Erring Delhi schools told to admit poor students

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
New Delhi, February 27, 2013

Schools in the Capital that have so far avoided giving admission to students under the economically weaker section (EWS) category will no longer be able to do so. On Tuesday, a circular issued by the Delhi directorate of education (DOE) made it clear that 410 schools that took land from 

the Delhi Development Authority on concessional rates will have to admit 15% EWS students with immediate effect.

The schools had been given land on the condition that they will admit EWS category students in all classes, with the percentage ranging from 10% to 25% in different schools.

Now, the Delhi high court, after consulting the DOE, has fixed that figure at 15% for all grades. This comes after a petition filed by an NGO said that many schools were not holding up their end of the bargain.

Several high-profile institutions, such as DPS RK Puram, GD Goenka Public School, Amity International School, Vasant Valley School and Mother’s International School, had got land at concessional rates.

“Some schools were following the norm, but a large number were not. Now, all schools, including minority institutions, will have to follow the order with immediate effect,” said Amit Singla, director, education.

2 cops suspended for ‘misbehaving’ with councillor

Express news service : Chandigarh, Wed Feb 27 2013, 03:45 hrs

A constable and an assistant sub-inspector of the UT Traffic Police have been suspended for allegedly misbehaving with an area councillor. The two officials have been sent to traffic lines after the incident was reported by councillor Saurabh Joshi to the DIG and other officials on Monday night.

After the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kamal Deep and Inspector-on-duty Keval Krishan submitted a report to inquiry officer SP Arun Kampani. DSP said, "The report was submitted on Tuesday. A final decision will be taken on Wednesday by the SP". ASI Chander Singh and Constable Jatinder have been placed under suspension.

The incident took place on Monday night, when the councillor Joshi was returning home after dinner with his wife. He was allegedly stopped at a naka near Sector 36 by Jatinder. "As soon as I rolled down the window, I told the constable that I am a teetotaler. But he insisted that I get out of the car. After I got out, he started to misbehave with me. Then I approached another person, who seemed the constable's senior. When I told him that the constable was misbehaving with me, he too did the same. It was then that I had to call senior police officials".

The DSP reached the spot and immediately suspended the two officials and an inquiry was initiated. Joshi also met IGP R P Upadhyaya on Tuesday regarding the case.

‘Pvt schools shut doors on children of ragpickers’

THE INDIAN EXPRESS : Wed Jan 23 2013, 01:29 hrs

In spite of awareness programmes and meetings by the education department this year for smooth implementation of the EWS quota under the RTE Act, 2011, activists working with the underprivileged are of the view that many private schools are yet to accept the idea of ragpickers' children studying in their schools.

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), a trade union of waste pickers in the city has been working for many years for welfare of waste pickers. "Last year, about 40 children of waste pickers got admission to private schools. This year, even after the government announcing greater transparency in the process, we are facing problems. Around 70 parents applied this time," said KKPKP activist Dipanwita Sen Gupta. The common issue with many parents was they were not allowed inside.

Manthra, whose four-year-old grandchild is eligible for pre-primary education, said. "We visited the school four to five times. The watchman did not let us in. Yesterday when we went again, he asked us to give an application. We did that and he kept it. We don't know what to do. If the school doesn't let us in, how will we fill the forms?" Some say forms were not given to them at all. "In many places, schools said they had run out of forms. Parents had to attach a separate application along with the forms. Almost all of them are illiterate, so writing an application and filling forms is a herculean task for them," Gupta said. "What the government should have done is to ensure there is a committee of two or three staff members to help these people fill the forms," Gupta said.

Many schools are refusing admissions to students who live outside the range of 1 km, said Archana Misal, another activist. "First I applied to a school where they refused admission saying my house was far and my son had crossed the eligible age. Then I went to another school where they did give me a form to fill after running around for two days," a mother said.

Reacting to the allegations, Mahavir Mane, officiating director, Primary Education said, "The 1-km range for admission is just a priority and not compulsory. The schools cannot deny admission on these grounds." He added, "We have already issued circulars to deputy district officers who in turn have given them to schools, stating that the schools cannot deny admission to anyone who wishes to see the principal. If the school doesn't permit any parents inside, it will be brought to the notice of the education board and we will take strict action against them."

‘Pvt schools shut doors on children of ragpickers’

THE INDIAN EXPRESS : Wed Jan 23 2013, 01:29 hrs

In spite of awareness programmes and meetings by the education department this year for smooth implementation of the EWS quota under the RTE Act, 2011, activists working with the underprivileged are of the view that many private schools are yet to accept the idea of ragpickers' children studying in their schools.

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), a trade union of waste pickers in the city has been working for many years for welfare of waste pickers. "Last year, about 40 children of waste pickers got admission to private schools. This year, even after the government announcing greater transparency in the process, we are facing problems. Around 70 parents applied this time," said KKPKP activist Dipanwita Sen Gupta. The common issue with many parents was they were not allowed inside.

Manthra, whose four-year-old grandchild is eligible for pre-primary education, said. "We visited the school four to five times. The watchman did not let us in. Yesterday when we went again, he asked us to give an application. We did that and he kept it. We don't know what to do. If the school doesn't let us in, how will we fill the forms?" Some say forms were not given to them at all. "In many places, schools said they had run out of forms. Parents had to attach a separate application along with the forms. Almost all of them are illiterate, so writing an application and filling forms is a herculean task for them," Gupta said. "What the government should have done is to ensure there is a committee of two or three staff members to help these people fill the forms," Gupta said.

