Despite high fee, limited seats schools receive thousands of admission forms

The local private schools have received huge response in the number of applications for admission to the entry-level classes despite high admission fee. As the draw of lots for admission is scheduled to start by the third week of next month, the leading schools of Chandigarh have received thousands of applications against a limited number of seats.

While Bhavan Vidyalaya (Junior) School, Sector 33, has received around 1,795 applications for 100 seats, other schools, including Strawberry Fields High School, Sector 26, and Chitkara International School, Sector 25, have also received hundreds of applications for a total of 120 and 160 seats, respectively. St Anne’s School, Sector 32, which has 160 seats has received nearly 1,900 applications. Vivek High School, Sector 38, has also received many applications as the process to submit the form will end on December 24. Other schools having around 100 to 120 seats, including Delhi Public School, Sector 40, Sacred Heart Senior Secondary School, Sector 26, Carmel Convent School, Sector 9, among others have also received an unexpected response.

The draw of lots at all schools is scheduled to be held in the third week of January 2025. Last month, the UT Education Department had announced the common admission schedule as per the National Education Policy (2020). As the Administration announced the admission schedule, the fee of entry-level classes was expected to witness a hike of 6-8 per cent. And with the hike this year, the admission fee (including a quarter’s fee) will touch nearly Rs 1 lakh in almost all leading schools.

The Punjab (Regulations of Fees of Unaided Educational Institutions) Act, 2016, stipulates that the fee hike should not exceed 8 per cent of the previous year’s fee. Post Covid pandemic, the schools are following a routine hike ranging between 6-8 per cent.