Nursery admission: Delhi HC upholds interim stay on age limit notification

The Delhi high court on Tuesday upheld its 5 February order which had stayed a notification by the Delhi government fixing four years as the upper age for nursery admissions in private unaided schools in the National Capital Region.

A bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Jayant Nath found no fault with the interim stay issued by justice Manmohan. Subsequently, he had also passed an interim order that said private unaided school managements are entitled to full autonomy in administration including the right to admit students.

“All children above the age of four years who are desirous of taking nursery admission in private schools for academic year 2016-17 shall be entitled to apply on or before 9 February,” the order had noted.

“The interim stay is rightly issued,” the two-judge bench said on Monday while delivering the judgement.

According to the notification issued by the directorate of education on 18 December last year, the upper age limit for nursery, pre-primary and Class I was set at four, five and six years, respectively.

The order was challenged by way of a bunch of petitions filed by minors who claimed that the impugned order was “arbitrary and unconstitutional” and sought its quashing.

The main case on the legal validity of the government notification will be heard on 18 April.

source: www.livemint.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: AAP Government to challenge HC order

The AAP government on Thursday said an appeal will be filed against the Delhi High Court’s stay of its order scrapping management quota in nursery admissions.

The schools, however, welcomed the court’s decision saying their “autonomy” has been upheld.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed AAP government’s order scrapping management quota in nursery admissions in private unaided schools. The court said the decision was taken without the authority of law.

It also stayed the Delhi government’s 6 January order with regard to 11 other admission criteria. This included issues like proven track record of parents in music and sports during admission of their children, that were also scrapped.

SK Bhattacharya, President of the Action Committee for Unaided Private Schools of which 400 reputed schools are members, said, “We welcome the high court’s order and it will come as a relief for the parents who have been lingering in anxiety as the entire process has been marred by chaos due to the government’s order.”

He said, “Schools did not know what to do, parents did not know whether the process will be delayed or not. So, all the confusion has ended thankfully”.

The government had last month scrapped management quota and all other reservations except the EWS category in private schools for nursery admissions. It also warned that erring institutions can be taken over by the Education Department.

The same Action Committee had also alleged that the government’s announcement amounted to “contempt of court” as the matter was sub-judice at that time. The committee had moved court in 2014 after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung had notified the scrapping of quota.

source:www.thequint.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

50 per cent extra seats opened up after abolition of management quota: Arvind Kejriwal

Scrapping of management quota for nursery admissions in private schools has thrown open 50 per cent extra seats for common man, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said, even as he asserted that the government had no intention of “interfering” into the daily affairs of

the schools.

The chief minister also said that the Delhi government will “think” about online admissions on 75 per cent open seats in the next year.

“The Delhi government has made school admissions totally transparent. Scrapping management quota, which were used to oblige recommendations of politicians, government functionaries and powerful people, has opened nearly 50 per cent extra seats for common man,” Kejriwal said at an interaction with parents seeking admission for their wards.

The government has “cut its own hands” in doing so as the school admission process will now take place in a transparent manner without any recommendations, he said.

“We are not going to benefit from it and the government and the chief minister have rather cut our hands otherwise our volunteers would bring recommendations and we would be doling out seats for admissions,” he said.

Replying to complaints and suggestions of parents seeking admission for their children, Kejriwal said the management quota and 62 criteria for admissions were scrapped as they were not “reasonable, fair and transparent”.

“We believed in schools and allowed them to upload their admission criteria by December 31. But some of the schools betrayed our faith and reserved upto 75 per cent seats through these criteria and various quota like alumni and sibling quota.”

The chief minister said that the admissions on 25 per cent seats under EWS quota were also riddled with irregularities and the government has now made this process online.

“They will have no better government than this one if they want to do good things but they will also not found any worse government if they indulge in irregularities,” he warned.

“Now, the schools will not have their say in it. Those who will not follow guidelines and rules will be decrecognised,” Kejriwal said, adding that his government had no intention of “interfering” in their day to day affairs.

“We will think about online admissions on 75 per cent open seats in the next year,” he said in reply to a suggestion by one of the parents.

