No takers for 24% EWS seats

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

Apparently, there has been an increase in the enrolment of economically weaker sections (EWS) students by 83 per cent in private schools — from merely 102 students in 2010-11 to 631 students presently. However, private schools do not manage to fill all seats reserved under the EWS quota (25 per cent) under the Right to Education Act, 2009.

A total of 4,776 poor students were enrolled in private schools in the past eight years while 1,565 seats were wasted as these could not be filled. These seats accounted for 24 per cent of total capacity (6,341) of private schools.

A quantum jump was witnessed in 2015-16 with 680 enrolments, which is also the highest till date.

In 2012, Chandigarh witnessed a spurt in schools seeking minority status after the apex court ruled that schools having the

minority status are not bound to reserve 25 per cent of their seats in entry-level classes under the RTE Act.

Consequently, there was a drop in the number of seats allotted to EWS category — from 672 seats in 2012 to 468 seats in 2013.

The lowest number of seats in terms of percentage was also recorded in 2012 as only 58.8 per cent seats could be filled that year.

Sources in Deputy Commissioner Office said, an average of 5,000 applications is received for the issuance of income certificate by the DC office. In the past eight years, there have been more than 650 EWS seats in at least 50 private schools. However, despite soaring EWS applications, some seats remained unfilled.

Private schools contend that EWS applicants want best of private schools for admissions and not just any private school.

Last year, Bal Niketan Model School, Sector 37, could fill only one EWS seat as against 22 seats. Dr Kapoor, Principal of the school, said: “Ours is a Hindi-medium school and we only charge Rs 1,000 as the admission fee unlike other private schools. The perception of parents is different towards expensive schools.”

At Manav Mangal School, only two seats were filled against 22. Director Sanjay Sardana said: “We had even informed the Education Department about the vacant seats and received a list of EWS students seeking admission. But all applicants resided at a distance more than 5 kms from the school, which is a violation of neighbour criteria defined by the RTE.”

Of 15 seats, 9 seats remained vacant at Tender Heart School. Principal Vikrant Suri said: “The reason why schools find it difficult to fill seats is that there is a shortage of suitable candidates. In fact, the benefit is not reaped by potential candidates. Also, parents want the best private schools and have their preferences for admissions.”

On the contrary, parents have always demanded raise of the bar of income for the EWS families. Nitin Goyal, presidents of the Chandigarh Parents’ Association, said: “It is unlikely for families to earn only Rs 12,500 per month in current time. There is even no tax for individuals with income less than Rs 2,50,000 per annum. How justified is it to keep the income bar for EWS at only Rs 1.5 lakh? The bar should be raised so that more students can be benefited.”

Fact file

A total of 4,776 poor students were enrolled in private schools in the past eight years while 1,565 seats were wasted as these could not be filled. These seats accounted for 24 per cent of total capacity (6,341) of private schools.