Despite HC Order, Delhi Private Schools’ Norms Hassle Poor Parents

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad Alam

Twenty-seven-year-old Shabnam, a resident of north Delhi’s Mukundpur, has a heartfelt desire that her elder daughter Nargis becomes a doctor one day. Her husband Shaukat Ali, a doting father, is very proud of the fact that his daughter can recite all the alphabets without stammering. Shaukat is a driver with a monthly income of Rs 7,000 but that doesn’t come in the way of ensuring that Nargis has all the books and stationery at her disposal.

Even before Nargis sits for an exam where lakhs compete for a single MBBS seat, the immediate battle for the five-year-old is to get admission at a private school which is close to her house. Nargis is among 1,28,242 students across the capital who are seeking admission in nursery class under the EWS (economically weaker section) category.

Only respite for Shabnam is that the online system of application has made her life easy, allowing her to choose between as many as twenty schools with a single click.

I didn’t face any problem while filling the online form at a cyber café. In fact, it is more convenient.

Shabnam, Parent trying for admission in nursery class

Shabnam is trying her luck for the second time this year after her daughter’s name didn’t appear in any lists declared last year. Unfortunately, Nargis’ name was missing in the first list announced by the Delhi government last week and there is a slim chance that she would make it to the second list which is likely to be declared in March or April.

Why are MCD Schools Averse to the Online System

In Nihal Vihar, a colony located 15 kilometres away from Mukundpur, Sushila Devi is hysterical as she struggles to make sense of the cold response from the concerned school authorities. Sushila has applied at three schools that come under the purview of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi but hasn’t received a response so far.

I have been trying for admission in three schools where the concerned authorities told me they have no information about the EWS quota and are not aware whether they are supposed to give uniform or waive the fee. I even showed the documents to them, yet I was told that they have no information about the same.

Sushila Devi 

The Quint contacted the three private schools – Jas Ram, Sunshine and Bal Vikas – where Sushila Devi has applied this year. While the principal of the Sunshine Public School refused to comment on the issue, Jas Ram Convent School’s manager Gaurav Gupta said:

There was some confusion regarding admission under the EWS category. We were under the assumption that the parents will first apply through the government website before approaching the schools. There was no information from the MCD about direct admission.

Gaurav Gupta, Manager, Jas Ram Convent School

Subsequent calls to the Bal Vikas School went unanswered. In a telephonic conversation, Preeti Aggarwal, mayor of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, said:

100 percent education is free at our schools that includes books, uniform and stationery. It’s a walk-in system where anyone can get admission without any restriction. We will try and start online facilities soon. 

Preeti Aggarwal, Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation

Around 1,700 schools that are administered by the AAP-led Delhi government had switched to the online system of admission in 2016.

However, around 1,000 schools that are regulated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which are currently being controlled by BJP councilors haven’t adapted to the online system, thus making it difficult for parents like Sushila who are keen on getting admission in private schools.

Directives by the Delhi High Court Ignored

In 2017, the Delhi High Court had issued directions to the three municipal corporations making it mandatory to furnish details about vacant seats, admission procedure and documents on their respective websites on or before 1 February of each calendar year.

In its order, dated 26 April 2017, the court had said:

• All the primary schools, whether being run by the Municipal Corporations or recognised by it, shall forward a complete list of the vacancies in all classes as obtained on 31 December every year to the respective Municipal Corporation.
• By the same date, the schools shall also furnish to the Municipal Corporation the complete details of the admission procedure, the forms to be filled up and documents which are to be furnished on behalf of applicants.
• The above information received by the respective Municipal Corporation shall be placed into public domain by posting on its websites by 1 February every year.

However, parents continue to face problems due to non-implementation of the court’s directives. Sushila’s husband is an autorickshaw driver and can’t visit schools daily enquiring the status of application submitted on behalf of their daughter Khushi. Sushila dreads the thought of admission in a far-off school in Rohini which would make it inconvenient to pick up her daughter from school.

Other schools are really far from my place, only these three schools are nearby and they are claiming that they have no information. I don’t want my daughter to get admission in a distant school as it would be difficult for me to pick her up from school in the blistering heat of summers. If the school is within the range of 1-1.5 km it would be convenient for me. Schools in Budh Vihar and Rohini would make it tough for me to manage daily.

Sushila Devi 

When we asked the mayor of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation Preeti Aggarwal about the directive issued by the Delhi High Court last year that makes it mandatory to furnish details about vacant seats and admission procedure on its portal, she said:

We have no information about any such order.

Preeti Aggarwal, Mayor, North Delhi Municipal Corporation

Procedural Hassles in Admission Under EWS Quota

It was the UPA government in 2009 that had brought the Right to Education Act (RTE Act) as was promised in its 100-day agenda. The law promised free and compulsory education for children aged between six to fourteen.

Section 12(1) ( c) of the Right to Education Act made 25 percent reservation mandatory in private schools for children belonging to the weaker section and disadvantaged groups.

Experts have often criticised the legislation suggesting ‘the Act is premised on mistaken hunch-driven diagnoses’ that has failed to improve the quality of education as well as learning levels.

In many cases related to admission under the EWS quota, documentation is proving to be a hurdle with parents having a hard time as they are made to run from pillar to post for paperwork.

Santosh has been seeking admission for her five-year-old son Lakshya since 2017. Her life was turned upside down when her husband was fired from his job as a labourer. Since her name was missing in the ration card, to procure the necessary documents her husband was taking leaves quite frequently which didn’t go down well with the owner of the factory where he was employed. With her son’s name appearing in the list this year, Santosh’s family can perhaps heave a sigh of relief.

Troubling the Parents for Unnecessary Documents

Activists who have been aiding families like that of Santosh in filling forms and arranging documents claim that certain procedures are unnecessary and only results in confusion among parents.

The problem that we are facing on the ground is that the school authorities insist on income certificate. Though the ration card, whether it’s yellow, green, or pink should be acceptable. 

Meenu, Shiksha Sahyogi, Indus Action

Since the government issues specifically coloured cards – yellow for those families who are below poverty line, green and pink to the poorest-of-the-poor – the ration card should suffice as a proof for the schools.

A circular by the Directorate of Education, dated 16 March 2018, which mentions the guidelines to be followed by private unaided schools in Delhi, clearly states:

• The school shall not ask for income certificate from those EWS category parents who submit copy of BPL/AAY/Food Security Card issued by the Food and Civil Supply Department.
• The school shall not ask for any Income Certificate from the parents/applicants who have been selected under DG (Disadvantaged Group) category.

Yet the schools compel parents to get an income certificate which is a document certified by the SDM (Sub-Divisional Magistrate) after ascertaining the veracity of bank statement and salary slip.

Even those who belong to the DG (Disadvantaged Group) category including those belonging to the SC/ST category, the disabled, orphans, etc are being told that they need to produce an income certificate.

Meenu, Shiksha Sahyogi, Indus Action

As the admission season ends, Sushila and Shabnam seem to have been united by fate as they continue to fight for seats in private schools in Delhi. While the online system of admission hasn’t put an end to Shabnam’s woes due to limited number of seats, the reluctance of MCD schools to provide relevant information on their portals has only increased the worry of parents like Sushila.