burden has been cast upon the aggrieved parent to move in compliant. This onerous task would make the parent, and ultimately the child, amenable to be subjected to victimisation. Further, once a complaint is made, no time limit has been stipulated for disposal of the same by the committee, making it liable to be reduced to futility by sheer lapse of time. Even after a complaint has been decided, there is enough room for delay as the school can file objections and even after consideration of the same and final decision by the committee, there is a provision of appeal to the director, for disposal of which, no time limit has been stipulated. The school will thus continue to enjoy its free hand at least throughout the process which has enough scope for inordinate delays. It would not be an easy task for any parent to lodge complaints because they need a minimum support of parents of 20 students to 1/5th of that of the total number of students in a class to be able to file a complaint.”

The Delhi High Court in its decision dated 12 August 2011 in Delhi Abhibhavak Mahasangh and others vs GNCTD and others (criminal writ petition number 7777/2009) had constituted Justice Anil Dev Singh Committee to look into the accounts of each school and find out whether the fee hike by private unaided schools on the pretext of the Sixth Central Pay Commission was justified. The High Court had further directed that if the fee-hike was found to be unjustified, it would be refunded by the school to parents along with 9 percent interest. Justice Dev Singh Committee has so far indicated more than 450 schools and the refundable amounts cumulatively come to over Rs 250 crore. However, till date, not a single school has refunded the due amounts to the parents.

Even in 1997, when the parents had approached the High Court against fee-hike on the pretext of implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission, the High Court vide an interim order had permitted the schools to increase fee by up to 40 percent, resulting in recovery of over Rs 400 crore from the parents of Delhi, which was to be subject to the findings of Justice Santosh Duggal Committee and liable to be refunded if found unjustified. However, the working of the committee was “deliberately stifled by the Directorate of Education and the private schools”. As a result, no amount has been refunded till date.

“Thus, it is our experience that once a school charges fee from the parents, it becomes next to impossible to get it refunded,” said Agarwal.

The proposed bill everywhere talks about utilisation of funds in accordance with the provision of the DSEA, 1973, but it does not talk about determination and justifiability of fees charged. If one goes in terms of this bill, a complaint, if any, by parents can only be filed after at least 18 months from the date such fee is charged. Interestingly, parents cannot file a complaint or raise grievance, the moment, the fee is increased by a school. He has to wait till the audited accounts are finalised by a school.

Suppose, through proposed fee structure, a school has increased tuition fee by 25% for the next academic year 20016-17 and someone is aggrieved of that. The parents will have to wait for over a year to lodge a complaint because they have to see the fee charged from them is utilised or not. And if it is utilised, whether in accordance with the DSEA. In case, if it is not utilised, they will have to see whether it would amount to excess fee charge and become refundable.

“In a nutshell, the proposed bill is totally bogus and does not at all address the issue of arbitrary, exorbitant and unjustified fee hike,” the lawyer added.

source: firstpost.com

Nursery admission rules in the Capital could change this year again....

Education minister Manish Sisodia confirmed that a law to bring in new guidelines would be introduced in the assembly session starting November 18

The “neighbourhood” criterion could be enough for three-year-olds to enroll in nursery class as the AAP government might chuck out all other norms with an aim to simplify the process — dubbed an annual headache for parents.

Education minister Manish Sisodia confirmed that a law to bring in new guidelines would be introduced in the assembly session starting November 18. “The new law will streamline the nursery admission process in the city.”

As part of the simplification exercise, a source said, a plan is being worked out to keep only the neighbourhood criterion or distance from home to school for a child seeking admission — the closer the better.

“This means, even general category students will be selected through draw of lots which is currently done for children from economically weaker sections of society for whom 25% seats are reserved under the right to education.”

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.

In 2013, lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung issued a set of guidelines that reserved 70 points for children applying for admission in a “neighbourhood” school. Admissions were given to those living within a 6km radius of the school. The following year, the rule varied from school to school — from 3km to 6km.

“The neighbourhood norm is undoubtedly good because it agrees with the right to education. It will save children the hassle of travelling miles to reach school. It is not discriminatory and every child will be treated equally,” said Ashok Aggarwal, a lawyer and founder of Social Jurist, an NGO that works in the field of education.

It filed a court petition seeking a ban on interviews in 2004 and later sought scrapping of the point system when right to education was enforced in 2010. A source in the education department said the management quota, which allows 20% seats to be reserved for school authorities and children of staff, could also be junked.

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

Source: HT

AAP's draft bill bans schools from interviewing kids for nursery admissions

A draft bill submitted to the Aam Aadmi Party government could change the way nursery admission is conducted in the Capital. 

The proposal, drafted by Delhi-based NGO Social Jurist's president Ashok Aggarwal, was submitted to the government on June 29 and suggested barring schools from interviewing a child for pre-primary and preschool, where children are below the age of six, and also his/her parents. The Arvind Kejriwal government is planning to introduce the Delhi School Education (Amendment) Bill 2015, wherein school authorities interviewing a child or parents for admission to nursery class will face an imprisonment of up to 10 years. As per the Right to Education (RTE) Act, no school shall, while admitting a child, subject the child or the parents to any screening procedure. The Act also guarantees free and compulsory elementary quality education to all children aged between 6 and 14.

"There are many schools that flout the RTE rules and conduct personal interviews of children as well as their parents. We have proposed to the government to make the existing rules more stringent so that no school can defy the guidelines," Ashok Aggarwal told Mail Today.

The punishment may vary provided that the court, for any adequate and special reason to be recorded in writing, imposes a sentence of imprisonment for a term, which may be less than five years, it said. There are 1,100 government-run schools and 1,500 private schools in Delhi. "The government shall constitute a committee for the purpose of determination of fee for any standard or course of study in unaided private schools," reads the proposed draft.

Source : http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aam-aadmi-party-delhi-school-education-bill-2015-right-to-education/1/451125.html