New govt will give priority to education

Chief Minister designate Arvind Kejriwal is in a hurry to revamp the education system in Delhi and his first few days in office may bring sweeping changes in schools and colleges, sources said.

Recently, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung issued new guidelines for nursery admissions cancelling the management quotas of private schools.

“Though 25 per cent quota has been fixed for students from economically weaker sections, more than 2,000 seats still remain vacant every year in private schools of the capital. The LG’s decision will help the authorities to impose the rules strictly,” a senior Delhi government official said.

Sources in the Delhi government said the performance of the education department will be under the scanner of the new government as many of the parent’s unions and NGOs working for child rights have repeatedly alleged arbitrary behaviour of private schools.

The ministers had called a number of meetings of representatives of private schools, parent’s union and NGOs but all of the meetings ended without any decision.

“A series of meetings between the government, private schools, parent’s associations and NGOs ended inconclusive. Some of the meetings were even headed by Sheila Dikshit, but not a single decision was taken in favour of students. If a whisper in corridors is to be believed, the coming government is going to implement the rules more strictly and the education department may face a massive rejig,” said the source.

The total number of seats for nursery admissions in Delhi is one lakh but after the LG’s order of quashing management quota, some 20,000 seats have been increased.
The LG has also issued guidelines to reserve five per cent seats for girls in nursery admissions. The order, however, left private schools fuming and they are considering challenging the LG’s order in court.