Shreya Bhandary,TNN | May 17, 2012, 02.37AM IST
MUMBAI: The state government's sudden announcement asking schools to redo their admission process at the entry level has left schools as well as parents in a state of panic. While schools are worried about accommodating students at the last moment, parents are hassled about going through the entire process all over again.
"The directive should have come long back, especially when the government knows the process in most schools get done by mid-March. How do we explain this procedure to parents who have confirmed seats with us?" asked Lalitha Hariharan, principal, Rizvi Springfield in Bandra (W). Most schools were worried about the chaos over the new rule. "The government is expecting too many things at the last moment from schools. How do we balance everything?" she said.
Educationists are blaming the government for its lax behaviour on implementation of various clauses of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. "The Supreme Court never directed any stay on the admission procedure, why didn't the government make the clause compulsory for schools this year itself? Now, by suddenly bringing up the matter when schools have finished their admission procedure, makes no sense," said Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education. He added that if the government reduces the reservation clause for the year, there may be a chance to incorporate students from weaker sections of society in schools. "It is possible for schools to accommodate four to five students in every class, but 25% is impossible to attain now," he added.
Parents are worried about losing out on seats that they have got after going through procedures at various schools. "How does the government expect schools to make way for new students when schools have already finished their admission process? We have spent a lot of time and energy in getting a seat in a school of our choice. We will take the matter to court if we have to," said Rajneesh Batra, who has sought admission for his four-year-old daughter to a school in Juhu.
Schools are also worried about covering up costs for the 25% students who will seek admission in their schools. "While the government is only paying a small amount in the name of fees, what about the rest of the expenses? Our revenues will be drained by half, how do we cover up for the remaining expenses? We will have to depend on a fee hike from the remaining 75% students," said the managing trustee of a school in Navi Mumbai.
"The directive should have come long back, especially when the government knows the process in most schools get done by mid-March. How do we explain this procedure to parents who have confirmed seats with us?" asked Lalitha Hariharan, principal, Rizvi Springfield in Bandra (W). Most schools were worried about the chaos over the new rule. "The government is expecting too many things at the last moment from schools. How do we balance everything?" she said.
Educationists are blaming the government for its lax behaviour on implementation of various clauses of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. "The Supreme Court never directed any stay on the admission procedure, why didn't the government make the clause compulsory for schools this year itself? Now, by suddenly bringing up the matter when schools have finished their admission procedure, makes no sense," said Jayant Jain, president, Forum for Fairness in Education. He added that if the government reduces the reservation clause for the year, there may be a chance to incorporate students from weaker sections of society in schools. "It is possible for schools to accommodate four to five students in every class, but 25% is impossible to attain now," he added.
Parents are worried about losing out on seats that they have got after going through procedures at various schools. "How does the government expect schools to make way for new students when schools have already finished their admission process? We have spent a lot of time and energy in getting a seat in a school of our choice. We will take the matter to court if we have to," said Rajneesh Batra, who has sought admission for his four-year-old daughter to a school in Juhu.
Schools are also worried about covering up costs for the 25% students who will seek admission in their schools. "While the government is only paying a small amount in the name of fees, what about the rest of the expenses? Our revenues will be drained by half, how do we cover up for the remaining expenses? We will have to depend on a fee hike from the remaining 75% students," said the managing trustee of a school in Navi Mumbai.
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