Summer break from today, half RTE slots yet to be filled

Noida: With schools in Noida and Ghaziabad set to close for summer vacations today, only around half of the students selected under the Right to Education (RTE) Act have secured admissions so far. Officials had earlier noted that schools are often reluctant to grant RTE admissions after reopening in July, making timely compliance crucial.Around 2,300 admissions have been completed in Noida against 4,330 seats allotted this year, officials said. A similar situation prevails in Ghaziabad, where only around 3,300 admissions have been completed against nearly 6,200 students selected through three rounds of the RTE draw of lots.A couple of weeks ago, the education department issued notices to 25 private schools for failing to admit students, directing their principals to appear before the Noida district magistrate on May 7 but that meeting never happened.In Ghaziabad, the education department issued notices to 40 schools following complaints from parents about delay in admissions. While representatives from 30 schools attended a meeting chaired by ADM (administration) Manglesh Dubey on May 7, those who failed to appear were issued notices. Officials said several schools are yet to respond despite being given a week’s time.Parents alleged that many schools were delaying the process, forcing them to repeatedly visit campuses and the office of the basic shiksha adhikari (BSA).The president of a parents’ association, Vivek Tyagi, said, “Several parents have reached out to us. The parents of a child who was selected in the first lottery nearly two months ago have alleged that the school has continued to refuse admission despite official instructions. Another parent said he has been visiting both the school and the BSA office for over a month and a half, but the admission was still pending despite all documents being submitted. There must be more transparency in the RTE process.”Officials said around 45 schools in Ghaziabad are yet to comply fully with the RTE admission norms. “The department is regularly seeking reports from the schools and the process will be completed at the earliest. If the schools don't allow admission, then action will be taken,” Ghaziabad’s BSA OP Yadav said.