Many schools are refusing admissions to students who live outside the range of 1 km, said Archana Misal, another activist. "First I applied to a school where they refused admission saying my house was far and my son had crossed the eligible age. Then I went to another school where they did give me a form to fill after running around for two days," a mother said.

Reacting to the allegations, Mahavir Mane, officiating director, Primary Education said, "The 1-km range for admission is just a priority and not compulsory. The schools cannot deny admission on these grounds." He added, "We have already issued circulars to deputy district officers who in turn have given them to schools, stating that the schools cannot deny admission to anyone who wishes to see the principal. If the school doesn't permit any parents inside, it will be brought to the notice of the education board and we will take strict action against them."

THE INDIAN EXPRESS : Wed Jan 23 2013, 01:29 hrs

In spite of awareness programmes and meetings by the education department this year for smooth implementation of the EWS quota under the RTE Act, 2011, activists working with the underprivileged are of the view that many private schools are yet to accept the idea of ragpickers' children studying in their schools.

Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat (KKPKP), a trade union of waste pickers in the city has been working for many years for welfare of waste pickers. "Last year, about 40 children of waste pickers got admission to private schools. This year, even after the government announcing greater transparency in the process, we are facing problems. Around 70 parents applied this time," said KKPKP activist Dipanwita Sen Gupta. The common issue with many parents was they were not allowed inside.

Manthra, whose four-year-old grandchild is eligible for pre-primary education, said. "We visited the school four to five times. The watchman did not let us in. Yesterday when we went again, he asked us to give an application. We did that and he kept it. We don't know what to do. If the school doesn't let us in, how will we fill the forms?" Some say forms were not given to them at all. "In many places, schools said they had run out of forms. Parents had to attach a separate application along with the forms. Almost all of them are illiterate, so writing an application and filling forms is a herculean task for them," Gupta said. "What the government should have done is to ensure there is a committee of two or three staff members to help these people fill the forms," Gupta said.

Many schools are refusing admissions to students who live outside the range of 1 km, said Archana Misal, another activist. "First I applied to a school where they refused admission saying my house was far and my son had crossed the eligible age. Then I went to another school where they did give me a form to fill after running around for two days," a mother said.

Reacting to the allegations, Mahavir Mane, officiating director, Primary Education said, "The 1-km range for admission is just a priority and not compulsory. The schools cannot deny admission on these grounds." He added, "We have already issued circulars to deputy district officers who in turn have given them to schools, stating that the schools cannot deny admission to anyone who wishes to see the principal. If the school doesn't permit any parents inside, it will be brought to the notice of the education board and we will take strict action against them."

अब दूसरी से 12वीं तक देना होगा 15 फीसद ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटा

Rashtriya Sahara - 26 Feb 2013 

नई दिल्ली(एसएनबी)। राजधानी में रियायती दरों पर सरकार से मिली जमीन पर बने सभी स्कूलों में एंट्री लेवल के बाद अब दूसरी से लेकर 12वीं कक्षा तक में 15 फीसद तक ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटा देना होगा। अभी तक यह स्कूल एंट्री लेवल यानी नर्सरी, केजी व पहली कक्षा में भी दाखिला नहीं दे रहे थे, लेकिन कोर्ट के आदेश के बाद निदेशालय के इन स्कूलों को एंट्री लेवल पर दाखिला देने को कहा था। इसके बाद स्कूलों ने निदेशालय के आदेश का पालन करते हुए एंट्री लेवल पर दाखिला प्रक्रिया शुरू कर दी, लेकिन अब इन स्कूलों को दूसरी से लेकर बारहवीं कक्षा तक में भी 15 फीसद ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटा देना होगा। इस बाबत बुधवार तक शिक्षा निदेशालय अधिसूचना जारी करने जा रहा है। शिक्षा निदेशक अमित सिंघला ने कहा कि मंगलवार या बुधवार तक अधिसूचना जारी होगी। श्री सिंघला ने कहा कि राजधानी में करीब 400 स्कूल सरकारी जमीन पर बने हैं। इन स्कूलों को स्कूल की जमीन रियायती दरों पर दी गई थी। पहले ये स्कूल एंट्री लेवल पर ईडब्ल्यूएस कोटा नहीं दे रहे थे। वहीं अल्पसंख्यक स्कूलों का तर्क रहता था कि वह आरटीई के दायरे में ही नहीं आते हैं, लेकिन बीते दिसम्बर में हाईकोर्ट के आदेश के बाद इन स्कूलों को निदेशालय ने आदेश दिया था कि यह स्कूल एंट्री लेवल यानी नर्सरी, केजी व फस्र्ट क्लास में दाखिले करें। सिंघला ने बताया कि इसके बाद इन स्कूलों में एंट्री लेवल पर दाखिला शुरू कर दिया गया, लेकिन दूसरी से बारहवीं कक्षा में गरीब कोटे के बच्चों को दाखिला नहीं दिया जा रहा था। अब निदेशालय द्वारा इन स्कूलों में दूसरी से 12वीं कक्षा में 15 फीसद गरीब कोटे पर दाखिला देने का अधिसूचना जारी की जाएगी। एडमिशन डॉट कॉम में फाउंडर सुमित वोहरा ने कहा कि इस फैसले से सरकार ने दिल्ली के बच्चों को राहत दी है। इससे इन स्कूलों में उच्च कक्षाओं में गरीब कोटे के बच्चों को दाखिला मिल सकेगा। इससे जनरल कैटेगरी के बच्चों को भी फायदा होगा, क्योंकि इस कोटे के मिलने के बाद जनरल कैटेगरी सीटें बढ़ सकती हैं। अब स्कूल अपने सीटें नहीं छुपा सकेंगे।

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