Schools upset over change in EWS quota rules

Delhi govt, High Court guidelines pull parents in different directions

Popular schools blame Delhi government and the recent High Court ruling for creating ‘confusion’ because of changes in nursery admission guidelines over the last two months. The principals demand that the Directorate of Education should issue fresh guidelines by Monday on admissions under the Economically Weaker Section quota.

“The High Court and Delhi government have been lambasting each other since two months. This has created more confusion for us. Our lists were ready on January 31 but we had to hold them at the last moment,” said Ameeta Wattal, principal of Springdales School, Pusa Road. 

“Even the parents are stressed as thousand of children had applied under the EWS quota. Unless we are given a clear-cut directive, we will not put up the list on the notice board as we do not want to get into legal hassles,” she said.

Other schools like Modern, Lakhsman Public and Bal Bharti echoed similar thoughts.

 “If we go by the news reports, the HC has clarified that the previous list can remain untouched but schools will not scrap the list till the DOE gives its directive,” said L V Sehgal, president of National Progressive Schools Alliance.

However, parents applying for admission under the EWS quota say they are helpless and blame schools for non-cooperation.

They claim that some schools are not giving any information regarding the next step.

“I went to G D Goenka Public school and Kathuria Public school in Vasant Kunj to inquire about the next date for draw of lots under the EWS quota as they had announced earlier that it will be done on February 16,” said G V Mishra.

“However, the school authorities said they had already done it on January 28
and might stick to the names on their list. I have lost hope of my son getting admission in any school this year,” added Mishra.

Experts blame the DOE for this chaos among parents and school authorities.

Parents’ complaints

“Our helpline is flooded with complaints from parents who are saying that schools are not cooperating, and misbehaving with them. You cannot really blame anyone here as till the DOE gives a directive, schools remain helpless,” said Khagesh Jha, an advocate and member Social Jurist.

Ashok Aggarwal, an advocate, adds that many parents are not aware about the HC’s judgement.

“To ensure that parents understand the situation, we have sent a letter to the DOE’s office asking them to give parents at least a week to apply again under the EWS quota. The court has given only two weeks to the schools for abiding by their distance criteria judgement as the admission procedure has to be completed by March 31.”