In Narnaul, EWS kids denied admission to private schools

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Mahendragarh, April 24

Children belonging to economically weaker section (EWS) are being denied admission to private schools in Narnaul city, despite being entitled to the EWS quota under Section 134-A of the Haryana Schools Education Rules.

Parents of many such children have complained to the district education authority against the private schools and demanded intervention to ensure admission of their wards in the schools. Significantly, some parents have also accused the schools of insulting and misbehaving with them.

Taking a serious note of the complaints, the education authority has put seven private schools on notice, directing them to disclose the reasons within the next two days for not enrolling the EWS children.

“The principal of a private school insulted me when I went for the admission of my child. He even put a condition of taking an exam of my child to evaluate his intelligence. When I objected, the principal categorically denied admission stating that they were not bound to enroll such children,” said a parent.

Another parent maintained that the head of a private school demanded 25 per cent fee from him for the admission of his son.

“The head suggested me to choose another school when I expressed my inability to pay nominal fee,” he said, adding that the schools were legally bound to enroll the EWS children free of cost.

Sunil Dutt, Block Education Officer (BEO) of Narnaul block, said over 20 complaints had been received against private schools for not enrolling the EWS children, despite being entitled for the same under Section 134-A of the Haryana Schools Education Rules.

“As per rules, no private school can deny enrollment of EWS children as they have been allotted the schools after qualifying the exams. The schools have been asked to disclose the cause for denying admissions,” said the BEO, adding that the authority would ensure enrollment of all children in the schools allotted to them.

Dutt said strict action would be taken as per rules against the schools, who fail to respond to the notices.