Applications pour in under RTE Act in DK

There are 170 schools which come under RTE Act in DK district

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, which is meant for satisfactory and equitable formal school education for the children between six and 14 years of age, has received good response in Dakshina Kannada this year.

In fact, the Department of Public Instruction has already received more number of applications than the available seats under 25 per cent reservation. 

According to the information available, in Dakshina Kannada district, 170 schools come under RTE Act including 37 schools from Mangalore North education block, 14 from Moodabidri, 31 from Mangalore South, 34 from Bantwala, 27 from Puttur, 18 from Belthangady and 9 schools of Sullia block.

In Mangalore North, 475 seats are available including 18 pre-primary and 457 seats for first standard.

In Moodabidri, 141 seats (first standard), 374 seats (first standard) in Mangalore South, 365 seats (first standard) in Bantwala, 375 seats (22 pre-primary, 353 first standard) in Puttur, 176 seats (first standard) in Belthangady and 88 seats (86 pre-primary and 2 first standard) in Sullia. 

Applications pour in

In 2012-13, in Dakshina Kannada, only 768 students were admitted under RTE Act. In 2013-14, a total of 1,709 reserved seats were available in the district, but the department had received only 1,421 applications and 1,186 students were admitted.
This year, the scenario is different as the number of applications is quite high compared to the available seats (as per the statistics of February 12).

In Mangalore North, 538 applications were received against the available 538 seats. In Moodabidri, 175 applications were received (141 available), Mangalore South- 561 applications (374 available), Bantwal- 524 applications (365 available), Puttur- 202 applications (375 available), Belthangady- 181 applications (176 available) and in Sullia 325 applications have been received against the available 88 seats.
In total, 2,506 applications have been received against the 1,994 seats.  

‘Awareness is key’

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Deputy Director of Public Instruction Moses Jayashekar opined that the awareness played a key role in increasing number of applications under RTE Act.

Awareness was created about the Act through media. Regular secretarial-level staff meetings were convened in respective BEO offices and directions were given about the objectives.

Nodal officers were appointed for every four to five schools and they were directed to collect information on received applications, every day, he said.

The DDPI said that though Dakshina Kannada has 255 minority schools (aided and unaided), as per the guidelines of the Act, unaided schools need not reserve 25 per cent of seats. But, the schools must obtain minority school certificate from Department of Public Instruction to get exemption from the Act.

Selection of children

For the academic year 2014-15, February 19 was the last date for parents to apply for the reservation seats.

Schools should send the list of children to the respective Block Education Officers within February 24 and BEOs would send the approved list back to the schools by March 3. In the selection, first preference will be given to SC/ST children from the family with an annual income less than Rs 1 lakh.

Later, children who are near to the schools with little more family income will be considered. If number of applications is more, children will be selected through lottery system, after the last date, he said.