The government has decided to focus on education and health in 2016 and is working on it, the Chief Minister said adding that policies should be framed in consultation with public, he said.

Attending the event, Deputy CM and Education minister Manish Sisodia said, “There was tremendous pressure from different quarters including the private schools to maintain the management quota. But we will not bow down to pressure,” he said.

The government has only “ordinary” powers to regulate schools and it needs to have more powers to issue directions and take action against them.

“We have included this power in Delhi Education Act by amending it and sent for approval of Centre so that so that Delhi government and private schools in Delhi could work in a better way,” he said.

Alleging that several schools had turned themselves into “teaching shops” through management quota, Sisodia said that the government was determined to stop them.

“Management quotas were used as a window through which money was taken and recommendations by ministers, bureaucrats and police officials were met,” he said.

The schools are creating “confusion” over admission criteria and ending of management quota, but the parents need not to worry as the government was with them, Sisodia said.

“The schools are doing this wilfully to scare the parents. But they do not need to worry as the government is with them to ensure transparency in admission,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister, while criticising the private schools over management quota and admission criteria related irregularities, also acknowledged their role in “maintaining quality of education” at a time when government schools failed to do so.

“They have been told that if they face legal problems in the way of doing good things we will change it.”

He further clarified that the government has accepted the demand of private schools for seats for children of teachers and members of management committees.

Asserting that improvement in education required efforts on all its aspects, Sisodia said that the government will focus on training and quality of education at government schools.

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

Parents of EWS kids daunted by online process...

The biggest issue seems to be the way the education department has mapped out schools, leaving out entire neighbourhoods and sub-localities, and incorrectly marked out distances from schools to neighbourhoods.

When Nasser Ahmed, a resident of a slum cluster in Patparganj’s Madhu Vihar area, went to the nearest cyber cafe to fill the online form for nursery admissions for his child, he was stumped. Not only did the portal fail to show his locality in the list of neighbourhoods, but it kept directing him to schools in Dwarka. “I kept trying to refill the form to no avail. I really don’t know what to do now because schools are not accepting offline forms,” said Ahmed, whose child falls under the EWS (economically weaker section) category.

Ahmed is among the many EWS/DG (disadvantaged group) parents who are struggling with the gaping holes in the online admission system. The Delhi government had decided to make nursery admissions completely online from this session. The biggest issue seems to be the way the education department has mapped out schools, leaving out entire neighbourhoods and sub-localities, and incorrectly marked out distances from schools to neighbourhoods. So, while Ahmed gets directed to Dwarka every time he types Madhu Vihar, a parent submitting an application for Budh Vihar gets directed to AIIMS in South Delhi. Schools within a kilometre of Joshi Colony, a locality in IP Extension, are missing. Dhaula Kuan is shown in Samaypur Badli, while Rohini Sector 17 shows no schools in the vicinity despite the area having plenty of them. Distance is a crucial marker for nursery admissions, as the Right to Education Act mandates that schools have to admit children living within a kilometer first, followed by those living three and six kilometers away. With locations marked incorrectly, many parents will have a hard time even entering the system. After shelling out money on cybercafes — to the tune of Rs 50 to Rs 200 per hour — parents belonging to the EWS category are then faced with the daunting task of completing the six-step admission process. It doesn’t help matters that they are unable to complete the process without filling mandatory mobile number or that pages get locked when an applicant navigates beyond it. “I don’t have a mobile phone. I also don’t have the money to buy one. I can give my neighbour’s number, but I’m sure that it will create problems during admissions,” said Raju, a parent from Shahbad Dairy. NGOs roped in to help parents are also facing problems in figuring out the details. “Even if an applicant has all documents, issues still remain. For instance, only caste certificates issued by the Delhi government are being accepted, so we don’t know what to do for migrants,” a volunteer told The Indian Express. “In view of the many issues being faced, we have written to the Directorate to discontinue the process this year and start again next year after sorting out all issues,” said Khagesh Jha, an advocate with the Delhi High Court.

