Girls to get admission preference under RTE

Updated on: Monday, June 04, 2012

Under the Right To Education Act the 25% free seat quota applicable for the entry point of a school, girls in state will have the upper hand when it comes to admissions.

Sanjay Deshmukh, state project director of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, said, "Keeping in view the skewed gender ratio it has been decided to give the girl child preference. So, basically, if there are 10 seats in a school and 10 female applicants, then all of them will get admissions regardless of the number of boys waiting."

Deshmukh spoke on the strict provisions within the RTE to ensure its full implementation. "Every school that is covered under the RTE will have to file an annual return regarding the status of its 25% free seat quota. The return's format has been prepared and after admissions are over the school will file the same with the district education officer," he said.

Deshmukh, the brain behind the RTE implementation in Maharashtra and his project is part of Maharashtra Prathmik Shikshan Parishad. Deshmukh and his team have been brainstorming to plug all legal loopholes that schools can use to escape the 25% free seat reservation, and have prepared a 22-page notification last week which is considered ironclad with all legal provisions.

However this notification, is only for implementation in the academic year 2012-13. Around October another notification will be issued which will give all schools a calendar to follow regarding admissions. Before the admission process starts schools will have to display on their notice boards number of seats under the 25% free quota.

Also, the admission process will have to be conducted through a lottery system in the presence of a group of parents and a representative of the education officer. Deshmukh added, "The waiting list of students must be at least 50% of the total capacity so that fresh applications are not called for."

The state government has made provision to have the entire admission process recorded on-camera to avoid any disputes later.

Girls to get admission preference under RTE

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