Frustrated over delay in RTE admissions, parents look for other options

Parents in Tamil Nadu lose hope for RTE admissions as schools reopen, turning to private schools for alternatives.

As schools in the State are set to reopen in the first week of June, parents awaiting admissions for their children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act have lost hope. They are now searching for admissions in other schools including the private ones.

Under the RTE Act, 25% of the seats in entry-level classes, which include LKG and Class 1, in private schools have to be reserved for students from weaker sections of society.

Narasimhan A., a resident of Ayappakam, a contract worker in a construction firm, had been waiting to admit his child under the RTE Act. “But now it looks like it won’t be happening, no one has any idea about it. I do not want to waste this academic year for my child if the RTE admissions don’t take place,” he said.

The admissions under the RTE Act usually begin by mid-April and applications are filed on the State government’s online portal. The admissions to the schools end by May

Mr. Narasimhan adds that he would admit his child in the government school but they don’t have kindergarten classes. “There is no government-aided school near my area either. I tried for admission under RTE for my older son but he wasn’t selected. I had to take a loan and admit him in a private school. I wanted my younger one to study under the RTE as I cannot afford private schools for both children. Now it looks like I’ll have to take another loan,” he said.

According to N. Rengarajan, the joint general secretary of All India Primary Teachers Federation, only over 2,500 government middle schools in the State have kindergarten classes.

Tired of waiting for the admissions under RTE , Sumithra. R, a homemaker, recently admitted her child to a government-aided school in Ayappakkam. “My first son was admitted under RTE and I wanted to do the same for my younger son, so he will also have access to the best education. However, there has been no news about the admissions beginning. I can’t wait any longer,” she said.