source: indianexpress.com

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

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

Delhi Public School Vasant Kunj - Delhi , Nursery Admission 2016-17

Total no. of seats 200
Number of seats available under General Category 100 (50%)
                                                                                     (98+2seats for children with special needs)
Number of seats available under Management Category 40 (20%)
Number of seats available under Staff Category 10 (05%)
Number of seats available under E.W.S & Disadvantaged Category 50 (25%)

SCHEDULE OF ADMISSION TO BE FOLLOWED 

Commencement of admission process 01st January 2016 (Friday)

Commencement of availability of application form for admission 01st January 2016 (Friday)

Last date of submission of application form in school 22nd January 2016 (Friday) till 5.00 P.M

Uploading details of children who apply for admission under open seats 30th January 2016 (Saturday) 5.00 P.M

Uploading marks (as per point system) given to each of the children who applied for admission under open seats 05th February 2016 (Friday) 5.00 P.M

The date for displaying the first list of selected Candidates (including Waiting List) (along with marks allotted under point system) 15th February 2016 (Monday) 5.00 P.M

The date for displaying the second list of selected Candidates (if any) (including Waiting List) (along with marks allotted under point system) 29th February 2016 (Monday) 5.00 P.M

Closure of Admission Process 31/03/2016 (Thursday)

Parameters for Open Seats (other than EWS & Disadvantaged Group) 

Age : 3+ as on 31-03-2016
Date of Birth : 01st April 2012 to 31st March 2013.
(a) Neighbourhood ; 40 points
0-15 Km 40 points
Above 15 Km 00 points
(b) Sibling ; 30 points 30 points will be awarded in case of a real brother / sister currently studying at DPS Vasant Kunj only.
(c) School Alumni ; 20 points For parents who have passed Class X or XII from any DPS (core school) that is owned by the DPS Society.
Father = 10, Mother = 10, both = 20
(d) Gender ; 05 points Girl child / first child
(e) Single Parent ; 05 points Widow / widower / Divorcee

All documents listed below should be produced in original at the time of verification & scrutiny of registration forms. 

Open Seats (other than EWS & Disadvantaged Group)

i) Neighbourhood : 
a) Ration card issued in the name of parents (Mother/Father having name of child).
b) Domicile Certificate of child or of his/her parents.
c) Voter I-Card (EPIC) of any of the parents.
 d) Electricity bill/MTNL telephone bill/Water bill//Passport in the name of any of the parents or child.
e) Aadhaar card/UID card issued in the name of any of the parents.

ii) Sibling :
 Identity Card / Latest Fee Bill of the sibling issued by the school office for 2015-16.

iii) Alumni : 
In case of Alumni, a copy of the passing certificate of AISSCE (Class X / XII) issued by CBSE.

iv) Gender :
Affidavit with regard to first born child as per the given format.

v) Single Parent : 
Valid legal proof of his / her single status (death certificate and undertaking of single status).

vi) Birth Certificate issued by Municipal Corporation (Original Certificate will be submitted in the school).

source: school website

Nursery Admissions Delhi Schools - 2016-17...More schools post nursery criteria

More schools post nursery criteria...

More schools, including some of the popular ones, have announced their admission criteria and points distribution systems. Not everyone is starting registration on January 1, 2016, and at most schools, children and siblings of alumni have a real edge over others. At some, parents' achievement, too, will matter.

Laxman Public School (LPS) has divided 'open seats' remaining after reserving for EWS (25%), children with special needs (3%), children of present staff (2%) and management (20%), further into quotas for different criteria. For siblings of enrolled children, 15% seats have been set aside. These "shall be filled through draw of lots out of all the registered sibling applicants residing within 12km radius of the school. The remaining applicants shall be considered for admission as per the parameters/criteria and points for open seats (general category)," says the school's admission notice. Similarly, alumni kids have 5% seats to themselves, girls and children of staff, another 5% each. While, to be eligible for these quotas, the applicants have to live within 12km, those living beyond that distance but belonging to these categories will still have an edge. In the points distribution, distance (zero-12km) has been allotted 70 points; siblings of enrolled students get 20, alumni kids and girls get five. But this entire lot will compete for 46 seats out of a total of 184.

