State Education Department Rolls Out Procedures for Priority Admission in Local Schools
The registration process for admissions under the Right to Education Act (RTE) is slated to begin next week, as announced by the state school education department following the publication of guidelines through a circular on Thursday.
Sharad Gosavi, state director of primary education, confirmed the forthcoming commencement of the RTE admission process, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the outlined procedures.
As per the guidelines, priority for RTE admissions will be given to students seeking admission to aided schools, government schools, and all local self-government schools situated within a 1km radius of their residence.
Notable changes in the RTE Act necessitate that students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds may face challenges in securing admission to English medium schools.
Shantanu Pranjape, a parent actively involved in RTE admission-related issues, highlighted the flexibility for parents to opt for local body schools or government schools as per their preference, in addition to aided schools. The circular issued by the education department stipulates the admission protocol for scenarios where certain types of schools are not available within the prescribed distance from the student’s residence.
In exceptional circumstances where no government, aided local body, or self-financed school is accessible within a 1km radius, priority admission will be granted to schools within a 3km radius.
Key eligibility criteria for RTE admission include the child’s age being above 6 years, with provisions disallowing reapplication for those previously admitted under RTE.
Furthermore, the circular underscores the importance of accurate information in RTE admission applications, cautioning that discrepancies may lead to the cancellation of admission for the concerned child.
As the RTE admission process gears up to commence, stakeholders are urged to ensure compliance with the guidelines to facilitate smooth and equitable access to education for all eligible students.
