Delhi Private Schools Asked to Verify Vacant EWS Seats by September 3: What Parents Need to Know

Private unaided recognised schools in Delhi have been told to verify the vacant seats of Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and freeship from class 2 onwards by September 3. The directive comes as an effort to ensure that schools allocate seats to eligible candidates through the prescribed admission process.

 

As per the order issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE) on August 27, all schools, except minority educational institutions, shall cross-verify the vacancies provided by the Directorate. In case of a discrepancy, a representation needs to be made to the concerned education zone within the stipulated time. The district deputy directors of education shall scrutinise such representations and submit their recommendations by September 5.

 

The verification of vacancies comes as an important step for parents seeking admission under EWS or freeship as the vacancies confirmed by the school will subsequently be put up for allotment through a computerised draw of lots.

 

Schools which do not make a representation in the prescribed format and time shall be deemed to have agreed with the vacancies provided by the Directorate. The vacancies thus verified shall be taken up for allotment to eligible candidates.

 

The DoE also clarified that no school will be able to deny admission to a candidate who has been selected through the computerised draw of lots on the grounds that there were no vacancies in the school. A strict action will be taken against schools which deny admission to such candidates as it will be deemed to be a violation of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules, 1973 and Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009.

 

The recent step has been taken as a direction from the Delhi High Court in Justice for All vs Directorate of Education case. The bench had remarked that the vacant EWS seats in the classes from 2 onwards need to be filled up.

 

Section 12 of the RTE Act mandates private unaided recognised schools to provide free and compulsory education to at least 25 per cent of children belonging to the weaker sections and disadvantaged groups at the entry level of elementary school.

 

The Delhi government has been conducting an online process for admission of candidates belonging to EWS and freeship from class 2 onwards in private unaided recognised schools with land in government ownership since 2021-22 academic session. It was in 2018 that the decision to fill the vacant EWS seats through a draw of lots was taken as the admission process was similar to the entry-level EWS and disadvantaged group admission process.

 

The step comes as a reminder to parents to keep a watch on the admissions as the vacant seats in EWS and freeship category from class 2 will go through a computerised draw of lots. Parents will need to keep track of the subsequent notifications from the Directorate of Education for the applications and allotment of the seats.