Vasant Valley School has included in its list of criteria, neighbourhood (same as distance, maximum of 25), alumni (20, 10 for each parent), siblings (20), first-born child (10) and "proven track record of parents" which, interestingly, gets the same maximum points as distance—25. Its admission notice elaborates on this last parameter offering a list of option, including awards or recognitions for "sports/social service", "arts", "original research/ publication/ recognition received in the area of science/ social science/ law/ humanities", "civil rights/government work/ defence services" and, finally, "any other". A state-level recognition fetches three points, national-level, four and international five.

The Indian School has kept it simple. It has 154 general category seats and there are only three criteria with points against them—distance (60), sibling (20) and first-born child (20). While LPS and The Indian School are starting admissions on January 1, 2016, some others are starting later. Carmel Convent School is starting on January 2 and Mount St Mary's in the Delhi Cantonment on January 4, 2016.

source: The Times of India

Over 1300 schools fail to notify nursery admission criteria....

Over 1300 schools fail to notify nursery admission criteria

Over 1300 private schools in the national capital have missed the deadline in notifying the criteria fixed for nursery admissions beginning on January 1 for the upcoming academic session. 
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 their criteria adopted (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. 
However, so far only 359 schools have complied with the directive. 
According to data available with DoE, 1376 out of total 1735 schools are yet to notify their criteria. 
"We will send a communication to the defaulter schools to comply with the directive within next three days," DoE Director Padmini Singhla told PTI. 
"This shows the non-seriousness of the schools towards the directives of the authority. The admissions are going to begin in next two weeks and the schools are yet to notify their criteria. This will only lead to ambiguity and confusion for parents at the last moment," said Sumit Vohra, an activist who also runs a portal on nursery admissions. 
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. 
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 displayed 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 Economically Weaker Section/Disadvantaged Group category students manually as the department is in the process of developing a module for online admission under the category. 
Last week, the government had 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 in entry level classes for differently abled children have been decided as five years, six years and seven years respectively.

source: www.business-standard.com

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

Delhi Public School, Rohini Delhi - Nursery Admission 2016-17

Admission to Nursery (Pre School)- Session 2016 - 2017

Total Number of Seats 140
20% Seats for Management Quota  28
25% Seats for EWS Category 35
5% Seats for Staff Children 07
50% Seats for General Category [Open Seats] 70


*2 Seats are reserved for Children with Special Needs

1. Age : 3+ as on 31st March 2016 (Children born between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 will be considered)
2. For General Category Candidates
Application forms will be available online between Friday, 1 January 2016 and Friday, 22 January 2016 at http://www.dpsrohini.com.

A Pay Order / Draft of Rs 25/- (Rupees Twenty five only) drawn in favour of Delhi Public School- Rohini must be sent to reach Delhi Public School - Rohini, Phase III, Sector - 24, Rohini, New Delhi 110085 latest by Friday, 22 January 2016 along with a print out of the submitted form. Please mention your child’s name and registration number received after submission of the ‘online form’ at the back of the draft/pay order.
Forms received after Friday, 22 January 2016 will not be accepted.

Please keep a print / photocopy of duly filled registration form for future reference.

The following schedule will be observed for Nursery (Pre School Admissions 2016-2017) for Delhi Public School Rohini.

*Commencement of On-line Registration   Friday, 1 January 2016
*On-line Registration closes  Friday, 22 January 2016
*Uploading details of children who apply for admission under open seats Saturday, 30 January 2016
*Uploading marks (as per point system) given to each of the children who applied for admission under open seats Friday, 5 February 2016
*The date for displaying the first list of selected Candidates (including waiting list) (along with marks allotted under points system) Monday, 15 February 2016
*The date for displaying the second list of selected Candidates (If any) (including waiting list) (along with marks allotted under points system) Monday, 29 February 2016
*Closure of admission process Thursday, 31 March 2016


Admission Parameters:

Neighbourhood  40 Points
Sibling 30 Points
DPS Alumni 20 Points
Girl Child / First Born 05 points
Single Parent 05 points
TOTAL 100 points


Source: dpsrohini.com