JOIN USSchools put tiny tots through test torture
After violating the nursery admission guidelines, schools in Delhi are now violating the Right to Education rules by taking admission tests for Kindergarten and elementary classes.
These schools include Mount Carmel in Dwarka which has already put up the “result of prep entrance test 2012-13” on its website, Indraprastha school in Dwarka, DAV schools in Jasola, Pitampura and Anand Vihar, Bluebells International school in Kailash Colony, Mothers International school in Sri Aurobindo Marg and GD Goenka Public school in Model Town among others.
Section 13 (1) under the RTE Act states, “No school can subject a student to any screening procedure (which includes admission test) for his/her admission in classes I to VIII.”
However, parents say that schools have mentioned dates for tests in their admission forms. “We collected the form from Mamta Modern Senior Secondary School, Vikaspuri and the written exam date is given as February 25,” said Nupur Dikshit who is trying to get her child admitted in Class I.
Narendra Arora, from North Delhi is trying to get his son admitted in Class II. Most schools have called him along with the child for personal interaction or written test. “My son sat for a test on Friday in GD Goenka school.
Even last year Srijan school in Model Town had taken an admission test but we could not get a seat. Most schools I have applied in hold interviews or conduct tests. One school has enquired about my salary as well,” he said.
Khagesh Jha, an advocate in the Supreme Court, alleges that schools conduct admission tests to collect hefty capitation fees. “Conducting tests and interviews of children is defined as screening under section 2(o) of the RTE act and there is provision to prosecute the head of the school under section 13 of the same act.
The delay by the Directorate of Education in coming up with strict penalty has encouraged such criminal activities,” he said.
On the other hand, Eba Sharma, who applied for her son's admission in Class I last year, managed to get a seat in Delhi Public School in RK Puram without any hassle as the school followed the RTE guidelines.
“When some of the prestigious schools in Delhi can follow the guidelines diligently, why is it so difficult for other schools to do the same? Parents can file a complaint against any school which is forcing the child to sit for a test or an interview by submitting a copy of the form to either Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights or National Commission for Protection of Child Rights,” explained Sumit Vohra, RTI activist and
owner of www.admissionsnursery.com.