Admissions to entry-classes at city schools from December 8

The UT Education Department announced the process for common admission schedule to entry-level classes at all local private unaided schools. The process will begin from December 8, according to NEP 2020 age criteria, for the 2026-27 session.

The schedule will be applicable to all admissions across quotas, barring Economically Weaker Section and Disadvantaged Group categories.

As per the schedule, the number of seats at the entry-level classes shall not be less than the highest number of seats during the last three years (2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26) — unless exempted/specified by the competent authority at the Department of Education.

The schools have been asked to upload details of all entry-level classes along with the seats available for admission in the session (2026-27) on notice boards and websites. They have also been asked to furnish the same in Annexure-1 format (on school letterhead) to the office of District Education Officer (DEO) by December 5.

The admission for EWS/DG category for all schools will be through the department’s centralised portal.

Big hole in parents’ pocket

On annual basis, the fee of entry-level classes records a hike of 6 to 8 per cent, as per the Punjab (Regulations of Fees of Unaided Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, which caps the increase at 8 per cent.

However, with each passing year, the fee has seen an uptick and parents spend the lakhs to enrol their wards in local private schools. The number of takers also remains high, as the city’s private schools draw not only local interest but also from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. On average, the schools open a specific number of seats ranging from 100 to 130 (as per the school’s regulation), which includes all the quotas.