EWS parents prefer private schools to government ones

Naina Mishra
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 11

As the admission season for Nursery classes is underway, parents belonging to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category can be seen running from pillar to post to admit their wards.

The last date for the procurement and submission of forms for the general category is December 14, while for the EWS, it is December 25.

Several private schools in the city have already received admission forms more than the number of seats, while in many government schools, the number of applicants is just half the number of seats.

The admission process in government schools paces up slowly as parents rush to private schools in the first place. Of more than 10,000 forms printed for 115 government schools, only 50% forms have been collected by school authorities.

Government schools hold draw of lots when they get admission forms more than the number of seats at the entry level.

GMSSS, Sector 16, is one of the most sought-after schools in the city. There are 90 seats in pre-Nursery (45 seats each in two sections). Candidates will be allotted seats through draw of lots. Only applicants residing in Sector 15, 16, 17 and 24 are eligible for the draw. However, first preference will be given to the residents of Sector 16. Principal Neeta Sandhu said the school had already received 95 admission forms. “Last year also, we received more than 80 forms for general category and over 100 forms in total.”

GMSSS, Sector 35, has 45 seats for pre-Nursery classes. Principal Ravinder Kaur said, “Till now, the school has received 30 forms as against the number of seats.”

Despite elementary education being free in government schools, parents are keen on enrolling their children under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) quota in private schools and sometimes vacate the seat secured at the government school.

GMSSS, Sector 37-B, has one section for pre-Nursery school (45 seats). Harmeet Kaur, head of the primary section, said preference would be given to the residents of Sector 37. “Last year, 40 students were enrolled and 10 students left as they got admission under EWS in private schools.”

GMSSS, Sector 10, has 45 seats for pre-Nursery. Principal Harbir Anand said, “So far, we have received 22 forms. Preference will be given to Sector 10 residents, followed by Sector 3 and 4 residents. Last year, we were short of five seats in the pre-Nursery class.”

Private schools see spurt in applications for EWS 

• Private schools have received applications in soaring numbers for EWS categories. The display of eligible candidates list before January 16 will only have general category candidates as the date for EWS admission forms has been extended to December 25.
• KBDAV School, Sector 27, has received 93 applications against 20 seats for EWS category. Principal Pooja Parkash said they would be giving preference to applicants residing in Sector 7 and 26. Over 117 forms have been received for the general category against 60 seats. An income certificate attested by the government will be accepted later for qualifying the eligible candidates' list. 
• As many as 175 forms have been received by Chitkara International School, Sector 25, for 30 EWS seats and 394 general applications for 45 seats. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan School, Sector 33, has received 125 forms for EWS category against 25 seats. Over 1,250 forms have been received for 40 general seats.