JOIN USManagements say January is the right time to begin the process
As the race for admissions to schools in Bangalore hots up, there seems to be few takers for the timetable set by the State government.
The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) had directed schools to follow the timetable set by the State government, in an attempt to create transparency in the admission process.
The circular issued by the DPI Commissioner had set a schedule for private schools for admissions to primary and pre-primary classes. According to the circular, schools have to declare the number of seats available by April 10. Issuing of applications must begin on April 20 and receiving of applications on April 30. Private schools have been instructed not to declare the first list of selected candidates before May 6.
However, most of the schools in the City have given a go-by to this schedule. On Tuesday, when Deccan Herald approached a State Board private school on Promenade Road, the school office said: “All admissions for Class I are closed.” Another school in the locality had put up a notice declaring admissions open, but the school staff said the admissions have commenced for both LKG and Class I.
A look around the City clearly shows that no school is in a mood to take the schedule set by the department seriously. While a few have begun the process of admissions, some others have put up a second list of interviews and many others have already closed admissions.
However, the schools have a different story to tell. “If all schools wait till April, we would also wait. We cannot afford to wait while the other schools conduct admissions,” said the principal of a private school in Indiranagar.
According to them, January is the right time to begin the admission process. Conducting admissions in April will mean that the school has to delay placing the orders for uniforms and textbooks. Unless the orders are placed at least two months ahead of reopening of schools, the beginning of the following academic year will be chaotic, another teacher at a primary school in Jeevanbima Nagar told Deccan Herald.
DDPI of Bangalore South C Nagarajan said conducting admissions or putting up banners before the announced date would invite serious action from the department.
“We will conduct raids on schools and action will be initiated against such schools.” The schedule has been created taking into account the time needed for admissions. Schools unnecessarily hurry the process, he said.
Minister for Primary and Secondary Education Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri said the onus lies on the school to follow discipline in the process.
“When we go for inspection, they show us different records. The change has to come from within,” the minister said. The department will also ask the Centre to grant powers to monitor admissions in ICSE and CBSE schools as well. A meeting with all the Deputy Commissioners will be held soon to take stock of the situation, according to officials.
The department has issued toll-free numbers for each DDPI office and any parent, who has a complaint against admission process in schools, can contact the department through the number. The numbers can be found on the Department of Public Instruction website.