RTE admission stalled, pvt schools cite lack of reimbursement norms

IN FEBRUARY, HC HAD DIRECTED PVT UNAIDED SCHOOLS TO RESERVE 25% OF CLASS 1 SEATS FOR KIDS FROM POOR FAMILIES

- Navneet Sharma

Private unaided schools in Punjab appear to be stalling the admission of children from disadvantaged and economically weaker sections under the Right to Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, citing delays in the issuance of per-child reimbursement notification and admission guidelines.

The Punjab and Haryana high court had, in its order dated February 19, directed all private unaided recognised schools in the state to reserve 25% of their Class 1 seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections in the state.

The court also ordered the state government to ensure strict enforcement of this direction in the 2025-26 academic session.

The school education department followed up the court's ruling with instructions to DPI, elementary education and all district education officers (DEOs) on March 20, but with little effect, as complaints continue to pile up against private schools for delaying or refusing admissions to children from economically weaker sections (EWS).

A nongovernmental organisation, the Action Committee for RTE Act, in a letter to chief secretary KAP Sinha and top officers of the school education department on July 14, highlighted the continued non-implementation of the RTE Act's provisions despite the court ruling.