Bengaluru: Classes have started for the Std I and LKG students both in government and private schools of the city. But thousands of students, who were allotted seats in the private schools under the Right to Education (RTE) 25% quota are still running from pillar to post to confirm their seats. Thanks to the confusion over the definition of the ‘neighborhood’ schools.
It all started with the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) announcing that students and parents could apply for RTE 25 per cent seats only within the ward that they were residing in. But thousands of students from other wards applied for the local schools. While allocating the seats, due to the technical glitches in the software, these students were allotted seats in the schools located in the neighboring wards.
Problem: But according to parents and students, in many places schools were denying seats to them stating that they had received the seats in violation to the rules and regulations. “My daughter was allotted a seat in a school in Malleswaram. But now the school is denying the seat stating that she is not from the ward. I have lodged a complaint with the local officials from the education department. But it is of no use,” said a parent who wished to be anonymous. “If we protest, our children may be targeted. The DPI must act,” he urged.
Nagasimha G Rao, Convener of the RTE task force confirmed that the task force had received several complaints in this regard. "Nearly 15 days after allocating the seats, the department has started the manual verification of all the documents submitted by the parents. Many students were allotted seats in schools which were beyond the 5 km radius. Software glitch might be the issue. But it is the students who are at the receiving end," he said.
