Nagpur RTE seats oversubscribed by 300% as 20,010 apply for 6,797 seats

Nagpur: Even though February 29 is the last date to apply for free seats under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, they have already been over subscribed by 300% in Nagpur, a trend which the district has witnessed for the last couple of years.
The irony is that despite being over subscribed a couple of times over, every year seats go vacant. While this may very well happen again this year, another problem looming is the boycott of RTE admissions by many schools over reimbursement issues.For the 6,797 seats, the state education department has already received 20,010 applications.
Education officials say the irony is a result of parents wanting admission is specific schools. An official, who did not wish to be identified said, “The prospect of getting free education in a specific school is obviously a more lucrative option. So the big brand English medium schools are the preferred choice and if their ward’s name does not figure in the final list, they simply back out.” The official said there was currently no system in place to know in which non-RTE schools these parents then take admissions.
The ‘boycott’ is not reflecting on the application portal as the state education department has automatically entered all schools in the lottery pool. The face off will happen after the lottery is declared and schools refuse to complete admission formalities.
Independent English Schools Association (IESA) has already decided to stay away from the admission process and will soon be putting up notices on their premises announcing the same.
Rajendra Dayma, president of IESA had told TOI during an earlier interaction that this year their association will take a tough stance. “There are many schools who have not got any reimbursement till date citing some or the other reason. Some have been handed part of their claim and are being strung along for the remainder. We take a strong exception this kind of tactic,” said Dayma.
Around 32 children in rural area to get transportation aid
In rural areas where students do not have access to primary school within the specified 1km distance, the government will provide financial aid for transportation to the nearest available school. In Nagpur district, around 32 students have been identified in seven different talukas who do not have access (as per distance guidelines) to primary education.